The BNPL ecosystem saw a strategic acceleration in March, with BNPL getting integrated into everyday spending, regional ecosystems, and formal credit systems.

• Klarna’s collaboration with DoorDash underscores the growing relevance of BNPL in everyday spending categories like food and groceries—a key move toward habitual usage. Meanwhile, Adyen and Affirm’s expansion into the UK demonstrates how major payment processors are embedding BNPL deeper into merchant checkout flows.
• In MENA, Checkout.com and Tabby’s partnership responds to rising digital payment adoption in UAE and Saudi Arabia, positioning BNPL as a vital lever for merchant growth in emerging markets. Klarna’s dual move—filing for a US IPO while integrating with Walmart’s OnePay for loan underwriting—signals ambitions to cement its foothold in the US with both capital access and institutional alliances.
• The Affirm X Experian partnership reflects a critical step toward bridging short-term financing and long-term creditworthiness—an essential evolution as BNPL firms face increasing regulatory and consumer trust scrutiny.