Cashfree Payments Announces ESOP Buyback Program for Over 400 Staff

Cashfree Payments has rolled out an employee stock option (ESOP) buyback programme covering more than 400 current and former employees, coinciding with the fintech completing ten years since its founding. 

ESOP Buyback and Employee Wealth Creation 

The ESOP buyback includes 175 former employees who were part of the company’s early growth phase. The move reflects Cashfree’s focus on employee participation in long-term value creation rather than ESOPs being treated only as retention instruments. 

“As a company that has always put employee wellbeing first, we see ESOPs not merely as a retention tool or a future promise, but as a tangible way to participate in wealth creation and ownership,” said Akash Sinha, CEO & Co-founder, Cashfree Payments, as per news reports. 

Operational Scale and Client Reach 

Founded in 2015, Cashfree Payments offers payment processing and identity verification solutions to businesses across India.  

The company processes over $80 billion in annual payment volumes and serves more than one million merchants, including Zepto, RedBus, Swiggy and Nykaa. 

Funding and Shareholder Base 

The company raised $53 million last year in a funding round led by South Korean gaming company KRAFTON, with participation from existing investor Apis Growth Fund II. 

Cashfree is also backed by Y Combinator and State Bank of India, and was incubated by PayPal. 

Cross-Border Payments Expansion 

The ESOP buyback comes alongside Cashfree’s expansion into cross-border payments. The company has secured a payment aggregator–cross border licence from the Reserve Bank of India, allowing it to support both import and export transactions. 

Cashfree reported a 250% increase in gross merchandise value from its cross-border business over the past year. This segment currently contributes around 10% of total revenue, with the company targeting a rise to nearly 25% by 2030. 

Read More: ESOP Buybacks See 9,000+ Employees Make Over $158 Million in 2025! 

Conclusion 

The ESOP buyback highlights Cashfree Payments’ focus on shared growth as it enters its next phase of expansion across domestic and international payments. 

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