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May 16, 2025
On the web
Global Payments Launches New Genius™ POS Platform
Yahoo Finance
"Global Payments Inc. announced the release of Genius, a powerful new POS command center for business operations. The new Genius platform enables global expansion and vertical specialization at scale, allowing Global Payments to rapidly launch in multiple countries, adapting to the unique requirements of each market. It also unlocks new opportunities in specialized retail segments like age regulated businesses, higher education and consumer service businesses."
Harmony Gap Research from FIS and Oxford Economics Reveals 78% of Global Businesses Leaning into AI to Combat Fraud
FIS Global
"Global business and technology leaders are already seeing benefits from the use of AI and automation, with over three-quarters (78%) reporting measurable improvements in the ability to detect fraud and manage risk after their organization’s integration of the technology. This is according to “The Harmony Gap: Finding the Financial Upside in Uncertainty” report, published in full today by global financial technology leader FIS® (NYSE: FIS) in collaboration with Oxford Economics."
Sound Investments: New Survey from Cash App Shows How Gen Z Is Turning It Up—and Shelling Out—for Live Music This Summer
Block
"This summer, nearly everyone’s favorite artist or band is hitting the road—and Gen Z doesn’t plan on missing a single beat. According to a new survey from Cash App, Sound Investments: The Impact of Concert Culture on Gen Z’s Wallets, Gen Z Americans are gearing up for their most event-filled summer yet–with 38% saying they’ll socialize more than in past years–and the headlining act of the season is concerts and live music."
New Global Digital Economy Trust Index Exposes Correlation Between GDP Growth and Consumer Trust in Online Payments
Checkout
"Checkout.com launched the inaugural Digital Economy Trust Index, which measures consumer confidence in digital platforms and ranks 16 countries based on security, transparency and user experience in the digital economy."
On the wires
PayPal Complete Payments Launches for Singapore Businesses to Double Down on E-commerce Growth
PR Newswire
"PayPal Complete Payments is now available for all businesses in Singapore. The full-stack payments solution is tailored for small and medium businesses (SMBs) and large enterprises to extend their reach globally, allowing merchants to accept payments from customers in over 200 markets while reducing complexity and managing risk, with just a single customizable integration."
May 15, 2025
Top Post
The Future of Cryptocurrency: A 10-Year Forecast
ABC Money
"As we look ahead to 2035, the cryptocurrency landscape is poised for transformative changes that will reshape our financial systems, technological infrastructure, and global economy. What began with Bitcoin in 2009 has evolved into a complex ecosystem of digital assets, decentralized applications, and financial instruments that challenge traditional economic paradigms."
On the web
Plaid: Using ML to Counter GenAI with New Identity Verification Features
Plaid
"We’re excited to announce new security features that make it even harder for fraudsters to manipulate or bypass identity verification. We’ve enhanced our identity verification with advanced machine learning to detect deepfake injections and synthetic camera feeds during both liveness and document checks."
Apple Is Placing Warnings on EU Apps That Don’t Use App Store Payments
The Verge
"Apple suggests that users are putting themselves at risk by using third-party alternatives. Apple is trying to dissuade Europeans from using iOS apps that support alternative payment options by making them look scary. Daring Fireball’s John Gruber spotted that a red exclamation mark icon is being prominently displayed on the App Store listing for Instacar, alongside a message warning users that it doesn’t use Apple’s “private and secure payment system.”"
Cross Switch Bolsters African Footprint with Strategic Partnership with Pesawise, Kenya
Cross Switch
"Cross Switch has strengthened its African presence by launching services in Kenya and partnering with licensed local payment provider Pesawise. This collaboration makes the most of Pesawise’s solid regulatory standing and trusted reputation, allowing Cross Switch to establish its footprint and, together with Pesawise, immediately deliver payment solutions to businesses throughout Kenya."
Optimizing EMV Testing & Certification: Automation Strategies for Streamlining Payment Acceptance
U.S. Payments Forum
"The payments industry is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by evolving consumer demands and technological advances. As EMV and contactless payment solutions become more widespread, the need for rigorous and efficient testing methodologies has never been more essential. This white paper explores the critical role of test automation in enhancing the quality, speed, and reliability of payment acceptance applications."
Central Banks Prepare for a Tokenized Future
Ledger Insights
"Imagine a financial world where every transaction, from billion-dollar treasury purchases to retail payments, exists entirely as digital tokens. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Bank for International Settlements Innovation Hub aren’t just imagining this scenario, they’re actively preparing for it through Project Pine."
Perplexity Selects PayPal to Power Agentic Commerce
PayPal Newsroom
"Perplexity announced that it has partnered with PayPal to power agentic commerce across its Perplexity Pro platform. Starting this summer in the U.S., consumers can check out instantly with PayPal or Venmo when they ask Perplexity to find products, book travel, or buy tickets."
DeCard by DCS and Visa Offers Secure, Frictionless, Real-World Utility — Micro Credit Card Fueled by Fiat or Digital Assets
Macau Business
"DCS Card Centre, a financial institution that pioneered cashless payments as Diners Club Singapore, and Visa, have launched DeCard Visa card — a regulated micro credit card with a flexible and high limit, allowing users to top up via fiat or with digital assets. DeCard Visa card delivers flexibility, control, and transparency across both traditional and digital funding sources."
Stablecoin Legislation Gets Renewed Bipartisan Support in Senate
Crypto News
"Lawmakers in both parties are trying to quickly bring back the GENIUS Act, a stablecoin bill backed by the crypto industry giants, after it stalled last week following backlash over U.S. President Donald Trump‘s growing crypto ventures."
