On 23 February 2026, Switchio Connect brought together partners, industry leaders, and innovators at the Wirtschaftsklub Düsseldorf. We discuss the evolution of payments, digital identity, and sustainability and what these developments mean for 2026 and beyond.

The evening combined reflection on measurable progress with a clear view of the strategic direction ahead.

We were honored to welcome Kristina Larischová, Consul General of the Czech Republic in Düsseldorf. Her presence highlighted the importance of international cooperation in an industry that operates across borders by design.

Growth Backed by Real Numbers

Kamil Hanáček opened the evening with a presentation focused on tangible milestones that reflect Switchio’s continued growth:

• 2,000,000 transactions processed daily
• 140,000 connected POS terminals
• 40 connected acquirers
• More than 100 B2B customers across retail and EV charging segments

These achievements are the result of long-term collaboration with partners and customers who rely on stable, scalable infrastructure. Kamil also introduced a series of new partnerships that expand Switchio’s technological and geographic footprint:

• Aera & Digiteal – domestic card scheme acceptance and split payment support
• Ingenico – extension focused on the AXIUM platform
• Feitian – new supported hardware platform
• Fexco – Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC)
• Minesec – global SoftPOS launch
• Mo.One – instant account-to-account payments in the Czech Republic
• PVA – international cooperation in self-service 24/7 retail
• SECP – expansion of unattended solutions from Germany to US and European markets
• Sielaff – reverse vending integration
• YabandPay – launch of Alipay & WeChat Pay acceptance
• Worldpay – global cooperation focused on US and European markets

Together, these collaborations strengthen Switchio’s position as an open, partner-driven payment platform.

Strategic Direction: Focused and Scalable

Building on these milestones, Martin Ptáček presented the strategic priorities shaping the next phase of development. Expansion of SoftPOS solutions, broader support for alternative payment methods, cross-channel transaction management, a unified API strategy. The objective is clear: simplify integration, enable flexibility, and support partners across multiple markets and use cases through a consistent, scalable infrastructure.

Industry Perspectives

The broader industry context was addressed by Jiří Změlík, who spoke about trusted digital identity as a foundational element of secure digital ecosystems. Lenny Leemann highlighted sustainability as a driver of operational and product innovation.

The evening concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Alon Eliya Bigler, featuring Aleksandar Horozov (Printec Group), Josef Huff (Schwarz Gruppe), Yi Zeng (Silverflow), Florian Degimbe (Clever Finance), and Piotr Sławiński (Elavon Europe). The discussion focused on regulation, customer expectations, technological evolution, and the responsibility of industry players in shaping future-ready financial infrastructure.

Switchio Connect 2026 in Wirtschaftsklub Düsseldorf once again demonstrated the value of bringing the ecosystem together. To exchange perspectives, strengthen partnerships, and align on shared goals. We thank the Wirtschaftsklub Düsseldorf for their exceptional hospitality, our speakers and partners for their contributions, and all guests who joined us.

Most importantly, thank you to the entire Switchio team behind the scenes whose commitment made the evening possible.

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A brief conversation following the ceremony revealed a strong alignment in how both organisations view responsibility, transparency, and the role businesses can play in supporting the planet. Their first joint activity is Switchio’s new holiday initiative, which replaces traditional corporate gifts with verified environmental support delivered by Greenspark.

Instead of sending physical items, Switchio chose to fund meaningful impact projects, giving customers the freedom to select what type of impact their gift should create. Customers could choose to support one of three environmental projects delivered by Greenspark.

These include the restoration of mangrove forests in Kenya, which strengthens coastal ecosystems and creates long-term economic opportunities for local communities involved in planting and maintaining the trees. Another option is the recovery of ocean-bound plastic, where collected waste is prevented from entering waterways and transformed into income for individuals and families who rely on recycling work for their livelihoods. The third choice focused on protecting bee populations in Kenya through sustainable beehive initiatives that improve pollination, enhance biodiversity, and help local farmers increase crop yields and household stability. Together, these projects deliver measurable environmental benefi ts while generating real social and economic value for the communities connected to them.

This first initiative reflects the spirit of the cooperation. It allows Switchio customers to take part in real, measurable change and clearly communicates the environmental projects being supported on their behalf. 

More information about the projects Switchio supported through Greenspark can be found here: 

Bee protection: https://www.getgreenspark.com/projects/protecting-pollinators-through-bee-hive-creation

Tree planting in Kenya: https://www.getgreenspark.com/projects/uplifting-impoverished-communities-throughmangrove-restoration

Plastic recovery: https://www.getgreenspark.com/projects/the-plastic-bank-turning-plastic-pollution-intoempowering-income

The cooperation between Switchio and Greenspark is set to continue in the future with an emphasis on transparent impact, meaningful customer engagement, and initiatives that bring environmental value into business communication.

