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FinTechs belonging to this category offer alternative payment services which are supposed to provide a faster and cheaper way for national, European, and international payments for private and business customers by using new technologies.
For example, payment service providers hereby offer solutions to easily integrate several payment services in online shops.
Some FinTechs furthermore provide real cash register systems and online-reservation solutions for restaurants and shops providing their own payment services or making use of the payment services of FinTechs described above.
Introduction
Attitude of the country towards modern payment services
Mexico is emerging as one of Latin America’s most dynamic digital payments ecosystems—a market where robust public infrastructure, modern fintech regulation, and an entrepreneurial culture converge. The 2018 Fintech Law positioned Mexico as a regulatory pioneer, and public initiatives like SPEI, CoDi, and DiMo have laid the technical groundwork for real-time, low-cost, and interoperable transactions.
Notwithstanding the above, despite significant growth in mobile banking, wallet penetration, and fintech licensing, persistent structural challenges remain: cash remains dominant for low-value purchases, informal employment reduces access to formal credit, and gaps in financial and digital literacy continue to limit user participation. At the same time, crypto and stablecoin-based rails are gaining ground, opening new possibilities for cross-border payments and treasury management.
Legal affairs
Obligations and requirements to provide payment services or ancillary services described above
While not every payment activity requires a license, certain roles within the payment ecosystem—such as issuing electronic funds—are regulated and require prior authorisation from the Mexican regulators. Other actors, such as payment aggregators, are not subject to licensing but must be registered with the CNBV in accordance with applicable transparency regulations. For those products that do require an authorisation, Mexican law provides a minimum capitalisation, as well as other governance, compliance and security requirements. The level of capitalisation will depend on the exact type of business model presented to the CNBV.
FinTechs belonging to this category typically operate as either IFPEs or payment aggregators, each with distinct regulatory roles. IFPEs are licensed by the CNBV under the Fintech Law to issue and manage electronic payment funds. They can offer digital wallets that allow users to store money, make purchases, transfer funds, and pay for services such as electricity or telecom. IFPEs may also be authorised to operate with foreign currencies and, under specific conditions, with virtual assets like cryptocurrencies.
Payment aggregators, by contrast, are not licenced but must be registered with the CNBV. They enable merchants to accept electronic payments (e.g., debit or credit cards) without holding user funds. Their role is primarily technical and commercial—acting as intermediaries between end-users and acquiring institutions—while IFPEs provide broader payment and fund management capabilities.