Polygon has acquired crypto payment platform Coinme, marking its entry into the payments sector currently dominated by giants like Visa and Stripe. While Visa processed $12.3 trillion in payments volume in fiscal 2025 and Stripe handled $1.9 trillion, Polygon is just beginning its journey in this space. The acquisition aims to address a longstanding challenge for blockchain networks: lacking direct control over the companies generating transactions. By integrating Coinme, Polygon will manage more of the payment process directly, eliminating the need to hand off customers to third parties when moving funds on or off the blockchain.\n\nBoiron, a key figure at Polygon, highlighted that rival blockchains have previously offered financial incentives to payment companies to shift transactions away from Polygon. With the Coinme acquisition, Polygon now operates a regulated business with direct customer relationships, ensuring it retains control over transaction flows. This strategic move not only strengthens Polygon's position but also opens up new revenue streams through its payment services. Transaction fees on the Polygon blockchain remain separate, with priority fees distributed to validators and stakers. Boiron noted that these fees already offset token emissions, with millions of dollars in additional fees benefiting validators and token stakers.