June 23rd, 2026 SmartCard Marketing Systems Inc. (SMKG:OTC), a global FinTech and PayTech innovator delivering Payment‑as‑a‑Service(PaaS) and Banking‑as‑a‑Service (BaaS) through sponsored Financial Institution relationships, announced today that it is actively evaluating strategic merger and acquisition opportunities aligned with its long‑term technology roadmap. This initiative advances the company’s overarching strategy of Architecting-Payments-of-the-Future - a blueprint centered on modular, infrastructure‑ready digital payment, banking, and compliance systems designed for rapid deployment across emerging and established markets.
SMKG has deliberately pursued the longer‑cycle, higher‑value path, investing heavily in engineering,commercialization, and regulatory‑aligned infrastructure. Over this period, the company has strengthened Visa‑aligned channels, expanded global Financial Institution partnerships, and embedded its platforms directly into the operational layers of domestic and international Banking Systems, Payment Gateways, Card Issuers, Processors, FX Desks, OTC Desk, Alternative Payment Methods (APMs), and multi‑wallet ecosystems. These integrations reinforce a shared market recognition of SMKG’s strategic value: delivering the digital payments, treasury, real world asset tokenization and centralized compliance frameworks required by Governments, Enterprises, Retail Networks, and Financial Institutions - including Federal and Nationalized Banks - seeking modern, scalable, and regulator‑ready infrastructure with centralized AML, KYC/KYB, and transaction monitoring. As SMKG advances its M&A posture, the company is positioned as a consolidation catalyst in the next cycle of digital payments modernization - bringing engineered platforms, embedded banking capabilities, and a globally interoperable architecture that accelerates digital transformation for partners and acquirers alike.
*noteworthy: Under its PaaS licensing model and embedded payments, the company reports that its BaaS and Card‑processing services collectively signed over $600 million USD in annual processing volume in remittances and visa direct payments, with a potential pipeline exceeding $1.2 billion across active client deployments and contracted onboarding schedules for the next three years. Key markets include Canada, US, UK, Caribbean, Brazil, Philippines, Europe and Africa. With more than 9 MSB/EMI customers now approved (representing upward of 4000 locations to activate across several industries in Money Remittance, Wallets, Energy, Gaming and Asset Tokenization) in these segments and actively growing, it is the company’s mission conservatively to aniticipate 2x to 5x the portfolio of processing by early 2028 as we see an uprise in demand for the digital banking segment and stablecoins treasury as a service. Albeit regulatory requirements to be managed may lengthen the cycle or be fast-tracked depending on the needs by regulators of the specific region and client type.
SMKG noted that while the company continues to advance discussions with several family offices, potential partners and investment banks, the process involves navigating operational, regulatory, and market‑driven challenges that are common within the global payments and digital identity sectors. The company stated that its intent remains to pursue opportunities that maximize long‑term value for stakeholders while maintaining a disciplined approach to evaluating potential transactions. The executive team knows firsthand that it can be challenging to place a value on multiple technologies vs typical models that offer only one widget – SMKG with a staggering proprietary portfolio of over 22 platforms offers immeasurable value across industries and sectors.
CEO STATEMENT
“Our focus remains on advancing technology assets that are often undervalued in today’s market but essential for the next wave of digital transformation to maximize output,” said Massimo Barone, CEO of SmartCard Marketing Systems Inc. “Digital ID, compliance automation, asset tokenizaiton and modernizing payment rails -supported by a strong Embedded Payments and BaaS core offering framework - are becoming strategic priorities for growth‑stage players across the US, the Caribbean, LATAM, India, the SE ASIA, and extending into Africa. These regions are accelerating their adoption of digital infrastructure, and our platforms are built to support that shift with scalability, interoperability, and regulatory readiness - making us the suitable target for market entry.”
Barone added, “The goal of owning the Architecture in Paytech has always been key and remained the main priority to secure a vibrant future for the company as we recognize that very early on, particularly as we evaluate complex opportunities and offers. However, our objective remains clear: to align our technology and operational capabilities with partners and clients that enhance our architecture and deliver measurable value to our stakeholders. Our model consists of upfront license fees which are a small part of the initial processing volumes committed that we support contractually today, which are early-stage growth undertakings with each client rollout, combined with the strength of our pipeline, reflecting the demand for infrastructure‑grade solutions in these markets, and it’s growing with recurring transactions that are growing simultaneously - with new account activities, aiming for positive cashflow means a transformative outlook and each platform takes on significant value with broader addressable markets.”
GENERAL STATEMENT ON SECTOR COVERAGE
SmartCard Marketing Systems Inc. emphasized that its product portfolio spans several of the fastest‑growing sectors in the global digital economy. The company maintains full ownership of its platforms across licensed with a PaaS model in FinTech, PayTech, Digital Banking, Digital Identity, Asset Tokenization and AI Compliance technologies, enabling it to support clients with integrated, interoperable, and scalable solutions. SMKG noted that these sectors continue to expand as enterprises and financial institutions prioritize digital transformation, regulatory modernization, and secure identity frameworks. The company stated that its platform ownership and ongoing development efforts position it to participate in this growth with a diversified and evolving technology stack.
UPCOMING VIRTUAL SUMMIT – JUNE 30TH
The company also announced that it is preparing a June 30th Virtual Summit, where it will present “Architecting-the-Future-of-Payments with SMKG.” The open session will provide an overview of the company’s technology architecture, sector coverage, and strategic direction, including its approach to digital identity, compliance automation, embedded payments, and global PaaS/BaaS deployment models. Additional details regarding registration and agenda will be made available in the coming days.
ABOUT SMARTCARD MARKETING SYSTEMS INC. (SMKG:OTC)
SmartCard Marketing Systems Inc. (OTC: SMKG) is a global leader in PaaS offering specialized e-Commerce, Cloud, Blockchain layered2 and Mobility applications, delivering white-label solutions to the PayTech, FinTech and Digital Payments markets. The company’s portfolio spans payment orchestration, digital banking, blockchain, digital compliance and marketplace technologies, serving clients across multiple industries and geographies.
Keeping its core as a boutique technology company, providing Digital Transformation, Business Intelligence and Commerce Strategies with a proprietary portfolio of applications for Banking4.0, Web3.0 and Digital Payments4.0. With an established financial network and FX infrastructure, SMKG empowers its partners and clients to expand globally, offering secure, compliant, and connected digital payment ecosystems for financial growth.
For more info visit https://www.smartcardmarketingsystems.com
or visit our business applications marketplace at https://www.emphasispay.com
WE SEEK A SAFE HARBOR.
This press release includes forward‑looking statements as defined under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable securities laws. Forward‑looking statements relate to future events, expectations, plans, or performance and often include terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” or similar expressions.
These statements are based on current assumptions and involve risks, uncertainties, and factors many of which are beyond the Company’s control - that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such risks include market conditions, operational factors, regulatory developments, competitive pressures, financial constraints, and other risks described in the Company’s disclosures posted on OTCMarkets.com. The Company makes no assurance that any forward‑looking statement will prove accurate. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance
FOR ADDITIONAL ENQUIRIES & ENTERPRISE PROGRAM CONNECT WITH:
OTC:SMKG
Ph: 1-844-843-7296
news@smartcardmarketingsystems.com
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sales@smartcardmarketingsystems.com
Dharmesh
Vora
President Enterprise Solutions
SmartCard Marketing Systems Inc.
dvora@smartcardmarketingsystems.com
CEO,
Massimo Barone
mbarone@smartcardmarketingsystems.com
SmartCard Marketing Systems Inc.
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