Calida to process Bluecode transactions across Europe

By Vriti Gothi

Calida Financial has expanded its role within the Bluecode network, becoming an acquiring partner for the European mobile payment scheme as both companies seek to strengthen their footprint in the region’s ecommerce market.

The announcement, made in Berlin to join Bluecode as an issuing partner, offering a European-wide prepaid solution. With the addition of acquiring capabilities, Calida will now process transactions made via Bluecode, enabling merchants to access issuing and acquiring services through a single provider.

Bluecode operates as a European-built mobile payment system designed to facilitate app-based and in-store transactions across multiple markets. The scheme is interoperable across Europe and connected to local merchant acceptance networks in dozens of countries, positioning it as a regional alternative within an increasingly competitive digital payments landscape.

The partnership targets high-frequency, mobile-centric sectors including fashion, videogaming, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), travel, and digital services. These segments often require a scalable payment infrastructure capable of handling cross-border demand and rapid growth in transaction volumes.

By acting as both issuer and acquirer, Calida aims to simplify integration for merchants expanding across borders. According to Jens Bader, CEO of Calida Financial, the objective is to help businesses manage international growth without adding operational complexity.

For Bluecode, the expanded partnership strengthens its embedded commerce strategy. Chris Pirkner, CEO of Bluecode, said, “The collaboration provides local and pan-European merchants with access to a payment solution designed for app-based integration and scalable transaction processing. Our partnership enables local and pan-European merchants to access a seamlessly embedded payment solution with an attractive business case, efficient transaction handling, and a scalable architecture. Integration into merchant apps is one example of how we support modern ecommerce use cases.”

The move reflects broader efforts among European payment players to build regional infrastructure capable of competing with global card networks and digital wallet providers. As ecommerce growth continues to drive demand for cross-border interoperability and cost efficiency, partnerships that consolidate issuing and acquiring services may become increasingly central to merchant strategies across the continent.