Marqeta is a modern card issuing and payment infrastructure company founded in 2010 and headquartered in Oakland, California, United States. The company went public on the NASDAQ in 2021 under the ticker MQ. Marqeta's platform powers card programs for many of the world's leading technology companies, including Square (Block), DoorDash, Klarna, Affirm, and Uber. The company processes over $150 billion in annual volume through its platform.
Marqeta's core product is its open API platform for modern card issuing, which enables businesses to create and manage virtual and physical payment cards with real-time controls and programmable spending rules. Their white label capabilities allow fintech companies, neobanks, and enterprises to launch branded card programs including debit cards, credit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual cards. The platform features just-in-time (JIT) funding, dynamic spend controls, tokenization for digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay), and real-time transaction webhooks.
Marqeta operates on a processing fee model, earning revenue from each transaction processed through cards issued on its platform. The company holds card program manager licenses and partners with issuing banks to enable rapid card program deployment. Their developer-friendly API and comprehensive documentation have made them a preferred choice for technology companies building embedded finance products. Marqeta is a principal member of both Visa and Mastercard networks.