The proliferation of smartphones in developed markets and basic feature phones in emerging markets has paved the way for explosive growth in mobile money across a broad swath of the world's consumer population. Mobile money refers to the use of a mobile device to access financial services, bringing us a step closer to a cashless society. Increasingly, consumers have come to view mobile money as a more secure and efficient form of conducting transactions as opposed to cash, credit cards and checks. The following report takes a closer look into the market as well as companies in the ecosystem, M&A and private placement activity.