London-based fintech Yaspa has secured $12 million in fresh funding to accelerate its entry into the U.S. market, with the round led by Discerning Capital. The investment will support the rollout of Yaspa’s real-time, account-to-account (A2A) payments platform within the regulated gambling sector.
Discerning Capital contributed over $10 million, citing Yaspa’s potential to disrupt gambling payments by offering faster, safer transactions and integrated player protections. Longtime investor TechStars Ventures also took part in the round.
Yaspa, which specializes in AI-driven payment and identity solutions, has already established a presence across European markets and has now incorporated a U.S. entity in Atlanta, Georgia.
Real-Time Payments Tailored for iGaming
At the core of Yaspa’s technology is its Intelligent Payments system, which enables instant, secure bank transfers combined with identity verification and behavioral analytics. Built on open banking and AI, it eliminates the need for cards, apps, or passwords—streamlining both deposits and withdrawals for gambling operators and players alike.
The platform also offers dashboards for real-time insights into user activity, compliance, and risk. For operators, the system promises fewer chargebacks, reduced fraud, and lower processing fees compared to legacy payment systems.
CEO James Neville, who co-founded Yaspa in 2017 after serving as CTO at Worldpay, sees the U.S. expansion as a natural next step.
“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,” said Neville. “We’re looking forward to supporting businesses that want to lead on compliance, player safety and user experience as the market matures.”
U.S. Open Banking Growth Creates Opportunity
Yaspa’s move comes as open banking gains ground in the United States. According to a 2024 Markets and Data report, the U.S. open banking sector is projected to grow from $7.08 billion in 2023 to $35.79 billion by 2031—a 22.5% compound annual growth rate.
With demand rising for faster, personalized financial tools, fintechs like Yaspa are well-positioned to fill the gap. The Atlanta base will serve as the company’s hub for hiring, product localization, and regulatory engagement.
Built-In Player Protections
Yaspa’s platform also emphasizes responsible gambling. Through real-time affordability checks and AI-driven risk analysis, operators can flag risky behavior and protect vulnerable users—an increasingly important priority for regulators in both the U.K. and U.S.
Supported by Innovate UK, Yaspa is developing tools to integrate financial safety checks directly into payment flows.
“With Innovate UK’s support, Yaspa will play a pivotal role in the future of compliance within the gambling sector,” Neville added.
Discerning Capital partner David Williams, who joins Yaspa’s board, reinforced the platform’s relevance:
“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.”
With speed, intelligence, and compliance built into its design, Yaspa is positioning itself as a key player in the future of U.S. gambling payments.
Source:
“Yaspa receives $12m investment led by Discerning Capital to fuel US expansion”, yaspa.com, Jul 2, 2025
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