Zilch, a prominent UK consumer payments platform, has announced a significant strategic advancement by securing a payments services license from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This development coincides with the company deepening its partnership with global payments giant Visa, becoming a principal member. These moves are set to grant Zilch greater operational autonomy and accelerate its product innovation pipeline, solidifying its position as a trusted market leader.
A Strategic Leap Towards Autonomy
The newly acquired FCA license marks a pivotal milestone, significantly reducing Zilch's dependence on third-party providers for its core operations. This regulatory approval empowers the fintech firm to build more payment methods in-house and bring new products to market with increased speed. It also positions Zilch to explore emerging technologies, such as stablecoins, more directly and efficiently.
Philip Belamant, Co-Founder and CEO of Zilch, described the license as a "major step change" that brings the company "firmly into the payments tent." He emphasized that this opens new opportunities for faster and more cost-effective operations, building on the company's existing base of over 5.3 million users. Securing the license amidst heightened regulatory scrutiny underscores Zilch's strong operational governance and credibility.
Strengthening a Key Alliance
In parallel with its regulatory achievement, Zilch has elevated its relationship with Visa by attaining Principal Membership status for the first time. This move solidifies the partnership that began earlier this year when Visa replaced Mastercard as Zilch’s primary card network partner. The enhanced status provides Zilch with direct access to Visa's network and resources, fostering deeper collaboration.
The strengthened alliance will see the two companies explore new collaborative opportunities in payments, particularly leveraging advanced technologies like agentic commerce. Mark Berry, Head of UK Clients at Visa, expressed excitement about supporting Zilch’s growth and delivering smarter payment solutions to the UK market. This collaboration aims to enhance the payment experience for both consumers and businesses at scale.
Fueling Future Growth and Innovation
These developments follow a period of significant momentum for the Goldman Sachs and eBay-backed company, which recently secured over $175 million in a combined equity and debt funding round. This financial injection, led by Czech investment group KKCG, is earmarked for fueling growth, potential acquisitions, and continued product development. The company's strong financial backing supports its ambitious expansion plans and market strategy.
The company is preparing for the full rollout of its one-click checkout feature, Zilch Pay, which is scheduled to go live in the first half of 2026. This launch, along with its new AI-powered platform, Intelligent Commerce, will be significantly bolstered by the new FCA license. These initiatives are central to Zilch's strategy to capture a larger share of consumer spending and enhance the customer experience.
In conclusion, Zilch's acquisition of an FCA payments license and its upgraded partnership with Visa represent a transformative step for the fintech unicorn. These strategic achievements provide the foundation for greater innovation, operational efficiency, and market expansion. The company is now better positioned than ever to shape the future of the payments ecosystem and accelerate its rapid growth trajectory.