As payments continue to evolve, merchants need more than security from tokenization. They need flexibility, independence, and a foundation that won’t box them in as their business grows.
That’s why IXOPAY is launching three new packages for tokenization and payment connectivity, establishing a token-first standard for secure, scalable, and independent payments—built for today’s needs and the future of agentic commerce.
We sat down with Peter Papaioannou, Chief Product Officer at IXOPAY, to talk about why these packages were created, who they’re for, and how they help merchants simplify payments today while preparing for AI-driven commerce tomorrow.
Q: Peter, let’s start with the big picture. Why introduce tokenization packages now?
Peter:
The payments industry is highly fragmented, and that fragmentation creates a lot of unnecessary complexity for merchants. At IXOPAY, our mission is to simplify that complexity while giving businesses more control over their payments infrastructure.
Tokenization has become foundational to how payments work, not just how they’re secured. But historically, merchants have had to build that foundation themselves, stitching together components over time.
With these packages, we wanted to remove much of the upfront guesswork and busy work. Instead of forcing merchants to assemble everything piece by piece, we’re saying: Here’s what works best based on what you’re trying to do, right out of the gate.
It’s the difference between wandering around a hardware store searching for the right tools versus getting a well-designed kit that’s ready to go.
Q: How does that translate into real value for merchants?
Peter:
Speed, clarity, and confidence.
Merchants don’t just want secure payments, they want to move quickly, avoid rework, and know they’re making decisions that won’t limit them later. These packages give you a strong, future-ready foundation from day one instead of requiring upgrades or re-architecture down the line.
A metaphor I like is Blue Apron. You’re still doing the cooking, meaning you still control your checkout, user experience, and routing, but the core ingredients are already measured and prepared. That leads to better outcomes with far less friction.
Q: You’re launching three packages. Can you walk us through them at a high level?
Peter:
Absolutely. We’re launching:
TokenEx Core: A token-first foundation that combines Universal Tokens and Network Tokens to help merchants securely own their payment data, reduce PCI scope, and avoid processor lock-in from day one.
TokenEx Connect: Built on Core, Connect adds pre-built payment service provider integrations that enable faster multi-processor strategies, smarter routing, and greater operational flexibility at scale.
Alternative Payments: A turnkey package that expands acceptance beyond cards by enabling popular local and alternative payment methods to improve conversion and customer experience without added integration complexity.
Each package is purpose-built to support a different stage of a merchant’s payments journey — from establishing ownership and independence to scaling globally and expanding payment acceptance.
TokenEx Core: The New Standard for Modern Payments
Q: Who is TokenEx Core for?
Peter:
TokenEx Core is for any merchant or platform that wants to own their payment data, reduce PCI scope, and build flexibility into their payments stack.
If you’re moving off a single-PSP setup, planning for multi-processor payments, or simply want a secure, future-ready foundation without processor lock-in, Core should be your starting point.
Q: What makes TokenEx Core different than other solutions?
Peter:
The key difference is that Core combines Universal Tokens and Network Tokens into a single, cohesive framework.
Network Tokens are excellent for optimizing recurring and card-on-file payments. They can drive higher approval rates and lower processing costs. Universal Tokens, meanwhile, provide portability and flexibility across processors and endpoints.
By combining both, merchants don’t have to choose. For example, you can use Network Tokens where they perform best and rely on Universal Tokens everywhere else. That optionality creates resiliency, improves approvals, and reduces dependency on any single provider.
Q: How does connectivity fit into Core?
Peter:
Core includes our Transparent Gateway API, which acts as a secure pass-through layer. It allows merchants to connect tokenized data to any PSP or third-party endpoint like payments, fraud, loyalty, or other services, without exposing sensitive data.
This enables multi-processor strategies, routing and re-routing transactions, and full data ownership, all while significantly reducing PCI scope by storing token values instead of card data.
TokenEx Connect: Built for Businesses Scaling Across Providers
Q: How does TokenEx Connect build on Core?
Peter:
TokenEx Connect includes everything in Core — Universal Tokens, Network Tokens, and secure token storage — and adds adaptive payment connectivity through IXOPAY’s Payment Services.
Instead of building individual PSP integrations, merchants get access to pre-built connections to 20+ payment service providers, removing roughly 90% of the integration effort. This makes it easier to optimize acceptance rates, lower costs, and adapt routing strategies over time.
Think of Core as flexibility with full control, and Connect as the express lane — same foundation, faster time to value.
Q: Who should choose Connect over Core?
Peter:
If you’re pursuing a multi-processor strategy or want the ability to add or switch providers quickly without reworking your infrastructure, Connect is the right fit.
It’s ideal for teams that value speed-to-market but don’t want to sacrifice data ownership, independence, or long-term optionality.
Alternative Payments: Expand Acceptance and Improve Conversion
Q: What is the goal for the Alternative Payments package?
Peter:
Alternative Payments is designed for merchants with established card processing who want to quickly expand payment acceptance. It provides out-of-the-box access to popular methods like PayPal, Venmo, Skrill, Klarna, and Buy Now, Pay Later options.
Instead of spending months managing individual integrations, teams can improve conversion and customer experience quickly, without added complexity.
Connectivity & Global Reach: Supporting Local Payment Methods
Q: You also announced support for Brazil’s PIX wallet through your partner dLocal. Why does this matter for merchants?
Peter:
Supporting PIX is a major step in expanding localized payment options for merchants operating in or entering Brazil. PIX isn’t just another payment method. It’s become one of the most widely used digital payment rails in the country.
Since launching in 2020, Brazil’s instant payment system has processed hundreds of billions of transactions and now handles billions of transactions every month, making it deeply ingrained in everyday commerce. With more than 170 million consumers, PIX is used by over 90% of Brazil’s adult population.
By adding PIX support through dLocal, we’re enabling merchants to offer one of Brazil’s most preferred payment methods without the complexity of building and maintaining local integrations themselves. The result is higher conversion, deeper market penetration, and a smoother checkout experience.
Looking Ahead: A Token-First Foundation for Agentic Commerce
Q: How do these packages fit into the future of commerce?
Peter:
Tokenization is becoming the foundation for how sensitive data is shared securely across systems — not just for payments, but for intelligent, automated decision-making.
As AI-driven systems begin to initiate and execute transactions autonomously, merchants need infrastructure that provides control, flexibility, and confidence from day one. These TokenEx packages establish tokenization as the standard foundation for resilient payments today and enable agentic commerce tomorrow.
