Rezolve AI Acquires Smartpay, Bolstering $1 Billion Stablecoin Payment Infrastructure for Global Expansion

Executive Summary

Rezolve AI, a publicly listed AI-driven commerce and payments platform, has acquired Smartpay, a digital asset payment platform. This strategic acquisition is designed to accelerate Rezolve's multi-asset payment initiative by integrating Smartpay's established infrastructure, which has processed over $1 billion in USDt value across 19 million transactions in the past year. The move aims to expand Rezolve's global reach, particularly in high-growth emerging markets, and to establish a merchant-fee-free blockchain-based payment network.

The Event in Detail

On October 7, 2025, Rezolve AI (NASDAQ: RZLV) announced its acquisition of Smartpay, a digital asset payment platform that reported processing more than $1 billion in commercial transactions, totaling over 19 million transactions, within the twelve months ending September 30, 2025. Smartpay's operational footprint spans Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Angola, where it currently facilitates tens of millions of stablecoin transactions annually. This established network provides Rezolve AI with an immediate extension of its payment capabilities in these key emerging markets.

The acquisition lays the groundwork for Rezolve's strategic initiative with Tether, aimed at integrating digital assets such as USDT, BTC, and ETH into mainstream retail payment systems. Rocelo Lopes, founder of Smartpay, a recognized figure in Latin American digital asset innovation, will assume leadership of Rezolve's Digital Currency Initiative, overseeing the global expansion of this multi-asset payment system. Daniel M. Wagner, CEO of Rezolve AI, stated, "Smartpay gives Rezolve a proven, transaction-tested foundation to scale our digital asset payment initiative globally."

Financial Mechanics and Business Strategy

The core of Rezolve's enhanced strategy involves developing a merchant-fee-free, blockchain-based payment network. This system is designed to allow consumers to utilize digital assets for purchases while ensuring merchants receive instant fiat settlement through Rezolve's Brain Checkout technology. The operational integration of Smartpay's infrastructure, which manages a significant volume of stablecoin transactions, is central to the viability and scalability of this model.

Rezolve's business logic directly leverages Smartpay's existing presence in markets like Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Angola, which are identified as regions with high potential for digital asset adoption. This strategic positioning aligns with observations that emerging markets, particularly in Africa and Latin America, are fertile ground for Web3 solutions, including payments, as many individuals may adopt digital wallets before traditional bank accounts. The acquisition also advances Rezolve's long-term vision for Agentic Commerce, where AI agents autonomously perform transactions using digital assets, building a foundation for intelligent, self-executing commerce.

Broader Market Implications

This acquisition by Rezolve AI signals a significant acceleration in the convergence of artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, and e-commerce within the financial sector. The focus on a merchant-fee-free model and instant fiat settlement for digital asset payments could act as a catalyst for broader stablecoin adoption, increasing their utility beyond speculative trading to everyday commercial transactions.

The transaction underscores a broader trend of strategic consolidation within the crypto payment infrastructure sector. Market analysis for 2025 indicated M&A activity in this space surpassing $40 billion, with over 200 deals in the first half of the year. This reflects a shift where companies are increasingly acquiring established infrastructure to gain market share rather than building solutions in isolation. The integration of Smartpay provides Rezolve with a competitive advantage in global payment processing, particularly in emerging economies where digital asset adoption is growing. This strategic move suggests a maturation of the digital asset payment landscape, attracting further institutional interest and potentially driving innovation in real-world applications for blockchain and AI technologies.

source:

[1] Rezolve AI Acquires Smartpay, a $1B Stablecoin Payments Platform (https://cointelegraph.com/news/rezolve-ai-acq ...)[2] Rezolve Ai Acquires Smartpay to Power Global Digital Asset Payment Infrastructure (https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/groun ...)[3] Rezolve Ai Acquires Smartpay to Enhance Global Digital Asset Payment Initiative (https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/groun ...)

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