Marqeta Recognized in Juniper Research's 2026 Embedded Finance Leaderboard
Marqeta, Inc. (NASDAQ: MQ), the modern card issuing platform, today announced it has been named a top Established Leader in Juniper Research's 2026 Embedded Finance report. The ranking recognizes companies delivering the most comprehensive and innovative embedded finance infrastructure, spanning card issuing, processing, global program management, and next-generation payment capabilities.
"This recognition from Juniper Research reflects the breadth and depth of the platform Marqeta has built to power embedded finance at scale," said Mike Milotich, CEO of Marqeta. "Our platform provides businesses with the flexibility and control they need to create payment experiences that reflect their unique needs, whether that's a fintech issuing its first card, an enterprise expanding into new countries, or a company launching a flexible credential card that switches between payment methods. We continue to invest in capabilities that make Marqeta the trusted infrastructure layer for the full financial lifecycle."
The Juniper Research report highlights Marqeta's comprehensive API-driven platform as a key strength, noting its ability to enable businesses to build, manage, and control payment card programs without becoming a bank themselves, positioning Marqeta not merely as a card issuing vendor, but as the foundational infrastructure layer on which other companies' embedded finance products are built.
Marqeta Leadership Highlighted by Juniper Research
Global Scale and Multinational Capabilities: Marqeta is certified to operate in more than 40 countries, with 12 of its top 15 customers in FY 2025 already using its technology across multiple geographies. Its 2025 acquisition of TransactPay, a BIN Sponsorship provider licensed as an E-Money Institution in the UK and European Economic Area, further strengthened Marqeta's standing in Europe and its ability to support customers expanding internationally through a single platform integration.
Flexible Credentials: Marqeta is on the forefront of payments innovation, including support for advanced features such as flexible credential solutions, which enable users to access multiple funding sources, debit, credit, BNPL or rewards, from a single payment card. Marqeta was the first US processor certified for Visa Flexible Credential (VFC) in 2024, with VFC cards launched for Affirm, Block, and Klarna, and also support for Mastercard’s flexible credential offering, Mastercard One Credential. These innovations highlight the platform’s ability to adapt to evolving network standards and deliver functionality that enables clients to create customizable payment experiences.
AI-Powered Risk and Real-Time Decisioning: In March 2026, Marqeta enhanced its Real-Time Decisioning offering with an AI-powered risk score that analyzes transaction risk at the point of authorization, evaluating 300+ real-time transaction attributes against historical behavioral patterns with millisecond response times, helping customers reduce fraud and false declines simultaneously.
Stablecoin-Backed Cards: Through strategic partnerships with BVNK and zerohash, Marqeta will enable stablecoin-backed card solutions that link directly to existing card rails, making it possible to use stablecoins for purchases anywhere a card is accepted, without additional integrations or regulatory burdens.
With Marqeta’s platform, a business can move from initial concept to a fully live card program simply by assembling these interconnected pieces rather than having to negotiate separately with banks, card networks and fraud prevention vendors. Key customers including Block, DoorDash, Google, Instacart, Klarna, Ramp, and Uber rely on this infrastructure to power their card programs globally. The company processed nearly $400 billion in payments volume in 2025.
The Marqeta overview in the Juniper Research report can be found here.
