dLocal expands UK operations with FCA payment license and ICC partnership

January 7, 2025

dLocal, a NASDAQ-listed payment platform specialising in connecting global merchants to emerging markets, has announced a significant expansion in the UK.

The company has been granted an Authorised Payment Institution license by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Simultaneously, dLocal has formed a strategic partnership with the International Chamber of Commerce UK (ICC UK), enhancing its support for British businesses exploring global opportunities.

The partnership with ICC UK aims to help British businesses navigate the complexities of international payments in emerging markets. The collaboration is a key component of ICC UK’s Trade for Prosperity programme, designed to enable British companies to expand into high-growth Commonwealth regions, including Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

dLocal provides a comprehensive payment platform tailored to emerging markets, connecting global merchants to billions of consumers across APAC, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa.

Through its “One dLocal” approach—featuring a single API, platform, and contract—merchants can process pay-ins, pay-outs, and global settlements without needing to manage multiple local entities or acquirers. The platform supports over 900 alternative payment methods (APMs), addressing the limited use of international cards in emerging markets, where such cards account for only 20% of transactions.

dLocal chief revenue officer and managing director UK John O’Brien, “Our new Authorised Payment Institution license goes beyond regulatory compliance—it enables us to empower UK-based merchants with access to the vast opportunities in high-growth markets across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

“With this license, we are well-positioned to continue our strong relationships with existing customers and welcome new clients seeking pay-in and pay-out solutions in more than 40 markets that dLocalserves. Our innovative, secure, and efficient payment solutions are designed to help UK businesses scale globally and thrive in dynamic, emerging economies.”