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April 28, 2026
Top Post
Google: We’re Donating Agent Payments Protocol to the FIDO Alliance to Support the Future of Secure, Agentic Payments
"Google: We’re donating the Agent Payments Protocol (AP2) to the FIDO Alliance, a renowned industry association focused on creating open standards. Transitioning ownership to the FIDO Alliance ensures AP2 remains platform-agnostic and community-led, while accelerating adoption of secure agentic payments. Today on GitHub, we’re also releasing AP2 v.0.2, which introduces critical updates for autonomous transactions, including “Human Not Present” payments, which will allow agents to securely execute payments autonomously, like securing and purchasing limited-run tickets the moment they’re on sale, based on pre-authorized user instructions.
On the web
FIDO Alliance to Develop Standards for Trusted AI Agent Interactions
FIDO Alliance
"The FIDO Alliance announced initiatives to develop interoperable standards for agentic interactions and commerce. These initiatives include the formation of an Agentic Authentication Technical Working Group and efforts to develop specifications for agent-initiated commerce, drawing from initial contributions from Google (AP2) and Mastercard (Verifiable Intent). The FIDO Alliance’s agentic standards work will be carried out by its members through the newly formed Agentic Authentication Technical Working Group and the Payments Technical Working Group."
Block Launches Bitkey Wallet With Screen, Automatic Bitcoin Earning on Cash App, and Proof of Reserves
Block
"Block announced the launch of a Bitkey hardware wallet with a secure screen, alongside new Cash App features for earning bitcoin automatically, and Proof of Reserves across Block’s corporate treasury bitcoin holdings, and Cash App and Square customer holdings. The screen does more than verify transactions. It's the physical surface through which customers verify and authorize every security-critical operation in the wallet."
Ant International Unveils Protocol to Support AI-Driven Mobile Payments
TNGlobal
"Ant International has introduced a new Agentic Mobile Protocol (AMP) to support the growing agentic commerce. The protocol can integrate digital wallets, banking applications, super apps, and other mobile platforms, extending functionality across devices ranging from smartphones to wearables. Current payment protocols for AI systems are largely built around traditional card networks. Merchants and digital wallet providers are seeking ways to streamline payment experiences, authenticate AI agents, and manage transactions without disruption."
Revolut to Open Store in Barcelona, Marking First Move Into Physical Retail
Tech EU
"Revolut is to open a retail store in Barcelona, marking its first move into retail bricks and mortar. Called Revolut Store, it will be located in the heart of Barcelona, according to Spanish media. According to Revolut, the idea behind the store is to make the Revolut brand more accessible and its products easier to discover. A spokesperson for Revolut, which is valued at $75bn, said: “This will not be a temporary pop-up, but a permanent space. A high-visibility, immersive space that will bring our ecosystem to life.”
On the wires
Ant International Launches PayTo Payment Solution for Australian SMEs
Business Wire
"Ant International announced an exclusive move to integrate PayTo into its Global Account Service in Australia. This solution enables Australian export SMEs to access a faster, cost-effective, and more secure alternative to account-to-account pull payments. The announcement is a collaboration with global leader in transaction banking, Citi. Citi's role as the initiator sponsor bank provides the foundation for the speed, security, and reliability of this new service."
Thunes and WireBarley Launch Real-Time Payment Solution for 1.1 Million Users Across Asia and Beyond
PR Newswire
"Thunes announced a strategic collaboration with WireBarley, a rapidly growing Asia-Pacific payment platform. The alliance represents a shared commitment to digital transformation and will fuel WireBarley's international expansion. Together, Thunes and WireBarley will provide real-time, seamless cross-border payments for businesses and individuals living abroad across major corridors, including South Korea, the U.S., Australia, and Vietnam."
April 27, 2026
Top Post
Raising the Limit to $10 Million Reflects the Demand for Same Day ACH
Nacha
"Ten is a very important number this year at Nacha and there’s a lot to celebrate. Topping the list is the tenfold increase to the dollar limit for Same Day ACH payments just approved by the Nacha membership. The current $1 million rises to $10 million on Sept. 17, 2027."
On the web
Western Union to Launch Stablecoin Next Month, With ‘Stable Card’ Planned for Global Consumers
The Block
"Western Union announced it will launch its stablecoin, USDPT, next month. Western Union is also launching a network connecting digital wallets to its existing retail infrastructure, and a stablecoin payment card for global consumers. USDPT is expected to launch in select countries with key agent partners for onchain settlement, enabling faster processing. Western Union also said that it is launching two services that will integrate the stablecoin into a broader ecosystem. One of them is the Digital Asset Network (DAN), leveraging USDPT and other digital assets to connect crypto wallets to Western Union's existing retail and agent network. "
Many Consumers Say ‘No Thanks’ to Agent-Based Payments
Digital Transactions
"It’s still early days for agentic commerce and it appears consumers may want to forestall such transactions until they get much more comfortable with the technology, suggests the Riskified Agentic Commerce Pulse report. Riskified, says the report, which surveyed 2,000 consumers in the United States and the United Kingdom, found that 61.5% of them have used AI tools to discover products and receive recommendations, though 55% of all respondents were not comfortable with AI agents making purchases on their behalf."
