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$DLO Notebooklm is built:
**dLocal Limited** is a technology-first company focused on redefining the online payments experience in emerging markets. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Montevideo, Uruguay, the company acts as a key enabler for global enterprise merchants to seamlessly connect with billions of consumers in underserved regions.
### **Core Mission and Business Model**
The company’s mission is to empower global merchants to get paid (**pay-in**) and make payments (**pay-out**) online in a safe and efficient manner. dLocal operates through its proprietary **"One dLocal" model**, which provides access to more than 40 countries through **one API, one technology platform, and one contract**. This model simplifies the fragmented legacy systems typically found in emerging markets, offering high acceptance rates, local card processing, and enhanced fraud prevention.
### **Market Presence and Client Base**
As of December 31, 2025, dLocal serves **44 countries** across Latin America, Africa, and Asia, reaching nearly **2.8 billion potential internet users**. Its portfolio includes over **760 global merchants**, including market leaders such as:
* **Technology & Social Media:** Google, Facebook, SpaceX.
* **Commerce & Travel:** Shein, Temu, Uber, Rappi, Spotify, Didi.
* **Financial Services:** Payoneer, Worldpay, Deel.
The company is highly integrated with its clients; its top 50 merchants utilize the platform in an average of **12 countries** and 50 pay-in methods.
### **Financial Performance**
dLocal has demonstrated significant growth and scale, recently crossing the US$1 billion revenue milestone.
* **Total Payments Volume (TPV):** Increased from US$17.7 billion in 2023 to **US$40.8 billion in 2025**.
* **Revenue:** Grew from US$650.4 million in 2023 to **US$1.09 billion in 2025**.
* **Profitability:** Reported a **Net Income of US$197 million** in 2025 and an Adjusted EBITDA margin of **25.4%**.
* **Retention:** Maintained a **Net Revenue Retention (NRR) rate of 145%** in 2025, reflecting deep loyalty within its existing merchant base.
### **Technological Innovation and AI**
The platform is fully cloud-based and scalable, capable of processing over **1,000 software releases per month** to adapt to merchant needs. dLocal is heavily investing in **Artificial Intelligence (AI)** to drive:
* **Efficiency:** Automating manual tasks in documentation and contract reconciliation.
* **Platform Capabilities:** Using machine learning for real-time fraud detection, smart transaction routing, and improved conversion rates.
* **Customer Support:** Leveraging Generative AI (GenAI) for tailored, proactive merchant assistance.
### **Leadership and Governance**
Following a transition in late 2025, dLocal is governed by a **majority-independent Board of Directors**.
* **Chairman:** Andres Bzurovski Bay.
* **CEO:** Pedro Arnt (formerly CFO of Mercado Libre).
* **CFO:** Guillermo López Pérez (joined in 2025, succeeding Mark Ortiz).
### **Strategic Outlook and Risks**
The company focuses on organic growth through "Share of Wallet" gains with existing merchants, geographic expansion (particularly in Africa and Asia), and new product development, such as **stablecoin solutions** and **Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL)** integrations.
**Key Risks** include:
* **Emerging Market Volatility:** Exposure to fluctuating foreign exchange rates and political instability (e.g., Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico).
* **Geopolitical Conflict:** Ongoing wars (e.g., Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Hamas) and regional interventions like the 2026 U.S. intervention in Venezuela.
* **Regulatory/Legal:** Complex tax regimes and ongoing putative class action lawsuits.
dLocal demonstrated **exceptional execution and scaling** during fiscal year 2025, transitioning from a high-growth fintech to a company with over **US$1 billion in annual revenue**. The comparison between the 2025 and 2026 Annual Reports reveals a picture of a business deepening its technological moats through AI, expanding its product suite into stablecoins and credit, and institutionalizing its governance.
### **Financial Scaling and Efficiency**
The most striking evidence of progress is the company's financial performance, which exceeded the upper end of its own guidance in several categories:
* **Revenue Milestone:** dLocal surpassed the **US$1 billion milestone**, growing 46.6% from US$746.0 million in 2024 to **US$1.09 billion in 2025**.
* **TPV Growth:** Total Payment Volume (TPV) surged **60% year-over-year**, reaching **US$40.8 billion** in 2025, compared to US$25.6 billion in 2024.
* **Profitability and Leverage:** Net Income grew by **63.4%** to reach **US$196.9 million**. The company maintained a healthy **Adjusted EBITDA margin of 25.4%**, showing disciplined expense management even during an investment cycle.
* **The "Rule of 98%":** In 2025, dLocal achieved a "Rule of 98" score (the sum of Gross Profit growth and Operating Profit D&A / Gross Profit), which it identifies as a unique high-growth/high-cash-conversion metric.
### **Operational and Product Progress**
dLocal expanded its "One dLocal" model by adding more markets and payment methods while innovating on the underlying technology:
* **Global Reach:** The company expanded its footprint to **44 countries** (up from 40 in 2024) and now offers over **1,100 payment methods** (939 pay-out and 160 pay-in), reaching approximately **2.8 billion internet users**.
* **Merchant Deepening:** The merchant base grew to over **760 global enterprises**. Net Revenue Retention (NRR) improved significantly from 113% in 2024 to **145% in 2025**, driven by existing merchants expanding into more countries and using more payment methods.
* **AI Integration:** A major shift in 2025 was the creation of a dedicated **Artificial Intelligence R&D department**. Progress includes the development of **"dCoder,"** a multi-agent AI system for software engineering, and AI-driven productivity gains in merchant support that allowed for handling 54% more tickets with 25% fewer staff.
* **New Product Rails:** The company successfully launched **SmartAPMs** (tokenized alternative payments), **BNPL integrations** live in six countries, and a full suite of **stablecoin solutions** for funding and settlements.
### **Governance and Leadership Evolution**
In late 2025, dLocal completed a significant transition to a **majority-independent Board of Directors**, which now consists of nine members, five of whom are independent.
* **New Leadership:** **Andres Bzurovski Bay** assumed the role of Chairman, and **Guillermo López Pérez** joined as CFO (succeeding Mark Ortiz), bringing experience from Visa and American Express.
* **Shareholder Returns:** The company significantly increased its commitment to returning capital, distributing **US$150 million in dividends** in 2025 and authorizing a new share repurchase program of up to **US$300 million** for 2026.
### **Picture of Progress: 2024 vs. 2025 Key Metrics**
| Metric | 2024 (Annual Report 2025) | 2025 (Annual Report 2026) |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Total Payment Volume (TPV)** | US$25.6 Billion | **US$40.8 Billion** |
| **Total Revenue** | US$746.0 Million | **US$1.09 Billion** |
| **Net Revenue Retention (NRR)** | 113% | **145%** |
| **Net Income** | US$120.5 Million | **US$196.9 Million** |
| **FTE Count (Employees/Contractors)** | 1,095 | **1,274** |
| **Operating Profit** | US$140.5 Million | **US$219.9 Million** |
**Conclusion:** dLocal enters 2026 with an "asset-light" financial model that generates material cash (US$191 million Adjusted Free Cash Flow in 2025). While emerging markets remain volatile—particularly regarding Argentine foreign exchange and shifting trade policies—the company's 2026 outlook projects continued growth of 50-60% in TPV as it leverages its richer data and Cost optimization strategies.