Q&A with Gil Akos, CEO of Astra
Reflecting on $1 Billion in Payments and the Road Ahead
Q&A with Gil Akos, CEO of Astra
In late 2024, Astra hit two major milestones: $1 billion in lifetime payments processed and surpassing a $1 billion of annual run rate payments volume. These accomplishments mark significant progress for the company and its mission to make instant payments accessible for businesses across industries. We sat down with Gil Akos, Astra’s CEO, to discuss what these milestones mean and the exciting road ahead.
Q: Congratulations on reaching $1 billion in lifetime payments processed and a $1 billion run rate! What does this achievement signify for Astra?
Gil Akos: Thank you! Crossing the $1 billion mark for both lifetime payments and annual run rate is a testament to the value we’re bringing to our customers. It’s not just a number — it represents millions of transactions that helped businesses grow, employees get paid instantly, and consumers experience faster and more seamless payment processes.
It also validates our belief that instant payments are no longer just a “nice-to-have” feature; they’re an expectation. Businesses in sectors like SaaS platforms, marketplaces, and financial institutions need solutions that can scale with them, and these milestones show Astra is up to the task.
Q: What were some key drivers behind hitting these milestones?
Gil Akos: A few things stand out. First, our focus on vertical SaaS platforms and marketplaces has been critical. These businesses often handle complex payment flows, and Astra’s infrastructure simplifies that while enabling instant payouts.
Second, the rise of instant payment options like Visa Direct and RTP (Real-Time Payments) has aligned perfectly with our capabilities. We’ve leaned into that trend, building a platform that’s both scalable and customizable for diverse use cases.
Finally, the team at Astra deserves a ton of credit. From engineering to sales, everyone has brought relentless focus and effort to ensure our customers have the best technology to manage and scale their payment operations.
Q: Reaching $1 billion run rate is a big deal. How does it set the stage for 2025 and beyond?
Gil Akos: Absolutely, it’s a significant foundation for what’s next. In the first week of 2025, we’ve already doubled our annualized payment volume to more than $2 billion and are on track for another 5x growth year. The market demand is there, and we’ve built a platform that’s ready to scale.
What excites me most is that we’re just scratching the surface of what’s possible. The adoption of embedded payments is accelerating, and we’re positioned to power those payment flows seamlessly. Whether it’s merchant fast funding, earned wage access, or other instant payout use cases, Astra has the infrastructure to meet the demand.
Q: What do you think will drive Astra’s 5x growth in 2025?
Gil Akos: Several factors will contribute. One is expanding our partnerships with existing customers — helping them grow their transaction volumes and introducing them to new features like fraud prevention and advanced reconciliation tools.
Another is reaching new verticals. While we’ve done exceptionally well in areas like freelancer marketplaces and vertical SaaS, there are untapped industries where instant payments can make a huge impact, like healthcare and education.
And finally, our ability to stay ahead technologically will be key. We’re investing in AI to make payment operations smarter and more secure, and we’re continuously improving our platform’s scalability to support even larger transaction volumes.
Q: Looking back, what does $1 billion in lifetime payments mean to you personally as CEO?
Gil Akos: It’s deeply rewarding. When we started Astra, we envisioned a world where payments were instant, seamless, and accessible. To see that vision materialize at this scale is incredible.
But it’s also motivating. $1 billion is a milestone, not a finish line. We’re driven by the idea that Astra can process tens, even hundreds, of billions of dollars annually, and we’re building toward that every day.
Q: Any final thoughts on what the future holds for Astra?
Gil Akos: The future is bright. Payments are at the core of nearly every business, and instant payments are becoming the standard. Astra is uniquely positioned to lead in this space.
As we grow, our focus remains the same: enabling our customers to succeed. If they grow, we grow — and these milestones are proof that this partnership-first approach works.
With Astra’s rapid growth and ambitious goals for 2025, the company is well on its way to transforming the payments landscape. If you’re looking to embed instant payments into your platform, visit Astra’s demo page to see how they can help your business scale.