Mastercard and PayPal have answered the call of Gen-Z to enable payments that offer more flexibility and control at checkout.
Directly targeting Gen-Z consumers, the duo have launched the Mastercard One Credential – a single utility that enables users to manage and deploy multiple payment methods through a single interface.
Whether shopping online or in-store, consumers will no longer need to toggle between cards, apps, or wallets. Instead, they can select debit, credit, or instalment options using one streamlined verification.
One Credential is designed to simplify modern payments verification and deliver a frictionless experience for shoppers who expect personalisation and convenience as standard.
“We are excited for the opportunity to innovate together with Mastercard,” said Chris Sweetland, SVP of Partnerships at PayPal. “We both want to reduce friction for consumers and bring them more power over how they pay.”
Bunita Sawhney, Chief Consumer Product Officer (CPO)at Mastercard, added: “With One Credential, we’re delivering the personalised digital experiences that build consumer confidence and trust. Our partnership with PayPal builds on a shared commitment to payments innovation.”
A digital first strategy
Announced earlier this year, One Credential is part of Mastercard’s Digital First strategy and is being rolled out globally as a network-level capability. The product has already seen support from several major financial institutions and will now be integrated into PayPal’s extensive payments ecosystem.
The partnership is viewed as a strategic play for PayPal, which is facing growing competition from Apple Pay, Cash App, and Klarna—all of whom have been successful in capturing market share among digital-native consumers.
By engineering Mastercard solutions, PayPal hopes to strengthen its offering and rebuild momentum with Gen-Z, replicating its popularity with Millennial and older consumer segments.
Sawhney underscored One Credential importance : “Consumers today – particularly Gen-Z – don’t want to think about how they’re paying. They want speed, security, and flexibility built into one seamless experience. That’s what One Credential delivers.”
Sweetland echoed this sentiment, highlighting how the partnership represents a broader vision for financial access. “This is about more than checkout. It’s about building a platform that evolves with the user—from their first debit purchase to managing credit responsibly. Together with Mastercard, we can offer that journey in one place.”
Beyond simplifying transactions, the solution is also designed to help users build healthier financial habits, guiding them from debit use toward more structured forms of credit, including instalments and personalised spending limits.
For Mastercard, the deal enhances the global reach of its One Credential platform, while positioning the company at the forefront of digital wallet innovation for new audiences.
The collaboration signals a new phase in the evolution of consumer payments—one where cohesion, speed and user control are no longer optional, but expected.