Visa acquires Prisma, Newpay to expand in Argentina

• The acquisition will help Visa fast-track deployment of tokenization, biometric authentication, and intelligent risk management tools for Argentine consumers and businesses
• Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed, with closing expected in the first quarter of 2026
• Visa sees significant opportunities to expand digital payments adoption and modernize financial services infrastructure across Argentina

Visa Acquires Prisma and Newpay to Expand Argentine Presence

Key Transaction Details:

Visa announced on February 19th the acquisition of payment platforms Prisma and Newpay from private-equity firm Advent International. Financial terms were not disclosed, and the deal is expected to close in Q1 2026.

Strategic Rationale:

The acquisition significantly strengthens Visa's footprint in Argentina, enabling the card giant to accelerate deployment of advanced payment technologies including tokenization, biometric authentication, and intelligent risk management tools for both consumers and businesses.

Market Implications:

According to Gabriela Renaudo, Visa's Group Country Manager for Argentina and Southern Cone, the company sees "significant opportunities to expand digital payments adoption and modernize financial services, capabilities and infrastructure across the country." This signals Visa's bullish outlook on Argentina's fintech market despite the country's economic challenges.

Companies Involved:

• Visa (buyer): Global payments technology leader expanding Latin American operations
• Advent International (seller): Private equity firm divesting Argentine payment assets
• Prisma and Newpay (acquired): Local payment platform operators

Sector Context:

The deal reflects broader consolidation trends in Latin American fintech and digital payments, as global payment processors seek to capture market share in emerging economies with growing digital adoption rates. Argentina presents particular opportunities for payment infrastructure modernization, despite ongoing economic volatility.

The acquisition positions Visa to compete more effectively against other payment processors and fintech players in one of South America's largest economies.