# Twisto

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/twisto
> research date 2026-05-29 · extracted at 2026-10-03
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

Specifications:
- [Twisto — official](https://www.twisto.cz/)

## Overview

**Twisto** is **Central + Eastern European BNPL pioneer**, founded **2013 in Prague** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [Czechia report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/CZ)</sup>. **Cumulative metrics**: **~1 million customers + 22,000 merchants + 33+ million transactions processed + €845M total transaction value (TTV) since inception**.

**Distinctive Twisto positioning**:
- **First BNPL service in Czech Republic** <sup>[3][3]</sup>.
- **European Payment Institution License** — distinctive EU-wide BNPL operational scope.
- **Multi-country**: Czech Republic + Poland + Romania.

**Ownership timeline** <sup>[4][4]</sup>:
- **2013 — Twisto founded** in Prague.
- **December 2020 — Australian Zip BNPL invested in Twisto**.
- **May 2021 — Zip completed full acquisition of Twisto for €89 million** for European expansion.
- **August 16, 2023 — Param (Turkish fintech) acquired Twisto from Zip** <sup>[3][3]</sup> — distinctive cross-border-ownership transitions.

## History

**2013 — Twisto founded in Prague** <sup>[2][2]</sup> by **Michal Šmída + Janka Pieniążek**.

**December 2020 — Zip BNPL Australian investment in Twisto**.

**May 2021 — Zip completes €89M Twisto acquisition** <sup>[4][4]</sup> for European-market expansion.

**2021-2023 — Multi-country (CZ + PL + RO) BNPL scale-up under Zip ownership**.

**August 16, 2023 — Param (Turkish fintech) acquired Twisto from Zip** <sup>[3][3]</sup> — Zip-to-Param ownership transition.

**2025 — ~1M customers + 22K merchants + 33M+ tx processed + €845M TTV cumulative** <sup>[2][2]</sup>.

## Ownership & operator

**Operating entity**: **Twisto** (Czech BNPL fintech).

**Current owner**: **Param** (Turkish fintech; acquired Twisto from Zip on August 16, 2023).

**Historical owners**: **Zip Co (Australia; May 2021-Aug 2023)** + co-founders Michal Šmída + Janka Pieniążek.

**Regulators**: **CNB (Czech National Bank)** + **ECB** + per-country (Polish KNF + Romanian BNR).

## Technical integration

| Layer | Description |
|---|---|
| **Channels** | Twisto mobile app (iOS + Android) + online checkout |
| **Identifiers** | Email + phone + card number |
| **Coverage** | CZ + PL + RO |
| **License** | European Payment Institution (CNB + ECB + per-country) |
| **Sub-products** | Twisto BNPL ("Pay in 30 days" + installments) + Twisto Card + Twisto Online Checkout |
| **Distinctive heritage** | First BNPL service in Czech Republic |
| **Cumulative TTV**: €845M; 33M+ tx processed |

## Users & growth

**2025 baseline** <sup>[2][2]</sup>:
- **Customers**: ~1 million
- **Merchants**: 22,000
- **Transactions processed cumulative**: 33+ million
- **Total Transaction Value (TTV) cumulative**: €845 million
- **Multi-country**: Czech Republic + Poland + Romania
- **2023 ownership change**: Zip → Param (Turkish fintech)

## Use cases

Central + Eastern European BNPL ("Pay in 30 days" + installments); Twisto Card + Twisto Online Checkout; merchant BNPL acceptance for CZ + PL + RO retailers; European Payment Institution License-enabled EU-wide BNPL operational scope.

## Implementations & partners

**Operator**: **Twisto** (Param-owned since Aug 16, 2023).

**Current owner**: **Param** (Turkish fintech).

**Historical owners**: **Zip Co (Australia; May 2021-Aug 2023; €89M acquisition)** + co-founders Michal Šmída + Janka Pieniążek.

