Bluecode
Bluecode is a Swiss-headquartered independent European mobile payment scheme offering account-based NFC, QR, and barcode payments via its app, SDK, and Payment Roaming network. It serves European consumers, banks, merchants, and partner apps across Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, and Italy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersLachen, Switzerland
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Bluecode does
Bluecode (legally Blue Code International AG) is a Swiss-headquartered independent European mobile payment scheme founded in 2017 in Lachen, Switzerland, with operating offices in Vienna and Innsbruck, Austria, and a regional entity in Lagos, Nigeria. The company operates an account-based payment system that enables consumers to pay via NFC, QR code, or barcode without credit or debit card intermediaries, routing transactions through partner banks while keeping processing and data within Europe under GDPR. Its consumer-facing products include the Bluecode App, the prepaid Bluecode Balance (managed by Calida Financial as e-money institution), and the BlueScan merchant acceptance app.
The core technical platform is built around "Payment Roaming," a connectivity framework that allows European-scheme transactions to ride on global partner networks (Discover Global Network for NFC at 70M+ merchants, Alipay+ for QR at up to 88M+ merchants, UnionPay for cross-border, EMPSA-member schemes for European interoperability). The November 2025 launch of the Payment Interoperability Hub extends the platform into interoperability infrastructure serving multiple networks. A Bluecode SDK is embedded into partner banking apps (Raiffeisen, Oberbank, BTV, BKS Bank), loyalty apps (jö Bonus Club, Müller, mobile-pocket), merchant apps (Kaufland), sports fan apps (OneFootball, FC Augsburg, TSG Hoffenheim, KSC, Adler Mannheim), and mobility (ryd). Security relies on one-time anonymous transaction codes readable only by authorized partner banks, and full offline payment functionality is supported.
Bluecode's revenue is generated through transaction fees on merchant acceptance (routed via acquirer partners, principally Calida Financial since January 2026), SDK licensing and Fair-Share revenue shares to partner apps, and Payment Roaming network fees for cross-network processing. The consumer app is free; merchants pay transaction-based fees through acquiring partners with no fixed costs. The company serves four primary segments: European consumers, banks and financial institutions (issuers and acquirers), merchants and retailers, and app developers/platforms embedding the SDK, with a secondary geographic segment in African financial markets via Bluecode Payments Nigeria Limited. Total disclosed funding is approximately €45M+ across 2018, 2019, and 2021 rounds, with the 2021 €20M round led by Hopp Family Office; the company remains privately held.
Bluecode firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bluecode
- Legal name
- Blue Code International AG
- Website
- https://bluecode.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Bluecode is a Swiss-headquartered independent European mobile payment scheme offering account-based NFC, QR, and barcode payments via its app, SDK, and Payment Roaming network. It serves European consumers, banks, merchants, and partner apps across Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, and Italy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bluecode industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mobile Payment Platform
- NAICS
- Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320), Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (52232)
- SIC
- Finance Services (6199)
- akta.pro primary industry
- QR Code Payments Wallets (FSAMAEAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Embedded Payments (Pay-ins, Pay-outs, Wallets) (FSAGALAB), Multi-Currency Accounts, Wallets & IBAN Services (FSAMAIAG)
Keywords
Where Bluecode is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lachen
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Bluecode business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Transaction Fees: Bluecode charges merchants transaction fees through its acquiring partner network (e.g., Calida Financial). Merchants pay competitive transaction fees when accepting Bluecode payments. Bluecode as the scheme processes these transactions and earns a portion of the interchange.
- SDK Licensing and Integration Fees: Bluecode offers its SDK for integration into partner apps (banking apps, loyalty apps, merchant apps). Partners can integrate Bluecode payments and earn revenue through a Fair-Share model - earning a share of each transaction made through their app.
- Payment Roaming Network Fees: Revenue generated from the Payment Roaming hub connecting 60+ local networks to 200+ million acceptance points globally. Bluecode earns network fees for enabling cross-network and cross-border payment processing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free consumer app with no charges for payments |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Merchant transaction fees through Bluecode acquirer partners |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels12 records
Bluecode product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bluecode operates an independent European mobile payment scheme that enables account-based payments via NFC, QR code, and barcode without requiring credit or debit cards. It offers the Bluecode App and Bluecode Balance for consumers, the BlueScan app for merchant acceptance, and the Bluecode SDK for embedding payment functionality into partner banking, loyalty, merchant, and wallet applications. Global reach is enabled through proprietary Payment Roaming technology that connects European processing to Discover Network (70M+ merchants) and Alipay+ (88M+ merchants) while keeping data sovereignty in Europe.
