Japanese shipping giant Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) is acquiring Germany-based salary payment platform Kadmos, a move set to enhance its fintech services in the maritime sector. Though financial terms remain undisclosed, the acquisition is expected to finalize within weeks.
Expanding MarCoPay’s Global Reach
NYK Line launched its fintech platform, MarCoPay, in 2019 to provide loans and insurance to Filipino seafarers. With the acquisition of Kadmos, founded by MIT alumni Justus Schmueser and Sasha Makarovych in 2021, NYK aims to expand MarCoPay’s reach beyond the Philippines, integrating global payroll capabilities to serve seafarers of all nationalities.
“By combining Kadmos’ global network with MarCoPay’s strengths in the Philippines, we aim to offer seamless digital payroll services to the global maritime workforce,” Makarovych said.
Kadmos to Bring Cross-Border Payments and Corporate Cards
Kadmos, which already supports over 40 enterprise customers, plans to broaden its offerings to include cross-border B2B payments, corporate cards, and financial services tailored for the cruise industry. The Kadmos team will remain in place, with minor management adjustments to align with NYK’s growth strategy.
Standing Apart in Maritime Digital Payments
Despite competition from platforms like MarTrust, ShipMoney, and Brightwell, Kadmos differentiates itself with end-to-end capabilities, virtual POS devices, peer-to-peer transfers, and flexible pricing that aligns with the Maritime Labor Convention.
“Our solution enables cashless operations onboard ships and offers fast deployment without complex logistics,” said Makarovych.
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With the acquisition of Kadmos, NYK Line is positioning itself at the forefront of maritime digital payments — modernizing payroll services for a global workforce and driving innovation in fintech for the shipping industry.
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