New Zelle® Survey Data: Boomers Built Main Street. Now They're Ready to Sell - But Gen Z and Millennials Aren't Buying.
PR Newswire
"A massive wave of small business owners is preparing to exit (often referred to as the "Silver Tsunami"), but the next generation isn't lining up to take over. New data from the 2026 Zelle Small Business Pulse Report reveals a generational disconnect between retiring owners and younger buyers that is putting small businesses at risk of closing. While nearly half (49%) of small business owners over 50 surveyed plan to exit within the next decade, most lack a succession plan – and many may not meet the expectations of a generation raised on fast, digital-first payments."
Cash App Is Targeting a New Kind of Customer: 6- To 12-Year-Olds
TechCrunch
"Cash App believes it has found a promising new demographic: children. The company is expanding its youth-focused services in an effort to build a relationship with Gen Alpha and the upcoming generation of adolescents in the U.S. The new program will let parents create financial accounts for children between the ages of six and 12. The children won’t have access to the app; accounts will be managed by their parents. The children, meanwhile, will receive a debit card linked to the accounts that they can use."
New Fed Data: Differences in Deposits at Large vs Small US Institutions
The Federal Reserve
"A new data release from the Federal Reserve Payments Study (FRPS) puts payments activity in the context of the transaction deposit accounts that fund payments. The release reports differences between the largest depository institutions (Top 100 DIs) and all others. While the Top 100 comprise a small fraction (less than one percent) of the nearly 10,000 DIs in the United States as of 2021, they account for most of the transaction deposit account balances, 64 percent by number in 2021 and 68 percent by value."
Discover Ending Pay With Rewards and Connected Account Support in Apple Pay
9to5Mac
"In a notice sent to cardholders, Discover says it will soon discontinue support for its Connected Account integration, as well as for the Pay with Rewards within Apple Pay feature. The company says it remains “committed to enabling use of Discover® Card in Apple Pay®,” which means that this move will not affect the core Apple Pay experience, as Discover cards will continue to work for both in-store and online purchases through Apple Pay as usual."
BIS: Tap a Card, Pay by Phone but Cash Still Holds Its Own
BIS
"The use of cashless payments continues to increase globally. Credit transfers are the fastest growing cashless payment method in emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs), while the growth in cashless payments in advanced economies (AEs) is mainly driven by growth in card payments.Fast payments are gaining ground and are a key driver behind the growth of credit transfers in EMDEs. Fast payments are increasingly used for small-value payments in both EMDEs and AEs."
American Express Partners with Anthropic to Make U.S. Resy Restaurants Discoverable in Claude
American Express
"Claude users can now explore U.S. Resy restaurants directly in their conversations when deciding where to eat. Whether it’s a low-key dinner in the neighborhood or an all-out special occasion, Claude connects to Resy to help diners browse available tables in real time and secure a table seamlessly. This partnership also reflects American Express’s focus on creating AI-powered experiences for Card Members and embedding its unique assets, like Resy, into leading AI platforms."
Nexi and Visa Partner to Deliver Nexi Ready Issuing Services In Germany
Nexi Group
"Nexi, the European PayTech, and Visa, a global payments technology company, announced a strategic partnership to scale managed issuing solutions in Germany, enabling banks to accelerate the modernization of card issuing. The long-term strategic agreement will allow Nexi to provide end-to-end managed issuing products for banks offering customers a full range of Visa cards. Banks will benefit from faster time-to-market, continuous access to innovation, and a high-quality customer experience."
On the wires
Global Merchants Partner with Ant International to Scale Internationally Amid rise of Agentic Commerce
PR Newswire
"Global businesses are partnering with Ant International to navigate the rapidly evolving commerce landscape in Asia and other international markets. As "agentic commerce"—where AI agents autonomously manage the shopping journey from discovery to settlement—reaches more consumers, Ant International is providing the essential payments and FinAI tools necessary for global merchants to scale across fragmented digital markets."
PayPal Brings New Commerce-Grade Identity Solution to Advertising Industry
PR Newswire
"Most identity solutions in advertising are built on estimates, guesswork, or probabilistic signals. PayPal changes that by introducing something different: PayPal Ads ID, an advertising identifier grounded in verified commerce relationships. The digital advertising industry has long struggled with a foundational identity problem. According to the 2025 State of the Industry report , only 21% of brands, agencies, and publishers say they are very confident that they can accurately identify and reach their target audiences across digital channels."
April 24, 2026
Top Post
FedNow® Service Network Intelligence API Launching on April 28
Federal Reserve
"Federal Reserve Financial Services (FRFS) announced its latest risk mitigation tool, a new network intelligence API, will launch on April 28 for early adopters of the tool. The API provides financial institutions and service providers with receiver account-level data observed over the service, adding an extra layer of information to help participants assess the risk of a potential payment."
