Arta, the commerce infrastructure platform for the art, luxury and collectibles market, has launched Arta Pay, a new financing service giving US collectors access to personal credit lines from $1,000 to more than $100,000.
The service allows buyers to make a deposit followed by nine fixed monthly payments, with the finance charge disclosed in advance. Sellers, meanwhile, receive the full purchase price within five business days and do not take on repayment or fraud risk. Arta says there are no processing fees for participating sellers.
The move takes Arta beyond its existing logistics and commerce infrastructure into the financing of transactions themselves. The company argues that there is a gap in the market between lower-limit consumer finance products and private banking solutions aimed at much larger purchases, particularly for works and objects priced from a few thousand dollars into the low six figures.
“We’ve spent years building the post-purchase technology that powers commerce across art, luxury, and collectibles, and Arta Pay builds on everything we’ve learned along the way while helping us lower the friction around the actual transactions themselves,”
said Adam Fields, founder and CEO of Arta.
“We’re bringing more flexibility to how people buy and sell in this market, making it possible for collectors to pay over time while sellers receive payment in full without taking on the financing risk.”
Arta Pay can be integrated into online and in-store checkout or used through an invoice for individual transactions, reflecting the mix of e-commerce and more relationship-led sales that still characterise much of the art and collectibles market. Applications are completed online, with most decisions made in real time; Arta says the initial credit check is soft and does not affect an applicant’s credit score.
Rago Wright and Swiss Watch Expo are among the first businesses using the service. Richard Wright, CEO of Rago Wright, said:
“Our collectors want flexibility in how they buy, and Arta Pay gives them that. It helps more bidders take home the works they love, with the option to pay over time. For us, it means offering that flexibility without taking on credit risk or managing the financing ourselves. Arta already is a trusted technology partner of ours, so adding Arta Pay was a natural next step.”
Founded in 2021, Arta works with businesses including Sotheby’s, Bonhams and Artsy and now operates in more than 65 countries. The company says it has facilitated more than $1 billion in item value across its platform, which already covers fulfilment, insurance, cross-border movement and item visibility.
MORE: arta.io/artapay
Arta Pay is currently available to US citizens and residents and is subject to eligibility and credit approval. The credit line is originated by Lead Bank.
