Perfect timing? I just wrote a post on why Stripe is becoming the transaction layer of the internet.<p><a href="http://blog.thinkful.com/post/98406708378/why-stripe-is-becoming-the-transaction-layer-of-the" rel="nofollow">http://blog.thinkful.com/post/98406708378/why-stripe-is-beco...</a><p>Some highlights:<p>- Agility in adopting new technologies<p>Whether it’s Bitcoin, Stellar, or 139 other currencies, Stripe is able to rapidly roll out developer kits and support for new forms of payment and protocols. To give context around this speed, the company announced support for Stellar, a decentralized protocol for sending and receiving money in any pair of currencies, just hours after its announcement. While this was obviously behind a curtain, it speaks volumes about Stripe being regarded as the first choice for these types of adoptions.<p>- Landing key deals<p>Within the span of 4 months, Stripe announced partnerships with Alipay, Twitter, Apple, and most recently Facebook. For a company of 160 employees, and just under five years in age, these are huge wins to add to their gallery.<p>- Developer support and evangelism<p>The company extensively blogs, holds office hours and maintains an active IRC channel to help companies integrate with their services. For a startup looking to gain market share, this is crucial. However, the real challenge lies in their ability to sustain this level of support as the company grows. Another area still largely untapped by Stripe is hackathons. By having mentors on-site and getting their client libraries in the hands of as many budding developers as possible, they can solidify their name as the go-to tool for online payments.