Cashfree Payments Shares $80B Success with 400 Workers

Cashfree Payments just proved that employee stock options don't have to be empty promises gathering dust in a drawer. The Bengaluru-based payments company launched a buyback program that puts real money in the pockets of over 400 current and former employees as it celebrates 10 years in business.

What makes this especially heartwarming is that 175 former employees are included in the payout. These are people who may have left years ago but still contributed to building the foundation of what Cashfree is today.

"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 CEO and co-founder Akash Sinha. The timing coincides with the company moving into a sprawling new 80,000-square-foot headquarters at Ecoworld, a major business park in the city.

Founded in 2015, Cashfree started small but has grown into a payments giant. The company now processes more than $80 billion in annual payment volumes and serves over 1 million merchants, including household names like Zepto, RedBus, Swiggy, and Nykaa.

The company's journey reflects India's broader fintech boom. After being incubated by PayPal and backed by Y Combinator and State Bank of India, Cashfree raised $53 million last year led by South Korean gaming company KRAFTON.

The Ripple Effect

This buyback sends a powerful message across India's startup ecosystem, where ESOP promises often remain just that. When companies actually follow through and convert equity into cash, it creates real financial security for employees and their families.

The move comes as Cashfree expands aggressively into cross-border payments, recently securing a special license from the Reserve Bank of India. That business has grown 250% in gross merchandise value over the past year and currently accounts for 10% of revenue.

The company aims to push cross-border payments to nearly 25% of revenue by 2030. As that growth happens, employees old and new now know their contributions will be recognized with more than just thank-you notes.