Payments platform ZBD has raised $40 million in Series C financing to support its growth in game and app payments. The round was led by Blockstream Capital Partners (BCP) and will fund ZBD’s expansion as a licensed, vertically integrated payments provider tailored for the gaming industry.
The company plans to use the funding to scale its mobile payouts business and expand licensing and commercial operations across North America, Europe, Latin America (LATAM), and the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. Through 2026, ZBD intends to release new developer tools, platform upgrades, and additional integrations for mobile, PC, and console games.
Native Payments for Games and Virtual Worlds
ZBD positions itself as a payments infrastructure solution for games and virtual worlds, allowing real money to flow directly through content. Simon Cowell, CEO and co-founder of ZBD, explained that the platform gives developers and publishers full control over their payments systems, which helps maximize revenue and create additional monetization opportunities embedded directly in gameplay.
Ben Cousens, chief strategy officer at ZBD, added that the company’s goal is to simplify in-game financial systems. Traditional game rewards and payment methods can be slow and cumbersome, but ZBD leverages the Lightning network to deliver payments quickly while giving developers flexibility in how rewards are presented to players.
Expanding Global Reach and Platform Capabilities
With the Series C funding, ZBD aims to strengthen its infrastructure and broaden its commercial reach globally. The company’s platform upgrades and developer tools are designed to support a wider range of games and enhance monetization options. By providing a full-stack solution, ZBD targets publishers and developers seeking to streamline payments and reward systems within games, while also preparing for broader adoption in web3-enabled game environments.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is ZBD?
ZBD is a payments platform focused on the gaming industry. It provides developers and publishers with tools to manage mobile payouts, in-game rewards, and monetization systems across multiple platforms.
How much funding did ZBD raise?
ZBD raised $40 million in Series C financing led by Blockstream Capital Partners.
What will the funding be used for?
The funding will support scaling mobile payouts, expanding licensing and commercial operations globally, and developing new tools, platform upgrades, and game integrations.
Which regions is ZBD targeting for expansion?
ZBD plans to expand across North America, Europe, LATAM, and APAC.
How does ZBD improve payments in games?
ZBD enables native payments in games and virtual worlds, allowing real money to flow directly through content. The platform also uses the Lightning network to speed up transactions and provides flexibility in how rewards are delivered to players.
Does ZBD support web3 games?
Yes, ZBD’s platform is designed to integrate with web3-enabled games, offering native payment solutions that can support blockchain-based rewards and transactions.
