Promoted feature: Fintech in emerging markets
AstroPay's CEO Mikael Lijtenstein talks to EGR about the role of fintech in emerging markets and how it’s contributing to digital transformation and financial inclusion
EGR: Please give us a brief history of AstroPay since it was founded and its USP today. Mikael Lijtenstein (ML):EGR: How did the Covid-19 pandemic accelerate the growth of fintech and online payments?ML:EGR: How would you characterise the state of mobile payments in emerging markets such as Asia, Africa and Latam? ML: EGR: Can you tell us about what AstroPay offers in emerging markets? ML:EGR: What are the key lessons from operating in these parts of the world?ML:EGR: How does AstroPay aid with payments in igaming and how much potential do you see in this area for the business?ML:EGR: What are the main challenges igaming companies face when it comes to payments?ML:EGR: AstroPay has partnered with a number of high-profile football and other sports clubs. How does this help with credibility and brand awareness?ML:EGR: What fintech trends do you see developing in emerging markets?ML:EGR: Do you have any predictions for the future of fintech payments and what’s next for AstroPay? ML:Mikael Lijtenstein is the CEO of AstroPay, a pioneering payment solution for consumers making online purchases on international sites. Before becoming CEO in November 2019, he was AstroPay’s chief operating officer, responsible for sales and operations, product development and innovation across multiple markets including Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe. Lijtenstein has considerable technical expertise and experience in providing cross-border payments and connecting global merchants to emerging markets.