Streaming Services Have a “Huge Appetite” for Automatic Pix, Says BC
Finsiders Brasil
"With its launch confirmed for June 16, Automatic Pix has already been attracting interest from large companies, including some of the largest streaming services operating in Brazil. The new method, which has been undergoing approval testing since the end of April, is designed to facilitate recurring payments, such as utility bills, subscription plans, school fees, and more."
On the wires
Nuvei Joins the European Payments Initiative to Launch Wero for Ecommerce
PR Newswire
"Nuvei, the Canadian fintech company, announced its membership in the European Payments Initiative (EPI), becoming one of the first payment services providers to enable ecommerce businesses to accept Wero, EPI's innovative digital wallet, in their online checkouts."
May 14, 2025
Top Post
2025 Diary of Consumer Payment Choice Reveals Cash Remains Relevant in an Increasingly Digital Economy
FRB Services
"Federal Reserve Financial Services issued the 2025 Diary of Consumer Payment Choice (Diary), an annual survey measuring the evolving role of cash in the U.S. economy. Findings from this nationally representative survey showed that amid the increasing digitalization of payments, consumers continue to use cash and keep it handy."
Monzo Customers Can Cancel Bank Transfers if They Quickly Spot an Error
MSN
"Monzo customers will have the ability to cancel a bank transfer if they realise within seconds that they have made a mistake. The new feature gives customers a 10- to 60-second window, allowing them to cancel a payment if they realise they have made an error, such as sending the wrong amount or selecting an incorrect recipient."
On the web
Plaid: Product Updates - May 2025
Plaid
"Key improvements across Plaid in May—from faster fund availability and smarter fraud detection to a more streamlined onboarding flow. Plus, now get instant product support by chatting with Claude in the dashboard."
Project Pine: Central Bank Open Market Operations With Smart Contracts
BIS
"Project Pine is a joint research study by the New York Fed's New York Innovation Center and the BIS Innovation Hub Swiss Centre that explores if and how central banks can implement monetary policy in a potential future state where the financial sector widely adopts tokenisation in wholesale markets."
Introducing Square Handheld: A Pocketable Powerhouse to Serve Tables, Manage Inventory, and Close Sales Anywhere
Square
"Square launched Square Handheld, its most powerful, portable point-of-sale device ever. Combining a sleek, durable design with comprehensive, versatile software, Square Handheld enables sellers to manage everything from payments to back-of-house operations right from their pocket."
Stablecoins Will Expand Beyond Crypto Trading, Become Part of Mainstream Economy, Citi Predicts
CoinDesk
"The stablecoin market could soon eclipse the entire crypto trading ecosystem that gave birth to it as regulatory tailwinds allow for the integration of the fixed-value tokens into the mainstream economy, according to predictions from global bank Citi. Above and beyond their role as tokenized cash for the crypto trading community, stablecoins — digital tokens whose value is pegged primarily to the U.S. dollar — are already expanding into payments and remittances."
On the wires
Zoho Enters U.S. Payments Market with the Launch of Zoho Payments, a Unified Solution for Secure, Seamless, and Scalable Payment Processing
Business Wire
"Zoho Payments helps businesses accept card payments in over 135 currencies and ACH payments for transactions within the U.S. The payment solution works out-of-the-box with Zoho's apps from finance and operations, sales and marketing, low-code, and collaboration platforms."
May 13, 2025
On the web
U.S. Faster Payments Council Publishes Practical Guide for Building Open Alias Directory Services
Faster Payments Council
"The U.S. Faster Payments Council published a new industry resource from its Directory Models Work Group: Decision Points for an Open Alias Directory. The report presents critical considerations for the development of an open, alias-based directory service that could simplify and accelerate faster payments in the United States."
Gen Z and Millennials Expect In-App Payments, NMI Survey Finds
NMI
"Gen Z and Millennials expect in-app payments or they’ll take their business elsewhere. The best transactions are invisible, say 60% of consumers, and it’s time for businesses and the software that empowers them to catch up."
Square Releases is Here: Built for Sellers to Discover What’s New and Shape What’s Next
Square
"Square debuted Square Releases — a new biannual product launch that delivers the most important new features and tools, all at once. Born out of feedback from the Square seller community, Square Releases gives businesses a simple, consistent way to discover what’s new, understand what’s next, and take action to grow."
Circle’s Dollar Coin Payment Network: South Korea Left Out
Business Korea
"Circle Internet Group, the issuer of the dollar-based stablecoin USDC, has established a systemenabling global remittance and settlement solely through stablecoins. However, it has been revealedthat not a single South Korean company has participated in the network. Critics argue that due tothe legal and institutional vacuum regarding stablecoins in Korea, domestic nancial institutionsand ntech companies are falling behind."
Visa and Ubisoft Partner to Blend Gaming and Digital Payments
IBS Intelligence
"Visa has announced a three-year strategic partnership with Ubisoft, the renowned video game developer and publisher headquartered in France. This partnership marks a significant step in the convergence of gaming and financial services in Europe and the UK."
On the wires
Telecom Italia Mulls Including Insurance, Payments, Energy Services in Bylaws, Sources Say
Reuters
"Italy's biggest phone group Telecom Italia is considering adding insurance, digital payments and energy to its business as described in its bylaws ahead of expanding the offering of those services, two sources told Reuters. Having sold its prized landline grid, TIM, the heir to Italy's phone monopoly, is looking to reshape its consumer arm to offer clients more services beyond mobile and fixed broadband connectivity, to boost its average monthly revenue per unit."
Adyen and JCB Launch Card-on-File Tokenization to Enhance Payment Security
JCN Newswire
"Adyen and JCB Co., Ltd., announced the rollout of JCB's card-on-file tokenization service aimed at enhancing the security of credit card transactions for e-commerce merchants. Adyen is the first to offer and implement JCB’s new technology both domestically and globally."
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