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Eco-Friendly & Cost-Saving

Reduce paper consumption and lower printer-related costs with a fully digital receipt workflow.

How It Works

1. Payment is completed on a Switchio Pay terminal.
2. The customer or cashier enters an email address directly on the terminal.
3. The terminal securely transmits the receipt data to the Switchio Gateway
4. Switchio Gateway generates a PDF receipt in the customer’s language – identical to the printed version and sends it via the payment-receipt.com SMTP server
5. The customer receives the full electronic receipt within seconds.

Supported Hardware

e-Receipts can be enabled on any Switchio-supported terminal — even those equipped with a printer — for businesses aiming to move toward a fully paperless experience. They are fully compatible with printerless payment terminals as well as all other Switchio-supported devices.

Optimized for printer-less models

PAX IM25, PAX IM30, PAX A35, PAX A77, NEXGO UN20, NEXGO N6, NEXGO N62, NEXGO CT20(P)

What’s coming soon

E-Receipts will be included in the next version of our Switchio SoftPOS solution. You can also look forward to new ways of sharing e-receipts directly to the customer’s phone.

The post A Smarter, Greener Way to Deliver Payment Receipts appeared first on Switchio.

A Career Built on Technology, Curiosity and ‘Coincidences’

Martin didn’t start payments. “Fifteen years ago, when I entered this industry, I honestly had no idea what the world of payments really involved,” he admits. Before that, he spent over a decade working on complex technology and integration projects, including national systems requiring precision and long-term vision.

“That was actually where I first crossed paths with Monet+. Another coincidence? I’m starting to doubt coincidences altogether,” he says. His entry into payments came through early mobile and digital payment projects. “That’s when I truly fell in love with payments — I became, figuratively speaking, addicted.” His work took him across Central and Western Europe and the United States, supporting major international partners and large-scale transaction systems. Despite the global reach, he adds, “I always enjoyed the Czech and Slovak projects the most. Those felt personal.”

What Makes Payments So Fascinating

Martin speaks about payments with real enthusiasm. “I love the payment world for its diversity and complexity,” he says. “And for its incredible ability to connect merchants and customers. Payments have become such a natural part of our lives that imagining a day without them is almost impossible.” He also values the community behind the technology. “Professionally, it’s a small world. Most people know each other. It’s a very pleasant environment for collaboration and meeting like-minded people.”

In the Heart of Switchio’s Development

As Switchio’s new Product Manager, Martin is directly involved in the platform’s evolution. “My role naturally puts me in the center of everything that touches Switchio,” he explains. “I work on requirements, architecture, integrations, problem-solving, processes, business and innovation.” He is currently collaborating across the entire Switchio ecosystem to support new platform expansion needs. “This quarter, we’re integrating four new hosts for transaction processing with new acquirers,” he says. “And we’re working on our new SoftPOS product and its pilot launch.” Looking ahead, he sees clear priorities.

A Team Coach at Heart

“I’ve always been and always will be a team player,” Martin says. “I believe a group of people can achieve far more than any individual.” He compares his role to that of a sports coach: “I try to connect different personalities and use their natural talents. I want everyone to play where they’re strongest — and for us to have a clear strategy for every match.” And with a smile: “Every opponent is beatable with the right team and the right tactics.”

Looking Ahead: Alternative Payments and AI

Martin sees two major forces shaping the future. “Alternative payment methods are gaining momentum. They aim to bypass big card schemes and reduce processing costs. There are many ways to do this — and we are part of it.” The second is artificial intelligence. “AI is influencing our field just like many others. I believe we’ll soon see a rise in payments initiated and managed by autonomous agents — AI acting on behalf of users or companies.”

The post Switchio Expands Its Product Leadership with Martin Ptáček appeared first on Switchio.

Kamil Hanacek introduced Payments Freedom, while Patrik Nachtmann from P.V.A. systems s.r.o. presented Shop That Never Sleeps. Success stories were then shared by Martin Gunkel from Mastercard, Guisthinio Ririhena from Worldline, Lyris Miao from YabandPay, and Jonas Jakobsen from AltaPay. The evening concluded with an exceptional dining experience prepared by chef Marcel Ihnačák, paired with fine South Moravian wines.

This event would not have been possible without the support of Jiri Ellinger, Vilma Anyzova, and Miroslav Kraus, whose warm welcome and hospitality set the perfect atmosphere. We are also grateful to our colleagues Aneta Maňasová, Jakub Svec, and Kamil Hanacek for their outstanding presentations, and to Alon Eliya Bigler for moderating the evening with great energy.

Despite flight delays and cancellations, our guests showed incredible determination to be part of the evening. A special mention goes to Geir Westbye, who rode his motorcycle all the way from Oslo to join us.

