Afterpay is an Australian financial technology company founded in 2014 that pioneered the buy now, pay later (BNPL) model. It enables consumers to make purchases and pay for them in four interest-free installments, while merchants receive full payment upfront. The service has grown rapidly across Australia, New Zealand, the U.S., and other markets, becoming a key player in the BNPL sector. In 2022, Afterpay was acquired by Block, Inc. (formerly Square) to expand its global payments ecosystem.