Stripe has acquired Orum, a fintech specializing in real-time payment infrastructure, as the payments giant continues expanding its capabilities beyond traditional card processing.
Orum has built technology that enables instant bank-to-bank transfers, leveraging real-time payment rails like RTP and FedNow in the United States. The acquisition gives Stripe direct access to this infrastructure and expertise, allowing it to offer merchants and platforms more payment options beyond credit and debit cards.
Real-time payments have been gaining traction as consumers and businesses seek faster, lower-cost alternatives to card networks. Bank-to-bank transfers can reduce transaction fees while providing immediate settlement, making them attractive for certain use cases like bill payments, payroll, and high-value transactions.
For Stripe, adding real-time payment capabilities addresses a growing market need and positions the company to compete more effectively with specialized providers in the account-to-account payment space. The move also aligns with broader industry trends toward instant payments and open banking.
Orum's team and technology will join Stripe, with the real-time payment capabilities expected to be integrated into Stripe's platform over time. Existing Orum customers will transition to Stripe, gaining access to the company's broader suite of payment and financial services tools.
The acquisition reflects Stripe's strategy of building a comprehensive payment infrastructure that supports multiple payment methods and use cases. As payment preferences evolve and new rails emerge, having diverse capabilities becomes increasingly important for payment processors.
Real-time payments represent a significant opportunity in the US market, where adoption has been slower than in some other regions but is now accelerating with the launch of FedNow and growing merchant and consumer interest in instant transfers.