The photos from Switchio Connect capture the true spirit of the event: partnership, innovation, and Czech hospitality. It was a night to remember and we are excited to continue this tradition with Switchio Connect 2026. We look forward to welcoming you again next year and building on the energy and inspiration we shared in Copenhagen.

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Payment infrastructure today is technologically diverse. Different markets rely on different protocols and integration models. In the German market, EBICS (Electronic Banking Internet Communication Standard) is used for banking communication, while POS terminals accepting girocard typically follow TA 7.2 technical specifications and use the ZVT protocol. For credit card processing, the commonly used protocol is GICC (General ISO Credit Card).

In most cases, these standards are limited to their local markets. On a global scale, no unified protocol exists to ensure full interoperability between systems. This makes integration between payment technologies across markets both time-consuming and technically complex. To address this challenge, a solution is needed that can function as a translation layer between systems while preserving the integrity of their native logic.

Switchio payment gateway fulfills exactly that role. It functions as a universal translator for financial protocols, enabling smooth integration between systems of various types and generations.

A typical example is the conversion between reversal and refund. Two transaction types that are interpreted differently depending on the receiving system.

Flexible integration for specific markets

Integration with new acquirers and processing centers demonstrates the strength of Switchio payment gateway’s architecture. The team has completed more than 100 integrations to date, including many complex projects, proving that successful implementation requires not only technical flexibility, but also a deep understanding of each market’s specifics.

One example is the integration with Dutch processor Silverflow. An even greater challenge was the connection to U.S.-based processor Fiserv, which required adapting Switchio payment gateway to the distinct regulatory and technical demands of American card networks.

Customers who choose Switchio payment gateway are typically seeking solutions that go far beyond standard configuration options. While many providers deliver off-the-shelf platforms, any need for deeper customization often leads to complex external development and in some cases, full adaptability is simply out of reach.

Switchio payment gateway is the ideal choice for companies that:

• Operate complex or fragmented payment infrastructures and require seamless interoperability
• Plan to expand into new markets with specific regulatory or protocol requirements
• Need more than standard processing, including custom logic, advanced routing, or transaction-level control
• Have outgrown the limitations of off-the-shelf systems and are seeking tailored, future-ready solutions

The post Is your payment system ready for global growth? appeared first on Switchio.

Every night, around 25,000 cups are used across Lisbon’s entertainment areas. Despite being sold as “reusable,” there has been no system in place to collect, clean, and return these cups to circulation. Until now.

The City of Lisbon has accepted the challenge and, together with TOMRA and the hospitality association AHRESP, is launching the first city-wide reusable cup system backed by a local deposit-return model in a European capital.

How the system works:

• Drinks are served in reusable cups with a refundable €0.60 deposit
  
• Cups can be returned to TOMRA collection machines placed near participating venues
  
• Deposit refunds are transferred to consumers via contactless card or phone — no registration required
  
• TOMRA handles logistics, sanitisation, and redistribution of the cups

By October, Lisbon will roll out a standardised “Lisbon cup” for all participating bars and venues in the city centre, with at least 17 return points planned across downtown areas.

Switchio’s role

The hardware in use is the Ingenico Open 2500 terminal powered by the Switchio Pay application, making the whole process simple and convenient for everyone.

As a provider of Point-of-Sale gateway and terminal management systems, we take care of the payment and refund process. When a drink in a reusable cup is purchased, the cup has an active deposit value. When the empty cup is returned at a collection point, a digital token is generated when the user taps their bank card on the machine’s payment terminal. This token works as an alias of the actual bank card number during verification and the repayment of the deposit to the card.

Pictured from left: Carlos Moura, President of AHRESP; Rui Cordeiro, Lisbon City Counsillor for Waste Management and Circular Economy; Diogo Moura, Lisbon City Counsillor for Economy and Innovation; and Rui Quadrado, Business Development Manager for TOMRA Reuse.

The Lisbon system is powered by TOMRA’s Rotake solution — a full-service reuse model that includes digital tracking and logistics. The success of this initiative relies on close cooperation with the hospitality sector to make reuse easy, clean, and rewarding for everyone involved.

Photo: TOMRA

The post City of Lisbon Champions Europe’s First Reusable Cup System appeared first on Switchio.

The Merchant Payments Ecosystem (MPE) conference is Europe’s leading event in the merchant payments industry. The MPE team presented the award during its annual gathering in Berlin. The “Influencer of the Year” category recognizes individuals who are shaping the future of payments. The winner is chosen through public voting on the official MPE website.

