Stripe Expands Crypto Push by Acquiring Valora Team to Boost Stablecoin Payments

Stripe is accelerating its move into blockchain technology with the acquisition of the team behind Valora, a mobile-first crypto payments app built on the Celo network. Valora founder Jackie Bona announced the news in a Wednesday blog post, explaining that the partnership will help expand access to stablecoins and strengthen global payment infrastructure. According to Bona, joining Stripe became an obvious path forward as both companies share a mission to increase economic accessibility through crypto-powered financial tools.

Valora, originally spun out of cLabs in 2021, gained early traction as a user-friendly crypto wallet and payments app centered on Celo’s Ethereum layer-2 ecosystem. The startup raised $20 million at launch and has since focused on simplifying cross-border transactions using stablecoins. Stripe confirmed the acquisition to CoinDesk, highlighting that Valora’s expertise in crypto wallet infrastructure and onchain developer tools will enhance Stripe’s ongoing blockchain initiatives.

The move aligns with Stripe’s broader strategy to integrate stablecoin-based payment rails into its platform. Over the past year, stablecoins have quickly emerged as practical tools for low-cost, near-instant international payments. Stripe has responded by expanding its crypto capabilities, acquiring stablecoin infrastructure provider Bridge and wallet application Privy. The company has also collaborated with Paradigm to develop Tempo, a blockchain tailored specifically for stablecoin transactions, which is currently in testing.

By bringing Valora’s team onboard, Stripe strengthens its position in the growing digital payments landscape and signals continued commitment to blockchain innovation. The combination of Valora’s mobile-focused wallet technology and Stripe’s global payments infrastructure could accelerate the adoption of stablecoin-powered transactions for consumers and developers worldwide.