iGaming payments provider Yaspa raises $12 million to expand into U.S. market

London-based fintech Yaspa has secured $12 million in funding to drive its expansion into the United States. The round was led by Discerning Capital, with participation from Metavallon and TechStars Ventures.

The company has already launched a U.S. entity in Atlanta, Georgia, and plans to use the funds to build a local team, form partnerships, and adapt its platform for the American market.

CEO James Neville, who co-founded Yaspa in 2017 after serving as CTO at Worldpay, said: “This significant investment marks a major milestone for Yaspa. It enables us to take our proven technology into a new market at pace – hiring a local team, building strategic partnerships, and adapting our platform to meet the specific needs of operators."

Yaspa provides real-time payment and identity services using open banking and AI. Its platform, Intelligent Payments, is designed for regulated businesses, offering faster transactions, better cash flow, and built-in customer protections.

Discerning Capital, which invests in sectors like online gambling and sports tech, sees Yaspa’s technology as a strong fit for regulated gambling operators. The company, headquartered in London, already processes payments across a growing number of markets, including Europe.

"The high-risk nature of gambling payments makes it an area in need of innovation, and we believe Yaspa addresses two of the biggest issues: chargebacks and player protections," said David Williams, Partner at Discerning Capital, who will join Yaspa’s board. "We believe that any operator who evaluates Yaspa's A2A product versus their existing payments provider will end up adding Yaspa."

The U.S. open banking market is projected to grow from $7.08 billion in 2023 to $35.79 billion by 2031, according to a 2024 industry report. Yaspa aims to be a major player in that growth.