**Major European BNPL competitors**:
- **[Klarna](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/klarna)** (Batch 4 covered; European BNPL leader)
- **[Afterpay (Clearpay in UK)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/afterpay)** (Batch 7 covered; Block subsidiary global)
- **Pace** (SG SEA + European BNPL)
- **PayPal Pay Later** (Pay-in-4 European reach)
- **Splitit + Sezzle + Affirm** (US BNPL global)

**Major Czech digital-payment competitors**:
- **ČSOB SmartBanking** + **Komerční banka** + **Air Bank** + **Moneta Money Bank** (Czech major banks' mobile apps)
- **Revolut Czech** + **N26 Czech**

**Regulators**: **CNB + ECB + per-country (KNF Poland + BNR Romania)**.

## Fun facts

- **First BNPL service in Czech Republic** (2013).
- **2013 founding in Prague** by Michal Šmída + Janka Pieniążek.
- **Cumulative**: ~1M customers + 22K merchants + 33M+ tx processed + €845M TTV.
- **2021 Zip acquisition for €89M** for European market expansion.
- **August 16, 2023 Param (Turkish fintech) acquired Twisto from Zip** — distinctive cross-border-ownership transitions (CZ-founded → AU Zip-owned → TR Param-owned).
- **European Payment Institution License** — EU-wide BNPL operational scope.
- **Multi-country**: CZ + PL + RO.

## Comparison

| Feature | Twisto | [Klarna](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/klarna) (Batch 4; European BNPL leader rival) | Pace (SG SEA + EU BNPL rival) | Zip (former owner 2021-2023; AU BNPL) | Param (Turkish fintech owner since Aug 2023) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | **Twisto (Param-owned since Aug 16 2023; CZ-founded → AU Zip-owned May 2021-Aug 2023 → TR Param-owned)** | Klarna Group | Pace | Zip Co (Australia) | Param (Turkish fintech) |
| Type | **CZ + PL + RO BNPL pioneer + European Payment Institution License** | European BNPL leader (global expansion) | SEA + European BNPL | AU BNPL with European Zip-EU presence | Turkish fintech + BNPL |
| Country | CZ + PL + RO | Europe + global | SG + SEA + Europe | AU + global | Turkey + post-2023 Twisto |
| Users | **~1M customers + 22K merchants + 33M+ tx + €845M TTV cumulative** | Global Klarna reach | Major SEA + EU | Global Zip reach | Major Turkish + Twisto |
| Distinctive | **CZ first BNPL (2013); European Payment Institution License; cross-border-ownership transitions CZ → AU → TR** | European BNPL leader; Sofort acquisition; multi-country | SEA + EU BNPL | AU BNPL; EU Zip expansion | Turkish fintech expansion |

## Status

**Active, Central + Eastern European BNPL pioneer (Param-owned since Aug 16, 2023)** <sup>[3][3], [4][4]</sup>:
- **Twisto** founded 2013 in Prague by Michal Šmída + Janka Pieniążek.
- **Current owner**: **Param (Turkish fintech)** since August 16, 2023 (acquired from Zip).
- **~1M customers + 22K merchants + 33M+ tx processed + €845M TTV cumulative**.
- **European Payment Institution License**; multi-country CZ + PL + RO.
- **CNB + ECB + per-country KNF + BNR regulated**.

## Sources

[1]: https://www.fintechfutures.com/m-a/zip-completes-acquisition-of-czech-bnpl-firm-twisto "Zip completes Twisto acquisition — Fintech Futures"
[2]: https://www.eu-startups.com/2021/05/prague-based-twisto-acquired-for-e89-million-by-the-australian-online-payments-platform-zip/ "Twisto acquired for €89M by Zip — EU-Startups"
[3]: https://www.havelpartners.com/havel-partners-provided-comprehensive-legal-services-to-a-turkish-company-on-the-acquisition-of-czech-start-up-twisto/ "Param Turkish acquisition of Twisto Aug 2023 — Havel & Partners"
[4]: https://siliconcanals.com/news/startups/fintech/zip-acquires-twisto/ "Zip acquires Twisto for European expansion — Silicon Canals"
[cz-cro]: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/CZ

- [1] [Zip completes Twisto acquisition — Fintech Futures][1]
- [2] [Twisto acquired for €89M by Zip — EU-Startups][2]
- [3] [Param Turkish acquisition of Twisto — Havel & Partners][3]
- [4] [Zip acquires Twisto for European expansion — Silicon Canals][4]
- <sup>[Czechia report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/CZ)</sup> In-corpus: `reports/countries/CZ-czech-republic.md`

## Source

Biography extracted from [twisto.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/source/wallets/twisto). See `matrix.md` for standards-support matrix if present.