The Payments Group (TPG) has emerged as the first pan-European issuer of the Bluecode scheme, providing residents across the continent with access to a prepaid-based mobile payment alternative to Visa and Mastercard.
The prepaid service can be accessed through the Bluecode app, activated in just a few minutes, and funded via SEPA transfers, credit and debit cards, or cash at over 550,000 retail locations. Once funded, users can make transactions globally through partnerships with international networks like Alipay+, Discover Global Network, and EMPSA (European Mobile Payment Systems Association).
In Europe, there is a growing movement to lessen dependence on American payment providers. Leaders have pointed to geopolitical and economic challenges as motivations for advancing a digital euro. Meanwhile, the European Payments Initiative has introduced its Wero digital wallet as a direct alternative to U.S. card schemes.
“With this launch, we’re proud to offer a payment solution that reflects Europe’s commitment to privacy, security, and user empowerment,” states Jens Bader, CEO of The Payments Group. “Our prepaid offering provides individuals across the EEA with a European payment method—built on local infrastructure, governed by European regulations, and aligned with the values that matter most to users in Europe.”