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A leading payments industry news source for more than 17 years. Glenbrook curates the news and keeps you abreast of the important daily headlines in payments.
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February 10, 2026
Top Post
New Pay by Bank Offering Powers Amazon Purchases Directly From Shoppers’ UK Bank Accounts
Retail Technology Innovation Hub
"Amazon has launched Pay by Bank, a new payment method on amazon.co.uk that allows customers to complete retail purchases directly from their UK bank accounts, with the ability to do so for their Prime membership coming soon. This avoids the need to enter or store card details by establishing a connection between customers and their existing banks. Security is maintained through the customer's own banking app, using their established biometric authentication or PIN verification systems."
On the web
Deel Partners with MoonPay to Enable Stablecoin Salary Payouts for Global Workers
PR Newswire
"MoonPay, a leader in global crypto payments and stablecoin infrastructure, announced a new partnership with Deel, the all-in-one global payroll and HR platform. Together, MoonPay and Deel will further enhance stablecoin salary payouts for workers and expand these capabilities to employees around the world, offering a faster and more flexible way to get paid. Deel helps companies hire, manage, pay, and equip any worker, anywhere. This partnership builds on Deel's continued expansion into crypto-enabled payroll."
Why UK Payment Infrastructure Reform Could Reshape Digital Commerce
TechHQ
"The UK’s payment infrastructure is getting its biggest upgrade in nearly two decades, and the implications extend beyond faster checkout times. In a speech at the City & Financial Payments Regulation and Innovation Summit, Bank of England deputy governor Sarah Breeden outlined how a new institutional model, one that combines public oversight with private sector delivery, aims to reshape the economics and functionality of digital commerce."
Social Engineering Breach Exposes 1.4 Million Betterment Customer Records
Digital Watch Observatory
"Betterment has confirmed a data breach affecting around 1.4 million customers after a January 2026 social engineering attack on a third-party platform. Attackers used the access to send fraudulent crypto scam messages posing as official promotions. The breach occurred after an employee was tricked into sharing login credentials, allowing unauthorised access to internal messaging systems rather than core investment infrastructure. Attackers used the access to send messages promising multiply cryptocurrency deposits sent to external wallets."
Adyen and Uber Expand Global Partnership to Power New Markets, Launch Uber Kiosks
Adyen
"Adyen and Uber announced the renewal and expansion of their global partnership. Building on more than a decade of successful collaboration first starting in 2012, Adyen continues to serve as a key payments engine supporting Uber's global footprint, which now spans over 70 countries across six continents. The expanded partnership reflects Uber’s growing use of Adyen’s global payments platform to enhance performance and offer more alternative payment methods, to support Uber’s continued international growth."
On the wires
accesso® and Adyen Expand Strategic Partnership to Enhance Platform Payments Capabilities at Global Scale
PR Newswire
"accesso Technology Group a technology solutions provider to leisure, entertainment, and cultural markets, announced the expansion of its long-standing strategic partnership with Adyen. This collaboration integrates embedded payments as a core platform capability across the accesso ecosystem. Together, accesso and Adyen's partnership is designed to deliver the scale and reliability required for complex, high-volume environments spanning multiple regions and sales channels."
Ingenico Launches Next-Generation AXIUM Payment Device Family and Ingenico 360 Unified Cloud Platform
PR Newswire
"Ingenico announced the launch of its next-generation AXIUM payment device family and Ingenico 360, a unified cloud platform designed to deliver consistent, enterprise-grade payment experiences while simplifying large-scale payment operations. The new AXIUM family is built on a common architecture that spans mobile, countertop, multilane, self-service, PIN pad, and SoftPOS form factors. Every AXIUM device shares the same core design principles, is certified to PCI PTS v7, and runs Android 14, ensuring consistent security, compliance, and behavior across global deployments."
February 9, 2026
Top Post
The Hidden Costs of Credit Card Surcharging
Digital Transactions
"A surcharge is more complicated than just slapping a fee on a card transaction. For one thing, it’s fraught with myriad compliance and consumer issues. That doesn’t mean there won’t be more of it. Merchant surcharging on credit card transactions is nothing new, but the practice has become more widespread in recent years. The reasons vary, including merchants’ search for ways to offset card-acceptance costs and the onset of higher operating expenses that squeeze profit margins."
On the web
Japan’s Stablecoin Boom Reveals a Two Track Market
Cryptopolitan
"Japan’s stablecoin market is heating up, with a number of new partnerships forming around the country’s first yen-backed stablecoin. Banks and major businesses are now piloting both yen- and dollar-backed stablecoins for real world payments. But a clear split is taking shape. While USD stablecoins dominate global transactions, yen-backed coins are being positioned as a low-cost, homegrown option for domestic commerce and business settlements."
