Mastercard is a global payments technology company that operates a proprietary network connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, and governments to enable electronic payment transactions across more than 150 currencies in over 220 countries and territories. The company generates revenue primarily through switching fees and payment network services based on the gross dollar volume of transactions flowing through its card brands (Mastercard, Maestro, and Cirrus) and emerging payment rails including ACH and real-time account-based systems, rather than from issuing cards, extending credit, or setting interest rates. Mastercard supplements its core network revenue with value-added services such as fraud prevention, data analytics, consumer acquisition solutions, digital authentication, and money movement platforms that serve consumers, businesses, and governments globally.