Expanding open and inclusive payment infrastructure is central to the Interledger Foundation’s mission, which is why the addition of  FLIQA as a recipient of the Digital Financial Services (DFS) Grant 2025 is so exciting for us.

Fliqa, a Slovenia-based fintech founded in 2020, is integrating Open Payments and Interledger Protocol into its open banking solutions — expanding access to real-time, low-cost, and interoperable digital payments.

Fliqa enables merchants to replace expensive card payments with direct transfers between 3,000 banks via its partnership with IbanXS. By adding support for Open Payments into its online checkout solution and partnering with GateHub to offer merchants an Open Payments-enabled account, Fliqa will expand its offering of instant, low-fee payment options for merchants. Fliqa currently provides service within the European Union, with service in Colombia and the United Arab Emirates expected soon.

At the core of this integration is a shared desire that “value should move as easily as information does on the internet, and no single network, geography, or intermediary should be a bottleneck.” 

Nina Strajnar, Director at Fliqa reflects on the partnership stating:

“Interledger’s open technology is designed specifically to connect fragmented payment systems, which aligns with our goal of building truly open, bank-to-bank payment experiences rather than adding yet another closed system. Working with the Interledger Foundation helps us scale inclusion by design, not as an afterthought.”

By complementing traditional banking infrastructure with the Interledger Protocol (ILP), Fliqa is strengthening financial inclusion, empowering SMEs, micro-entrepreneurs, and underserved communities with secure, low-cost alternatives to card and cash-based systems.

Chris Lawrence, Chief Program Officer at the Interledger Foundation, added:

“Fliqa demonstrates how Open Payments can improve the accessibility and usability of advancements in underlying banking infrastructure. These new types of regulated financial service providers can make money move seamlessly across systems, borders, and currencies using free and open source software.”

Together, we are working towards a shared mission to build open financial infrastructure that ensures money can move seamlessly across systems, borders, and currencies.