On the wires
ByteFederal Australia Launches ByteConnect
PR Newswire
"ByteFederal Australia, in strategic partnership with ByteFederal Inc. (USA) announced the national launch of ByteConnect, a fully integrated, Bitcoin-enabled Payment Terminal and Online Payment Gateway leveraging blockchain technology to enable Australian merchants to accept cryptocurrency payments within a robust compliance and operational framework."
February 6, 2026
On the web
The Global Payments Reset Has Begun - And It’s Not Coming From Banks
Exchange Rates
"China’s central bank has signalled a major shift in digital-currency policy. Under a new action plan published by the People’s Bank of China, the digital yuan moves from “digital cash” to a form of deposit money: commercial banks will pay interest on e-CNY balances from 1 January 2026 and deposits will be covered by deposit insurance. The plan integrates digital-currency liabilities into banks’ asset-liability management and reserve-requirement frameworks."
UPI New Rules From February: Key Changes for Google Pay, PhonePe & Paytm Users
ABP Live
"New rules for the UPI are set to take effect from February 2026, bringing significant changes to transaction speed, verification standards and user protections. Regulators have focused on improving real-time processing, tightening security controls and enhancing transparency for users who rely on UPI for everyday digital payments. The updated framework aims to make digital transactions faster and safer while giving users greater control over their payment activity across popular UPI apps."
PhonePe Takes Its Diversification to Dalal Street
The Economic Times
"For most users, PhonePe remains a payments app. As the Walmart-backed fintech prepares for a public listing, its UDRHP filed last month outlines a company that is expanding beyond payments, using UPI primarily as a distribution layer rather than a revenue engine. More notably, growth is increasingly being driven by businesses that sit on top of payments: merchant services, lending, insurance distribution, and newer platform bets, rather than UPI itself."
Mastercard Collaborates With Cyber Security Council to Safeguard Uae’s Digital Ecosystem
Mastercard
"Mastercard has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UAE Cyber Security Council (CSC) to strengthen trust in the nation’s digital ecosystem. Through this collaboration, both entities will work together to advance cybersecurity resilience by sharing global best practices and supporting the development of forward‑looking cybersecurity policies. The two entities are also launching a joint report on the current state of the country’s cybersecurity landscape."
India Weighing up to 25,000 Rupee Compensation for Digital‑Payment Frauds, RBI Governor Says
Yahoo Finance
"The Reserve Bank of India will propose a framework to compensate customers up to 25,000 rupees ($276) for losses incurred in small-value fraudulent transactions, Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra said on Friday. This was among a series of steps announced by the RBI to enhance customer protection and increase digital payments safety. The draft guidelines will be issued shortly, the governor said in his monetary policy address."
Lloyds Says GenAI Delivered £50m of Value in 2025
Banking Exchange
"Lloyds Banking Group’s use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) delivered around £50 million of value in 2025, with more than £100 million in additional value expected in 2026 as the bank expands its use of the technology. During 2025, the bank deployed more than 50 generative AI solutions, which it said have reshaped how customers interact with its services and how employees carry out day-to-day work."
Education: Why Is Your Credit Card Rate So High?
Knowledge at Wharton
"U.S. credit card debt is rising and at last count exceeded $1.2 trillion, but half of the 42% of Americans who worry about their card debt do nothing about it. But the top-of-mind question among credit card users is: Why do they pay overly stiff interest rates? Credit card interest rates average 23% — higher than any other type of loan or bond, according to a recent paper titled “Credit Card Banking” by Wharton finance professor Itamar Drechsler and other experts."
On the wires
Zip US Expands Flexible Payment Options with Launch of Pay in 2
Business Wire
"Zip announced the launch of Pay in 2, a new payment option that allows consumers to split a purchase into two installments paid over two weeks. While Zip’s Pay in 4 offering has helped millions of customers manage larger purchases over six weeks, Pay in 2 is designed to help manage cash flow and everyday spending within a single billing cycle."
February 5, 2026
Top Post
Visa Introduces Visa & Main, A New Platform to Accelerate Small Business Growth Across the U.S.
Visa
"Visa announced the launch of Visa & Main, a new platform designed to give small business owners across the United States better access to the resources they need to succeed. Built in direct response to pressing challenges entrepreneurs face—access to capital, reaching customers and adopting modern business tools—the platform brings together capabilities across Visa’s network to help small businesses succeed."
On the web
South Africa Launches Its First Rand-Pegged Stablecoin, Zaru
Biz Community
"South Africa has entered the digital-currency era with the launch of Zaru, the country’s first institutional-grade stablecoin pegged to the rand. The launch marks a major step in modernising the country’s financial ecosystem and linking the rand to global digital finance networks."
