Juniper enjoyed a record number of applicants this year coming from top payments and fintech organizations around the world, notes the research firm. The awards program recognized impactful fintech services and products spanning banking, payments, retail, fraud and security, reads information Juniper.
Per the announcement, Ripple’s Palau project was awarded for having the “Sustainability in Fintech Innovation of the Year” while Khalaf was named the “Fintech Mover & Shaker of the Year.” Ripple has had a notable year as it also recently won a landmark case against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission regarding the classification of its XRP token, which the court found was not, under the law, a standalone security.
“The Court’s decision marks a historic occasion not only for the company, but also for crypto at large,” said Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, after the ruling. “We’ve said since the earliest days of the lawsuit that Ripple would be on the right side of the law, and the right side of history. Progress is worth fighting for. This decision is a significant blow to the agency’s regulation by enforcement agenda, and I hope we will soon look back at this decision as the turning point for Congress to act and set clear rules of the road for crypto in the U.S.”
Khalaf recently took over as CEO of Marqeta, a card issuance platform, in January. He joined the company in the summer of 2022 as its chief product officer ahead of his appointment as CEO and to the company’s board of directors, reads information from the platform.
“I’m humbled by the opportunity to build upon [founder Jason Gardner’s] vision for modern card issuing and continue to redefine what cards can do for leading innovators globally,” said Khalaf. “ …I believe we have the recipe in place to unlock the next level of growth and scale for Marqeta. There is tremendous opportunity in front of us to enable the brands we serve with our innovative, flexible platform and grow the ubiquity of digital payments globally.”
From X (formerly Twitter)
"We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve won not one, but two esteemed Juniper Research Awards! We’ve been recognised for our cutting-edge innovations in Embedded Finance and our CEO @SimonKhalaf was hailed as the Fintech Mover and Shaker of the Year https://t.co/p9dBRnDQc0"
Juniper, which specializes in analyzing fast-growing digital market sectors, offers forecasting and market-sizing in addition to competitive analysis, business modeling and strategic investing strategies. It handed out dozens of awards honoring innovation, creative solutions and performance. Also among its dozens of winners was industry veteran Mastercard, which was recognized for its Digital Identity Innovation.
“A trusted identity is key to building a digital economy that works for everyone, everywhere,” says Chris Reid, EVP, Identity Solutions at Mastercard. “From the initial creation of a relationship through account modifications and money movement, Mastercard Identity instils trust on both sides of the interaction. We are honoured to be recognised by Juniper Research for our identity insights and biometrics, which enable seamless experiences, expand financial inclusion, and fight fraud.”
