Bolt and Klarna have announced a strategic partnership to integrate Klarna’s payment solutions into Bolt’s checkout platform, aiming to offer consumers seamless buy-now-pay-later options in physical stores. The agreement means Bolt merchants will soon enable shoppers to use Klarna’s “Pay in 4” or monthly financing plans instantly at checkout, both online and offline. The integration is scheduled to launch initially in the United States later this year, followed by expansions into additional markets globally.
Bolt’s co-founder and CEO, Ryan Breslow, expressed that the alliance signifies a pivotal shift in the retail landscape, moving beyond typical payment options toward a superior customer experience model with minimal friction for merchants. “This partnership is bigger than merely two companies joining forces,” Breslow stated. He described the move as introducing an innovative approach to payments that eliminates the need for lengthy contracts or extensive technical adjustments from merchants.
For Klarna, currently preparing for a much-anticipated IPO, the collaboration represents a meaningful opportunity to build broader brand loyalty and expand its market presence. “Embedding Klarna into thousands of Bolt merchants gives us significant leverage in scaling our U.S. footprint, ensuring our solutions become ubiquitous wherever consumers shop,” said a spokesperson for Klarna.
The announcement marks another notable step in Bolt’s effort to revitalize its business prospects after facing recent challenges that include legal battles and strained relationships with investors. Breslow resumed his role as CEO this past March, a position he vacated in early 2022, amid ongoing turbulence within the firm. In recent months, Bolt has aggressively sought additional capital; last August, it reportedly aimed to secure $450 million at a potential valuation of $14 billion. The unique terms and concerns surrounding shareholder dilution complicated these fundraising efforts. Earlier reports indicated Breslow was again actively seeking investment, this time targeting at least $600 million, with half of that intended for Bolt directly and the remainder earmarked for his separate venture, Love. Breslow has publicly assured stakeholders that Bolt maintains enough cash runway for at least three years.
This strategic Klarna partnership was preceded closely by Bolt’s recent collaboration with data analytics giant Palantir, which introduced an AI-driven personalized checkout experience that adapts to consumer shopping preferences. Bolt plans to offer this enhanced checkout both across its wider merchant base and through its newly developed “SuperApp”—an application combining traditional payments and cryptocurrency functions into a single intuitive ecosystem.
Adding Klarna and Palantir as substantial commercial allies could significantly improve Bolt’s standing with investors as the fintech company actively seeks to rebuild its reputation and reposition itself to attract fresh capital.
