Payments solutions provider AstroPay has announced a partnership with Visa to launch a prepaid card in Peru as part of the company’s ongoing plans to expand access to the digital economy in emerging markets.

The card, issued by Tebca Perú will allow users to make purchases at any ecommerce store that accepts Visa. Users will be able to activate and use the prepaid card instantly without any charge and use it to make purchases online in both US dollars and Peruvian Soles.

This is AstroPay’s latest prepaid card launch, having previously launched it in the UK. The company said that it will expand it to the rest of Latin America, including Brazil (where it launched a prepaid Mastercard in November 2022), Mexico and Argentina.

Commenting on the launch, Guillermo Dotta, chief technology officer and chief product officer at AstroPay, said: “It is a great time for AstroPay to strengthen its position as a key player in Peru’s growing payments industry. Standing on our existing operations in the country, we are not only offering our existing and new users a simpler experience with their finances but also creating a frictionless experience for unbanked customers looking to enter the financial system.”

Gilberto Chaparro, general manager for Visa Peru, said: "At Visa, we work with FinTechs around the world to transform the digital payments industry and offer more and more people and businesses the benefits of digitalization. We celebrate our work with AstroPay, with whom we developed a solution that will enable more Peruvians to have access to fast, secure and convenient payments.”

Elsewhere, Visa is being sued by a shareholder, Operating Engineers Construction Industry, to disclose details about its relationship with adult entertainment site operator MindGeek. The shareholder seeks to inspect MindGeek’s books and records over allegations that Visa has facilitated the unlawful trafficking of child pornography.

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