CloudWalk replaces field teams with AI

CloudWalk is turning merchant acquiring into a software business, not a people business. Stone and PagSeguro still rely heavily on large offline fleets to sign up, onboard, and support merchants across Brazil, while CloudWalk pushes the same payments, account, and credit bundle through an app where agents handle support, sales prompts, pricing help, and merchant workflow inside the product itself. That is how it can chase similar SMB customers with far fewer employees.1 2 3 4 5

• The headcount gap is real. CloudWalk said it crossed a $1.3B annualized revenue run rate in 2025 with 720 employees and 6.3M active sellers. Stone served more than 4.8M active payments clients as of December 31, 2025. PagSeguro reported 9,772 total team members at December 31, 2025.1 3 4
• CloudWalk is not just using AI for a chatbot on top. It has put agents into the operating loop. JIM helps merchants create offers, set prices, manage receivables, and build storefronts, while support agents reportedly resolve about 90% to 98% of cases without humans. That replaces work that incumbents often cover with call centers, onboarding teams, and field reps.2 5 6 7
• This matters most in the micro merchant segment. InfinitePay was built for hairdressers, street vendors, delivery workers, and other solo operators who do not want a sales visit or terminal rental. In that segment, a mobile app that signs up the merchant, accepts payment, advances cash, and answers questions instantly is structurally cheaper than a maquininha model built around local distribution.1 2 8

The next step is using that lower cost base to widen the gap, first by pulling more Brazilian merchants into software only payments and credit, then by exporting the same playbook to the United States through JIM.com. If CloudWalk keeps proving that agents can replace much of sales, support, and underwriting, the merchant acquirer of the future looks much leaner than Stone or PagSeguro.2 5 7