On the web
ACI Worldwide and Kinexys by J.P. Morgan Collaborate to Mitigate Global Real-Time Payments Fraud
ACI Worldwide
"As real-time payments adoption accelerates worldwide and fraud risks intensify, ACI Worldwide and Kinexys by J.P. Morgan announced the integration of Kinexys Liink’s Confirm application into ACI Worldwide’s Fraud and Financial Crime solution. The integration embeds account and payee verification directly into payment workflows, enabling banks to help reduce fraud, protect customers, and aims to support safer, faster payments at scale."
China’s Alipay Launches AI Pay for Autonomous Agents
BNE Intellinews
"China's Alipay has launched an AI Pay service allowing autonomous AI agents to make purchases and complete payments on a user's behalf. The service enables so-called OpenClaw-type AI agents to handle transactions after a user authorises the function through voice command and identity verification. The process runs in three steps: a user states a need, confirms the order and authorises payment. Orders can be modified or cancelled at any point with a single command."
NatWest Launches Venture Banking to Help Scale the UK's Innovation Economy and Drive Future Growth
Amazon US Press Center
"NatWest has launched NatWest Venture Banking, a dedicated venture banking business to support the UK’s most ambitious high growth companies and the investors backing them, helping to turn innovation into scale, jobs and long‑term economic growth."
Education: Tokenized Deposits vs. Stablecoins: What Banks Need to Know
Alacriti
"Financial markets are moving toward an always-on model. Major exchanges are exploring tokenized securities and near-instant settlement powered by digital assets. Trading windows are expanding, settlement cycles are shrinking, and expectations around liquidity availability are rising. For banks and credit unions, the question is direct: Can traditional liquidity and cash management frameworks support continuous,24/7 settlement?"
April 23, 2026
Top Post
Adyen to Acquire Talon.one to Enable Real-Time Decisioning Across Commerce Channels
Adyen
"Adyen N.V. announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in Talon.One GmbH, a platform for loyalty and incentives serving 300+ global merchants, for a consideration of €750 million. Merchants lack a consistent view of their customers across channels. By combining Adyen’s global payments infrastructure and proprietary transaction data with Talon.One’s real-time decisioning capabilities, merchants can establish a consistent customer identity across channels and apply it in the shopper’s cart."
Zelle® and Truist Pilot Fast, Reliable Bill Payments
Early Warning
"Zelle® announced a pilot with Truist Financial Corp. to evaluate the use of Zelle for bill payments, with Truist teammates participating in early testing ahead of broader consumer availability. The effort explores how greater payment certainty could help simplify one of the most common financial tasks for consumers. This pilot is part of Zelle® Forward, the network’s initiative focused on expanding Zelle into practical, real-world payment use cases, with Truist serving as the lead pilot partner for bill payments."
On the web
Capital One to Pay $425 Million in Settlement
Yahoo Finance
"A judge approved a $425 million settlement in a class action lawsuit against Capital One, with payouts going to eligible Capital One customers. The lawsuit stems from interest rates that Capital One paid to savings account customers. Capital One originally offered a 360 Savings Account before introducing the 360 Performance Savings Account, a high-yield savings account, in 2019. The account holders said Capital One continually paid a higher return on the 360 Performance Savings than on the 360 Savings, though the accounts were the same."
The Future of Financial Messaging: Navigating the ISO 20022 Migration Journey
BIS
"The implementation of ISO 20022 addresses inefficiencies in cross-border payments by enabling structured data, reducing message truncation and enhancing straight-through processing. The ISO 20022 migration journey spans pre-migration, migration and post-migration phases. Premigration includes stakeholder engagement and system readiness, while migration focuses on cutovers and reconciliation. Post-migration ensures stability, monitoring and long-term benefits through robust governance."
On the wires
MoneyGram and Stellar Extend Partnership to Scale Real-World Stablecoin Utility Globally
PR Newswire
"MoneyGram and the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) announced a multi-year extension of their partnership. This milestone marks more than five years of turning stablecoin potential into real-world utility and financial inclusion. Since 2021, MoneyGram and SDF have delivered industry firsts: The world's largest cash on/off-ramp for digital assets The MoneyGram Ramps API, enabling developers to plug into that network A stablecoin balance within the MoneyGram app that gives customers the ability to hold funds or cash out on their own terms"
As Multi-Rail Complexity Grows, ACI Worldwide Delivers One Cloud-Native Platform for Eight U.S. Networks
Business Wire
"ACI Worldwide announced ACI Connetic for eight major U.S. networks on a single, cloud-native platform. ACI Connetic enables connectivity to Fedwire, CHIPS, Swift, The Clearing House RTP, Zelle and FedNow, with Nacha ACH (FedACH and EPN) connectivity expected for customers next year. It also supports stablecoin and tokenized-deposit capabilities, providing a unified approach across traditional, instant and digital-asset payment rails that helps banks reduce the operational burden of running multiple clearing systems."