In a bold move that signals a massive shift in the cryptocurrency industry, Polygon Labs has officially entered into definitive agreements to acquire two major crypto startups—Coinme and Sequence—in a deal valued at over $250 million.
This is more than just a strategic expansion; it is a declaration of intent. By integrating these two powerhouses, Polygon Labs is building a comprehensive, end-to-end on-chain payment stack known as the Polygon Open Money Stack. This move positions Polygon to compete directly with traditional fintech giants like Stripe by offering a blockchain-native alternative for global value transfer.
But what does this $250 million bet mean for the average user and the future of digital finance?
Why Coinme and Sequence?
To understand Polygon’s vision, we must look at the unique strengths of the two acquired companies:
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Coinme: The Gateway to Regulated Fiat Rails
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Founded in 2014, Coinme is one of the oldest and most regulated digital currency exchanges in the U.S. It holds Money Transmitter Licenses (MTLs) in 48 states and operates the largest crypto cash network in the country with over 50,000 retail locations. For Polygon, Coinme provides the essential compliant crypto-fiat gateway, allowing users to move seamlessly between physical cash and digital assets.
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Sequence: The Engine for Seamless Web3 UX
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Sequence is a pioneer in Web3 infrastructure, famous for its smart contract wallets and its "Intents Engine." Their technology is designed to hide the complexities of blockchain—such as gas fees, bridging, and swapping—making on-chain interactions as simple as a single click.
The Future of the Polygon Open Money Stack
This acquisition focuses on three pillars that are critical for the next stage of crypto adoption: Polygon stablecoin payment solutions, compliant crypto-to-fiat gateways, and the Web3 frictionless payment experience.
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A "Stripe in Reverse": High-Efficiency Polygon Stablecoin Payment Solutions
Polygon founder Sandeep Nailwal has described this strategy as "Stripe in reverse." While Stripe is a traditional payment giant moving into crypto, Polygon is a blockchain leader building a vertically integrated fintech stack.
For users, Polygon stablecoin payment solutions mean near-instant settlement. Traditional cross-border wire transfers can take days and incur heavy fees. Within the Open Money Stack, whether it’s a global remittance or a merchant payment, transactions happen in seconds with predictable, low-cost pricing.
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Breaking Down Barriers: The Compliant Crypto-to-Fiat Gateway
The "last mile" of crypto has always been the hardest: getting money in and out of the system. By leveraging Coinme’s extensive regulatory footprint, Polygon is establishing a compliant crypto-to-fiat gateway that bridges the gap between the bank account and the blockchain.
Imagine being able to deposit cash at a local kiosk and seeing it reflected instantly as a stablecoin in your Polygon wallet, or withdrawing your on-chain earnings to a local retail point. This physical-to-digital synergy is the key to achieving true mass adoption.
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Technology Made Invisible: The Web3 Frictionless Payment Experience
Complexity is the enemy of adoption. Sequence’s technology allows Polygon to offer a Web3 frictionless payment experience where the "crypto" part happens entirely in the background.
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Gasless Transactions: Merchants or "paymasters" can cover transaction fees for users.
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One-Click Interoperability: Users don’t need to worry about which chain their assets are on; the system handles the cross-chain orchestration automatically.
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Social Onboarding: Users can create secure wallets using just an email or social media login, removing the need to manage complex 24-word seed phrases.
How Will This Change Your Life?
Whether you are a crypto enthusiast or a business owner looking for better payment rails, the impact of this $250 million acquisition will be felt in several ways:
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Payments as Simple as Messaging: Shopping at an e-commerce store that supports Polygon will feel no different from using Apple Pay or PayPal.
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Institutional-Grade Security: With regulated licenses and mature wallet infrastructure, your funds are protected by both high-end cryptography and legal compliance.
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Wider Financial Inclusion: People without traditional bank accounts can now access global financial services through the 50,000+ physical touchpoints provided by the Coinme network.
The Stablecoin Era Begins
As we move through 2026, stablecoins are evolving from "trading collateral" into "programmable money." With the passage of key legislation like the Genius Act in the U.S., the regulatory path for stablecoin payments is becoming clearer.
Polygon Labs’ acquisition of Coinme and Sequence is a $250 million hedge on a future where all money eventually moves on-chain. By controlling the wallet, the gateway, and the settlement layer, Polygon is no longer just a scaling solution for Ethereum—it is becoming the Global Payment Network for the digital age.