Afterpay Limited
Company History
Afterpay History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 2014 in Sydney, Australia
When was Afterpay founded?
Afterpay was founded in 2014 in Sydney, Australia by Nick Molnar and Anthony Eisen, making it 12 years old.
- Founded
- 2014
- Founding place
- Sydney, Australia
- Founders
- Nick Molnar and Anthony Eisen
- Headquarters today
- Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Milestones documented
- 13 (2014–2025)
- Current CEO
- Jack Dorsey (Block parent)
- Acquisitions
- 4
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2014 | Afterpay founded |
| 2016 | ASX listing |
| 2017 | Touchcorp transaction |
| 2018 | United States launch |
| 2018 | ClearPay stake acquired |
| 2019 | Clearpay launched in the United Kingdom |
| 2020 | Canada expansion |
| 2020 | EmpatKali acquired |
| 2020 | Pagantis agreement |
| 2021 | Block acquisition announced |
| 2022 | Block acquisition completed |
| 2024 | Afterpay marks ten years |
| 2025 | Australian BNPL credit rules commence |
- Where was Afterpay founded?
- Afterpay was founded in Sydney, Australia in 2014.
- When did Afterpay start?
- Afterpay was founded in 2014.
- How old is Afterpay?
- Afterpay is 12 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
Afterpay was founded in Sydney, Australia in 2014 by Nick Molnar, a 24-year-old jewelry student who sold on eBay, and Anthony Eisen, a seasoned investment banker who lived across the street. Molnar noticed that millennials were highly averse to traditional credit cards following the 2008 financial crisis but still wanted instant gratification. They built a platform that allowed users to split payments into four interest-free installments, aggressively pitching it to Australian fashion retailers to drive massive conversion rates.
Founders
Nick Molnar
Nick Molnar co-founded Afterpay and served as co-CEO through the Block acquisition. Block's 2024 shareholder letter said he would lead a centralized sales function across Block, including Square, reporting to Jack Dorsey. Nick Molnar was born in 1990.
Anthony Eisen
Anthony Eisen co-founded Afterpay in 2014. As the older, highly experienced financial architect, he secured the massive initial debt facilities required to actually fund the consumer loans before merchants were paid. He served as Co-CEO, guiding the company through its explosive global growth and negotiating the massive $29 billion acquisition by Square (now Block) in 2021. Anthony Eisen was born in 1971.
Key Milestones
Afterpay founded
Nick Molnar and Anthony Eisen founded Afterpay in Sydney.
Source: newsroom.afterpay.comASX listing
Afterpay listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and reported ~$903,000 (A$1.4 million) of FY2016 revenue.
Source: afterpay-newsroom.yourcreative.com.auTouchcorp transaction
Afterpay acquired Touchcorp and the combined business became Afterpay Touch Group.
Source: afterpay-newsroom.yourcreative.com.auUnited States launch
Afterpay expanded its installment service into the United States.
Source: afterpay-newsroom.yourcreative.com.auClearPay stake acquired
Afterpay acquired 90% of ClearPay Finance Limited for one million Afterpay shares.
Source: markets.ft.comClearpay launched in the United Kingdom
Afterpay launched in the United Kingdom under the Clearpay brand.
Source: newsroom.afterpay.comCanada expansion
Afterpay added Canada to its operating markets.
Source: afterpay-corporate.yourcreative.com.auEmpatKali acquired
Afterpay acquired Singapore-based EmpatKali, which operated in Indonesia.
Source: pinsentmasons.comPagantis agreement
Afterpay agreed to acquire Pagantis and PMT Technology to support expansion in southern Europe.
Source: afterpay-newsroom.yourcreative.com.auBlock acquisition announced
Square and Afterpay announced a recommended scheme under which Square would acquire all Afterpay shares.
Source: afterpay-newsroom.yourcreative.com.auBlock acquisition completed
Block completed the scheme of arrangement on January 31, 2022.
Source: sec.govAfterpay marks ten years
Afterpay reported more than 24 million active customers and more than 348,000 global merchants.
Source: newsroom.afterpay.comAustralian BNPL credit rules commence
Australian BNPL contracts became regulated credit contracts from June 10, 2025.
Source: asic.gov.auMajor Acquisitions
Touchcorp Limited
2017Afterpay acquired Touchcorp under the transaction that created Afterpay Touch Group and combined Afterpay with its payments technology provider.
ClearPay Finance Limited (90% stake)
2018Afterpay acquired 90% of ClearPay for one million Afterpay shares, then used the Clearpay brand for its United Kingdom launch.
EmpatKali
2020Afterpay acquired the Singapore-based payments business operating in Indonesia as part of its Asian expansion planning; consideration was not disclosed.
Pagantis SAU and PMT Technology SLU
2020Afterpay agreed to acquire the Spanish payments businesses to support expansion in Spain, France, and Italy.
Keep researching Afterpay
Afterpay Company History FAQ
Who founded Afterpay?
Nick Molnar and Anthony Eisen founded Afterpay in Sydney in 2014. The later ASX-listed company maintained its corporate base in Melbourne.
Who owns Afterpay?
Block acquired all issued Afterpay shares through a scheme of arrangement completed on January 31, 2022. Afterpay is a wholly owned Block subsidiary.
When did Afterpay list on the ASX?
Afterpay listed in 2016. After the 2017 Touchcorp transaction, the combined company traded as Afterpay Touch Group and later Afterpay Limited.
When was Afterpay founded?
Afterpay was founded in 2014 in Sydney, Australia, quickly becoming a global sensation among millennials avoiding credit cards.
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