Indian fintech unicorn Cred has raised $900 million in a major Series H investment from Meta, marking one of the most notable fintech funding deals in India’s digital finance sector.
The investment comes as Cred’s founder and CEO, Kunal Shah, prepares to step away from his operating role at the company and take on a new leadership position at Meta as head of WhatsApp.
Meta Invests $900 Million in Cred
Cred’s latest funding round is structured through a combination of primary and secondary share purchases. The Series H investment values the company at around $4.03 billion pre-money and approximately $4.5 billion post-money.
The deal follows several earlier funding milestones for Cred, including a May 2025 round that valued the company at $3.5 billion. Cred had previously reached a peak valuation of $6.5 billion following earlier funding rounds, including its Series E and Series F raises.
According to reports, Meta’s investment gives the technology giant a 20% stake in Cred. However, Cred has stated that Meta will remain a minority shareholder and will not receive access to customer information.
What Cred Plans to Do With the Funding
Cred is expected to use the new capital to strengthen its leadership team and support its next phase of growth.
The company operates a fintech platform that allows users to pay credit card bills while earning rewards, cashback, and exclusive deals for timely payments. Over the years, Cred has expanded its position in India’s digital payments and consumer finance ecosystem by building a rewards-led model around financially active users.
The fresh funding from Meta could help Cred scale its product offerings, improve customer engagement, and deepen its presence in India’s fast-growing fintech market.
Kunal Shah to Lead WhatsApp at Meta
Alongside the investment, Meta has appointed Cred founder Kunal Shah to lead WhatsApp.
Shah is stepping away from his operating role at Cred but will remain a shareholder in the company. His move to Meta places him at the center of one of the world’s largest messaging platforms, with WhatsApp playing an increasingly important role in communication, commerce, and payments across global markets.
At WhatsApp, Shah will succeed Will Cathcart, who led the platform for seven years. Cathcart said WhatsApp is in a strong position and that the timing was right for him to step back.
Miten Sampat Named Interim CEO of Cred
Following Shah’s transition, Miten Sampat will take over as Cred’s interim CEO.
Sampat joined Cred in 2020 and has led the company’s strategy and finance teams. Before joining Cred, he held senior leadership positions at Times Internet, Neustar, and Feeva Technology.
His appointment signals continuity for Cred as the company enters a new phase backed by Meta’s investment.
Why This Deal Matters for Fintech
Meta’s $900 million investment in Cred highlights growing interest from major technology companies in India’s fintech ecosystem. India remains one of the world’s most active digital payments markets, supported by rising smartphone adoption, expanding credit card usage, and strong consumer demand for rewards-based financial products.
For Cred, the deal provides new capital and strategic visibility at a time when fintech companies are under pressure to balance growth with profitability.
For Meta, the investment strengthens its connection to India’s consumer finance and payments landscape, while the appointment of Kunal Shah to lead WhatsApp could bring deeper fintech and product growth experience to the messaging platform.
The Bottom Line
Cred’s $900 million investment from Meta is a major development for India’s fintech sector. The deal gives Cred fresh capital for expansion, while Kunal Shah’s move to lead WhatsApp marks a significant leadership shift for both Cred and Meta.
With Miten Sampat stepping in as interim CEO, Cred will now focus on maintaining momentum as it moves into its next stage of growth.