Product overview
Bluecode is a unified European mobile payment platform offering multiple integrated products: the core Bluecode App for consumer mobile payments (NFC, QR, barcode) with both account-based and prepaid (Bluecode Balance) options; BlueScan for merchant acceptance; the Payment Interoperability Hub for cross-network connectivity; Payment Roaming for global reach via Discover Network and Alipay+ (connecting 60+ local networks and 200 million+ acceptance points); and the Bluecode SDK for embedding payment capabilities into partner banking, loyalty, and merchant applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bluecode App The primary Bluecode consumer mobile application enabling account-based mobile payments via NFC, QR code, and barcode. Supports direct bank account connections and prepaid balance top-ups, and works across Europe and globally through partner networks (Discover Network, Alipay+). Free for end users.
- Bluecode Balance A prepaid e-money account feature within the Bluecode app, managed by partner Calida Financial (a licensed e-money institution in Malta). Users top up a balance and use it for all Bluecode payments without requiring a partner bank account, enabling Bluecode for all European users regardless of their bank.
- BlueScan
Quantifiable outcome
- Payments processed at UEFA EURO 2024 demonstrating live cross-border interoperability
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Bluecode
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Bluecode technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Bluecode partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered secondary and core.
- Kingsley Chiedu MoghalusecondaryProfessor Kingsley Chiedu Moghalu, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, appointed as Chairman of Advisory Board of Bluecode Payments Nigeria Limited. Strategic governance appointment aligned with CBN's Payments System Vision 2028 for expanding into Nigerian market.
- Calida FinancialcoreCalida Financial, a licensed e-money institution headquartered in Malta, expanded from being a Bluecode issuing partner (since July 2025) to also become an acquiring partner processing merchant transactions. Partnership enables merchants to accept Bluecode payments with competitive transaction fees and seamless integration across Europe. Calida also manages the Bluecode Balance e-money product.
- UnionPaysecondaryBluecode signed cross-border payment cooperation agreement with UnionPay at their Global Partners Conference 2025 in Shanghai. Part of UnionPay's Joint Initiative on Open Payments building a connected global payment network under the New Four-Party Model.
- The Payments Group (TPG)coreThe Payments Group became the first pan-European issuer of the Bluecode payment system. Partnership provides residents of all Euro-zone countries access to a mobile prepaid payment solution developed entirely in Europe - an alternative to dominant international card systems.
- rydsecondaryPartnership enabling Bluecode payments at more than 5,000 gas stations across Germany and Austria. Drivers can pay for fuel directly through the Bluecode app and other Bluecode-enabled apps using ryd's in-car payment and digital fueling technology.
- Discover Global Network (Discover/Diners Club)coreStrategic cooperation enabling Bluecode payments at over 70 million acceptance points in the Discover Global Network worldwide. Bluecode leverages Payment Roaming to enable NFC payments on iOS and Android through this partnership. All transactions maintain European scheme processing while accepting at Discover merchants globally.
- Bancomat (Italy)coreEMPSA-member partnership enabling users of Bluecode and Bancomat to pay seamlessly in each other's acceptance networks. Cross-border interoperability achieved through EMPSA-defined technical, commercial, and legal standards. Live at UEFA EURO 2024 demonstrating pan-European payment interoperability.
- Alipay+ (Ant International)coreInternational partnership making Bluecode the first Alipay+ partner enabling interoperable payments. Allows Alipay+ merchants to accept digital payments from over 300 Bluecode-connected banks in Germany and Austria. Enables Bluecode users to pay at up to 88 million Alipay+ merchants globally, particularly in Asia. Interoperability launched ahead of UEFA EURO 2024.
- OneFootballcoreCo-development of OneFootball Pay by Bluecode, a mobile payment feature integrated into the OneFootball app. Enabled seamless payments in stadiums and fan zones during UEFA EURO 2024 for merchandise, food, and beverages. After the tournament, OneFootball Pay continues providing payment experience for fans during regular football matches.
