xpate brings card acquiring, business banking, currency exchange, and payouts together to simplify cross-border payments for digital businesses, helping reduce settlement delays, manual work and reliance on disconnected financial systems.

In this interview, xpate CEO and Founder Mike Shafro discusses the fragmentation behind these challenges and the decisions involved in building a more connected payment experience. The conversation explores cross-border payments for fintechs, e-commerce businesses and regulated industries, including multi-currency management, compliance and access to funds.

Mike Shafro also shares a turning point in xpate’s development: moving from exploring multiple markets and services to validating customer demand before building. His perspective connects the practical challenges of international money movement with the choices fintech founders face when deciding what to build, which customers to serve, and where to focus next.