Merchant Steering of Consumer Payment Choice
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
"This paper analyzes data from a consumer payment survey and diary to identify reasons why consumers often deviate from their preferred payment method when making in-person purchases. In particular, it investigates the degree to which merchants influence consumers’ payment choice—cash, debit, or credit card—and whether they are able to steer consumers from their preferred payment method."
Phixius by Nacha and Kinexys by J.P. Morgan Integration Goes Live, Expanding Multi-Responder Account Validation Network
Nacha
"Phixius by Nacha (Phixius) announced that its integration with Kinexys Liink, the world’s first bank-led peer-to-peer blockchain-based data sharing network, part of Kinexys by J.P. Morgan, is now live. With this integration, financial institutions and organizations that make ACH payments can benefit from a multi-responder account validation system. As part of the integration, Phixius serves as a key U.S. payment information network responder for clients of Kinexys Liink, enabling near real-time validation of domestic bank account data."
When AI Agents Shop for Us, How Will Loyalty Programs Keep Up?
Chain Store Age
"As AI tools move from effectively being smarter search engines (chatbots), to autonomously executing transactions on behalf of a person (AI agents), the online marketing playbook is being rewritten. For retailers, this shift means loyalty is becoming a way to differentiate products and gain favor with agents. Product data will play an even more important role going forward, especially because Google’s UCP is reportedly expanding the number of product data attributes available for merchants to upload by as many as 60 new fields."
Block Expands OpenIP with Bitkey and Proto Patents: Advancing Open Hardware Innovation
Block
"Block announced the expansion of Block's OpenIP initiative to include patents related to Bitkey, our bitcoin self-custody hardware wallet, and Proto, our brand of bitcoin mining products and services, furthering our commitment to open innovation in hardware development. This expansion builds on our initial OpenIP announcement from October 2025, where we established our approach to intellectual property that puts builders first."
February 4, 2026
On the web
Mastercard Launches Fleet: Next Gen to Streamline Fleet Payments in Apac
Asian Banking & Finance
"Mastercard has launched Mastercard Fleet: Next Gen, a portfolio of new solutions for car fleet management and logistics operations. It offers global acceptance across millions of locations, including fuel, electric vehicle (EV) charging, maintenance, tolling, and ancillary fleet speed, according to a press release on 4 February 2026. Mastercard promises smarter authorisation controls and spend policies based on vehicle, driver, merchant categories, location, time, and amount."
Some Renters Should Be Wary of ‘Rent Now, Pay Later’ Services. Here’s Why
Fast Company
"So-called “rent now, pay later” services have emerged over the past few years as housing costs climb and paychecks grow less predictable for many. Companies such as Flex, Livble, and, more recently, Affirm, say breaking rent into multiple payments can help renters manage cash flow. Consumer advocates warn the products typically function like short-term loans , layering fees onto strained budgets and, in some cases, carrying triple-digit effective interest rates — raising questions about whether they ease financial pressure or deepen it."
Webster Financial Corporation Enters Into Merger Agreement With Banco Santander, S.A. for $12.3 Billion
Business Wire-Yahoo
"Webster Financial Corporation, the holding company for Webster Bank, N.A., today announced the signing of a definitive agreement under which Banco Santander, S.A. will acquire Webster in a cash-and-stock transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, Webster stockholders will receive $48.75 in cash and 2.0548 Santander American Depository Shares for each Webster common share."
Ripple Wins EU EMI License, Scaling Payments Across Europe
NFT Plazas
"Ripple secured a full EMI license in Luxembourg, granting seamless operational access to all 27 European Union member states. With 75+ global licenses, Ripple leverages strict compliance as a competitive moat to win over traditional institutional partners. The $1.15 billion ecosystem combining Ripple Treasury and RLUSD stablecoin provides a high-speed, transparent alternative to legacy banking systems."
Stablecoin Rewards Issue Remains Unresolved After White House Meeting
Ledger Insights
"Yesterday there was a meeting at the White House to reach a compromise on a key issue holding up the Clarity Act crypto bill in the Senate: stablecoin interest and rewards. Community and other banks have concerns that permitting stablecoin rewards could impact deposits. The President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets convened a meeting between bank representatives and crypto firms, but the issue was not resolved at yesterday’s meeting."
Project Fusse: Exploring Flexible, Scalable and Secure Settlement Engines
BIS
"This report details the findings from Project FuSSE (Fully Scalable Settlement Engine), a proof-of-concept exploring how a modular, microservices-based architecture could support the design of settlement systems that could scale under sustained growth and stress conditions, adapt to change, and strengthen security through quantum readiness and cryptographic agility. The project demonstrated technical feasibility while highlighting significant operational trade-offs that must be carefully managed."
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