- EMPSA (European Mobile Payment Systems Association)coreBluecode co-founded EMPSA to connect existing national payment schemes across Europe, creating a pan-European payment ecosystem. EMPSA now brings together more than a dozen national payment systems ensuring cross-border payment acceptance without non-European infrastructure. Bluecode developed interoperability standards used by EMPSA.
- Secure Payment Technologies GmbHsecondaryEU data protection representative (Art. 27 GDPR) for Blue Code International AG. Contact point for supervisory authorities and data subjects in all questions related to EU data protection law. Registered in Innsbruck, Austria.
- hobexsecondaryDigital onboarding partner that co-developed the merchant self-service signup form with Bluecode, enabling merchants to register and start accepting Bluecode in approximately 15 minutes.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Bluecode competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- TWINT: Swiss mobile payment app offering account-based QR/NFC payments from bank accounts; the most direct domestic peer to Bluecode, sharing Swiss market, EMPSA membership, and a similar consumer-proposition.
- Satispay: Italian account-based mobile payment network operating independently of card networks, with merchant and consumer apps; closely mirrors Bluecode's account-based, no-card model and is also a Bancomat/EMPSA ecosystem participant.
- MobilePay (Vipps MobilePay): Nordic mobile payment network formed from the merger of Vipps (Norway) and MobilePay (Denmark/Finland), offering P2P and in-store QR payments via bank integration — a directly comparable European mobile-only payment scheme.
- Payconiq International: Benelux-focused mobile payment scheme offering QR-based bank-account payments, with EMPSA membership; directly comparable in product (QR account payments) and target market (European retailers and consumers).
- Swish: Sweden's bank-owned mobile payment service, account-based and deeply integrated with Swedish banks; another EMPSA-aligned national scheme that is a directly comparable European peer.
Broad incumbents
- Apple Pay: Global digital wallet built into iOS, accepted at virtually all NFC terminals; represents the dominant consumer-side incumbent Bluecode must displace for in-store mobile payment share.
- Google Pay: Android-native digital wallet with global NFC and online acceptance; second major device-level incumbent competing for the same European consumer payment occasions.
Emerging players
- European Payments Initiative (Wero): Bank-led European initiative to build a unified P2P and e-commerce payment solution across Eurozone countries; competing for the same 'sovereign European payments' positioning as Bluecode, with substantially larger institutional backing.
Others
- Discover Global Network: International card scheme and Bluecode's global acceptance partner (70M+ merchants); adjacent rather than competitive — relevant peer because it represents the route through which Bluecode reaches NFC acceptance globally.
- Alipay+ (Ant International): Ant International's global QR payment network reaching 88M+ merchants; a Bluecode partner and adjacent ecosystem player that is also building cross-network payment acceptance rails relevant to Bluecode's model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat7 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bluecode social profiles
Digital presenceBluecode compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Bluecode financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bluecode leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Bluecode subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Bluecode funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bluecode M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bluecode
What does Bluecode do?
Bluecode operates an independent European mobile payment scheme that enables account-based payments via NFC, QR code, and barcode without requiring credit or debit cards. It offers the Bluecode App and Bluecode Balance for consumers, the BlueScan app for merchant acceptance, and the Bluecode SDK for embedding payment functionality into partner banking, loyalty, merchant, and wallet applications. Global reach is enabled through proprietary Payment Roaming technology that connects European processing to Discover Network (70M+ merchants) and Alipay+ (88M+ merchants) while keeping data sovereignty in Europe.
Is Bluecode a public or private company?
Bluecode is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Bluecode founded?
Bluecode was founded in 2017. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Bluecode based?
Bluecode is headquartered in Lachen, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Bluecode make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Transaction Fees are the primary driver. The others are SDK Licensing and Integration Fees and payment Roaming Network Fees.
Who are Bluecode's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are TWINT, Satispay, MobilePay (Vipps MobilePay), Payconiq International and Swish. Broad incumbents are Apple Pay and Google Pay. European Payments Initiative (Wero) is listed as an emerging player. Others are Discover Global Network and Alipay+ (Ant International).
Does Bluecode have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bluecode.
What industry is Bluecode in?
Bluecode's product category is Mobile Payment Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAMAEAC, QR Code Payments Wallets, with a secondary code of FSAGALAB, Embedded Payments (Pay-ins, Pay-outs, Wallets). Its NAICS code is 522320 and its SIC code is 6199.