Dutch Payments Company Mollie Acquires UK Fintech GoCardless for €1.1 Billion

Dutch payments company Mollie’s acquisition of UK-based direct debit fintech GoCardless for €1.1 billion, making it one of the largest European fintech deals of 2025. The deal will consolidate two major players in the payments and transactions sector, reflecting the ongoing wave of strategic mergers aiming to build out multi-capability payment platforms. The merger is set to close sometime in 2026, pending regulatory approval.

While Mollie, a fast-growing fintech headquartered in Amsterdam, provides a gateway for businesses to accept online payments through cards and digital wallets, GoCardless specializes in direct bank-to-bank payments via direct debits and open banking. GoCardless, founded in London in 2011, retains a strong foothold in the UK, along with global clients for subscription and invoice payments. However, by combining forces, the merged entity will serve over 350,000 businesses with bank debit payments, integrated card payments, and local payment methods in a single platform.

The merger also highlights a maturation of the European payments sector which had, until recently, been characterized by an explosion of fintechs each focusing on different niches. For example, there have been fintechs for subscriptions, others for e-commerce checkouts, and others for peer-to-peer payments, for example. However, given that payments and transactions is heavily reliant on volume—given the often thin margins—it naturally makes sense to combine these functions in a single platform. Doing so can help reach more customers, while enhancing customer experience.

For the UK, GoCardless is a homegrown success story, having reached unicorn status in 2019. While the acquisition marks the end of one chapter, it is now better positioned to become a global leader in payments and transactions. Its sale to a European neighbor rather than a US-based financial services giant is also notable, suggesting a growing appetite for digital sovereignty in Europe. Furthermore, by working together, Mollie and GoCardless will be better prepared to navigate the EU’s string financial regulatory regime, as well as upcoming initiatives like the planned Instant Payments Regulation for near-instant euro transfers.

This latest merger highlights the rapid evolution of the fintech payments space (and beyond). Until a few years ago, when fintech startups were popping up everywhere, the goal was to differentiate and diversify to secure a place in the market. That is still relevant, but remaining independent is becoming less viable as businesses and consumers alike seek convenient all-in-one payment platforms. As such, most should strategize for consolidation, rather than risk becoming irrelevant in the years ahead.

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