Updated on: May 2, 2024
In a recent interview with SafetyDetectives, Dariusz Mazurkiewicz, CEO of BLIK, shared his journey and insights into the fintech landscape. His fascination with the convergence of finance and technology began long before he took the helm at BLIK, having previously led SkyCash Poland SA through significant growth phases. Mazurkiewicz joined BLIK at a critical juncture in 2015, recognizing the immense potential of its mobile payment platform and quickly moving to the role of CEO by 2017. Under his leadership, BLIK has not only expanded its technological footprint but also ventured into new European markets, beginning with Romania and Slovakia. Mazurkiewicz’s vision for BLIK focuses on pushing the boundaries of digital payments, utilizing emerging technologies to innovate and expand, ensuring that BLIK remains at the forefront of the payment processing industry. His commitment to strategic planning and business development has been pivotal in BLIK’s journey to redefine the digital payment space.
Can you introduce yourself and talk about your journey to becoming CEO of BLIK?
I have always been deeply interested in the intersection of finance and technology. Before joining BLIK, I had been working in the e-commerce and media industries. Moreover, in years 2010-2014, as the CEO of FinTech called SkyCash Poland SA, I contributed in creation of this mobile payment service. At that time, the company achieved the position of the fastest growing start-up in the TMT segment of EMEA region in the Deloitte “Fast 500” ranking.
I joined BLIK in 2015, at a pivotal moment of launching this innovative mobile payment. As someone passionate about technology and finance, I saw great potential in BLIK’s platform and was eager to be part of its journey. Then I became the CEO of brand in 2017 and since then I am responsible for strategic planning, business development, and technology integration of the brand.
My vision for BLIK has always been to push the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of digital payments. As the CEO, I am committed to leading BLIK into new frontiers, leveraging emerging technologies. Currently, I strive to deliver innovative solutions in other European countries. The first steps in this journey were taken by the start of BLIKS’s operation in Romania and Slovakia.
What sets BLIK apart from other payment options available in the market?
The main features of BLIK are speed, convenience and security. Users can pay stationary and online, and with contactless payments not only in Poland, but also abroad. It is a versatile payment system that allows transactions to be made virtually anywhere. BLIK’s uniqueness stems from the range of functions that can be performed using only one payment method – stationary and online payments, contactless transactions, deposits and withdrawals at ATMs and instant transfers to your phone.
It works with the mobile applications of the banks, which guarantee full security. Thanks to this system integration, our system is supported by all banks in Poland, which means that users can use it regardless of which bank they have an account with. And, unlike other payment methods, you don’t need to enter any personal data. In addition, it is a very intuitive, easy and functional payment method, which is why it has gained such high recognition across all age groups.
Today, all Poles are happy to pay with BLIK, regardless of gender, age or place of residence. It is trusted not only by customers of large banks, but also by smaller ones. BLIK has completely changed the shopping habits of Poles and influenced the development of the cashless market in our country.
Building trust is essential in financial services. What key factors do you believe contribute to building and maintaining trust in a payment processor?
Many people find it challenging to trust modern payment methods as, unfortunately, together with technological development, bigger cyberthreats also emerge. As a result the foundation of trust should be providing users with the highest level of security. And, this is BLIK’s approach – our primary goal was to make payments both swift and safe. That is the reason why our services are seamlessly embedded in the banking mobile applications, which have the most advanced security systems. Moreover, in order to make a payment, it is necessary to enter a BLIK code generated in the mobile application, which is only valid for two minutes. Users see the details of the payment with each transaction, which must be validated after verification. The aforementioned characteristics result in trust and meet the expectations of today’s consumers.
With cybersecurity threats becoming more sophisticated, what emerging security technologies or strategies do you see as game-changers for payment processors?
We carefully observe new cybersecurity threats as with the use of the new technologies they truly become even more sophisticated. I firmly believe that payment processors must continually innovate to stay ahead. They should use the help from Artificial Intelligence and machine learning as they enable proactive threat detection and response. Additionally, biometric authentication or tokenization offer enhanced security layers, reducing the risk of data breaches and fraud. To sum it up, in my opinion the best strategy is to implement a multi-layered security approach that integrates these technologies.
What key factors do you believe contribute to building and maintaining trust in a payment processor?
Definitely through robust security measures, transparent communication, reliable service, and proactive fraud prevention. By prioritizing these factors, we ensure that our users have confidence in our platform and feel secure in their financial transactions. One of the ways BLIK is doing so, is resignation of storing personal data during the operation process.
How is BLIK adapting to the growing trend of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology in payment systems?
Over nearly 10 years, BLIK has developed a centralized, trustworthy ecosystem that is now being expanded to new currencies and geographies in Europe. The high performance of the infrastructure allows us to pursue ambitious plans in connecting banking apps with retailers. While we recognize the potential to integrate BLIK with blockchain technologies, our current focus is on distributing our platform on multicloud infrastructure rather than expanding to decentralized networks.