As Executive Director of Switchio, a modular payment orchestration solution by Monet+, Kamil has helped shape the company’s strategic direction. He played a key role in positioning Switchio as a trendsetter in the digital payments space. Under his leadership, the platform has expanded across public transport, EV charging, retail, and other verticals. It enables businesses to streamline and secure in-person payments with greater flexibility and control.

With over 20 years of experience in fintech, Kamil is known for his strategic thinking, technical insight, and passion for innovation. This award is a reflection of his ongoing commitment to driving meaningful change in the payments industry — not just through technology, but through leadership that inspires.

The entire Switchio and Monet+ team celebrates this achievement with pride and gratitude. The award also highlights the growing influence of Central European innovation in global fintech conversations.

The post Distinguished Recognition for Kamil Hanáček at MPE 2025 appeared first on Switchio.

How it works

The NAKA Card provides the exact same payment experience as any standard EMV bank card, giving customers full control over their funds together with tap-to-pay convenience.

The key difference is in the technology. Each NAKA Card has a unique public and private key. When a customer makes a payment, the key signs the blockchain transaction and authorizes the transfer of funds from their linked self-custody crypto wallet. The Switchio POS gateway then routes the payment for processing.

For merchants, the experience remains unchanged, with settlement in fiat going to their bank account almost instantly.

A pioneering partnership on the cutting edge of cryptocurrency

As a leading paytech innovator, Switchio has extensive experience with in-person payment processing. Every day, its advanced technologies manage hundreds of thousands of payments all over the world. Its comprehensive platform is opening a clear path to universal cryptocurrency acceptance.

Together with NAKA, Switchio is reshaping the retail sector by providing merchants with cutting-edge technology for optimised acceptance of diverse payment methods.

With Switchio, we have managed to meet the needs of our customers and integrated our pioneering, truly self-custody NAKA Cards. They have been an instrumental partner in helping NAKA provide users with card payments while retaining full custody and control of funds.

Luka Paragi | Chief Product Officer

Solution highlights

• In-person payments via traditional EMV and cryptocurrency side by side on the same POS device
• Blockchain technology empowers users with unprecedented control and flexibility over their financial assets
• Automatic conversion eliminates the need to display prices of goods and services in cryptocurrency
• Seamless integration on comprehensive payment acceptance hardware
• Gives merchants a major advantage over businesses accepting only conventional EMV payments

At Switchio, we’re leaders in terminal app development. Our systems support a wide range of hardware and payment methods, and now, thanks to NAKA, we’ve seamlessly integrated cryptocurrency payments.

Petr Martinek | Application Leader & Product Visionary

The post Powering cryptocurrency revolution in retail appeared first on Switchio.

The goal wasn’t to eliminate cups altogether but to change the way we think about using them. The idea was straightforward: build smart kiosks where people could return their empty cups, get their deposit back, and help the environment—all in one seamless transaction.

Cuploop’s Journey: Revolutionising Reusable Cups

Cuploop’s story begins in Estonia, where a visionary team developed its first reverse vending machines for reusable cups. These machines aren’t just recycling tools—they’re integral to a circular economy, enabling cups to be used, returned, cleaned, and reused, reducing waste.

Switchio powers payment terminals in Cuploop’s kiosks

Cuploop has its own machines with an application that communicates with built- in Switchio’s Ingenico Open 2500 terminal powered by Switchio Pay application. Currently preparing 27 reverse machines with the same number of terminals for everyday use.

A key milestone is the Cuploop Smart Kiosks at the Eden Project in the UK, marking their first permanent installation in the country and the debut of a new payment solution.

Although we made our first deposit refund back in 2020, the journey has been long, filled with challenges, regulations, and the search for the right partners. We are now working with Shift4, an acquirer and payment processor, and Switchio, a gateway provider for transaction routing and payment application services. This collaboration has made our solution a reality.
Christopher Juul | CTO & Co-founder at Cuploop

How it works?

When a customer buys a drink in a reusable cup, a small deposit is added to the purchase. After enjoying their drink, they head to a Cuploop kiosk, tap their bank card on the terminal, and return the cup. The system generates a digital token, which acts as a secure alias for the user’s EMV bank card, and the deposit is refunded instantly.

No hassle, no paperwork—just a simple tap.

We are proud to support Cuploop in bringing circular economy principles into everyday life by enabling seamless and convenient digital payments.
Jakub Svec | Switchio Account Manager

A Global Shift Toward Reuse

It’s estimated that over a trillion single-use cups and bottles could be removed from circulation by 2030 if reusable systems like these become widespread.

Today, only about 5% of packaging for beverages is reusable, but with continued innovation and collaboration, that number could reach 10% in just a few years. The goal isn’t just to recycle cups—it’s to fundamentally change how we think about waste.

The beauty of Cuploop’s system lies in its simplicity. Switchio’s primary role in this project is a Payment Application, tokenization and Gateway provider.

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