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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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July 2, 2026
On the web
Square Introduces New ChatGPT and Claude Integrations
Square
"Square today announced a new ChatGPT app and Claude plugin, helping sellers get discovered and transact at the exact moment customers are making purchasing decisions through AI-powered conversations."
Microsoft Brings Safety to AI-Driven Commerce with New MCP Server
CX Today
"Microsoft introduced a managed MCP server in Dynamics 365 Commerce to ensure AI agents interact securely with retail systems. Without a secure layer between AI agents and retail systems, AI can become an operational and security risk and organizations lose control over its actions. “We used it to build a voice-driven commerce agent that puts natural-language intelligence right on top of Dynamics 365 Store Commerce, so store associates can search the catalog, manage carts, look up customers, and handle everyday POS tasks just by talking.”
On the wires
Worldline, ING and Visa Complete a Live Agentic Payment Transaction in Europe
Yahoo Finance
"Worldline and ING announce the successful execution of a new live, end-to-end agent-driven payment transaction in Europe with Visa. The transaction illustrates how AI-enabled journeys can begin to operate securely within existing regulatory requirements, including Strong Customer Authentication."
PayPal Joins the European Payments Council
PayPal Newsroom
"PayPal has officially joined the European Payments Council (EPC), marking an important milestone in our commitment to the future of payments in Europe."
July 1, 2026
Top Post
Federal Reserve Issues Initial Findings from Its 2025 Triennial Payments Study
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
"The Federal Reserve issued initial findings from its 2025 triennial payments study. The information shows how consumers and businesses chose to make noncash payments, using different types of cards, ACH payments, and checks. The study shows that the total number of noncash payments made by consumers and businesses increased to 236.6 billion in 2024. Overall, the number of noncash payments more than tripled since 2000."
J.P. Morgan Payments and NPCI Team up to Power Real-Time FX for Cross-Border UPI
J.P. Morgan
"J.P. Morgan Payments and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) are collaborating to provide real-time FX rates for cross-border Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions across multiple currencies. The collaboration connects J.P. Morgan Payments’ FX platform and API-based integration capabilities with NPCI’s UPI infrastructure to enable faster, more transparent international payment experiences."
On the web
Tencent Quietly Tests TenPayGo, Targeting Inbound Travelers with Payment Experience Requiring No Local Phone Number or Domestic Card
BigGo Finance
"Tencent Holdings is internally testing a new standalone payment app called TenPayGo, primarily targeting overseas visitors to China. The app significantly lowers usage barriers, requiring only an email registration and linking to Visa, Mastercard, or Apple Pay to transact at tens of millions of WeChat Pay merchants across China—no domestic phone number or bank card is needed."
OCBC Pilots AI Avatar Banking App for Clients With Over S$1.5 Million AUM
Fintech Singapore
"OCBC has introduced an AI avatar banking app for selected wealth customers in Singapore. The beta version of OCBC WoW will first be offered by invitation to employees and customers served by OCBC Premier Private Client wealth advisors. These customers have at least S$1.5 million in assets under management with the bank."
Visa Expects Stablecoins to See Limited Adoption in Retail Payments
Trend
"Stablecoins are unlikely to become widely used for paying for goods and services in stores in the foreseeable future, but they may play an important role in cross-border transfers, B2B settlements, and emerging markets, Visa's Group President, Oliver Jenkyn, said. Jenkyn made the statement at a briefing held as part of the Visa Payments Forum in Paris. According to him, blockchain technology and stablecoins are still in the early stages of development, but their potential to transform international payments remains significant."
New Tools from Stripe Allow German Businesses to Sell Globally—Including to AI Agents
Stripe
"Stripe shared new tools to help businesses in Germany sell to and via AI agents. Stripe announced that, beginning later this year, businesses in Germany will be able to sell to customers inside AI interfaces with the Agentic Commerce Suite, which makes products discoverable and purchasable from inside AI interfaces through a single integration. AI companies in Germany can now meter token consumption and charge customers for their exact usage in real time with Metronome, integrated into Stripe Billing."
June 30, 2026
Top Post
UnionPay Launches AI Computing Card: Bank Cards Begin Integrating Large Language Models
Moomoo
"China UnionPay, together with Ping An Bank and Tencent Cloud, launched the "AI Intelligent Computing Card." This is a debit card designed for consumers seeking AI‑powered computing power; applications will be available through the Ping An Bank Pocket Bank app. Ping An Bank also plans to launch a co-branded credit card. This card's core benefits consist of access to large‑model token packages, GPU inference hours, and usage rights for AI‑powered office and learning tools."
On the web
Introducing Open USD
Join Open Standard
"Open USD announced a new stablecoin for global money movement. Stablecoins are being rapidly adopted for their speed, cost, and programmability. At the same time, businesses face hurdles: fees to mint and redeem most stablecoins are prohibitively expensive at larger volumes; companies aren’t always able to benefit from the revenues earned on the underlying reserves; and developers have little recourse if the roadmaps of third-party issuers do not meet their needs. Open USD introduces three key design principles..."
Three Years Strong: A Conversation with Nick Stanescu on FedNow® Service Growth, Enhancements, and What Comes Next
Federal Reserve
"Three years in, the FedNow Service continues to build momentum, empower safe and efficient instant payments at scale, and unlock business opportunities for financial institutions of all sizes across the U.S. In this Q&A, we speak with Executive Vice President and Chief FedNow Executive Nick Stanescu about the network’s industry impact and the innovations shaping its next phase of growth."
American Express® Expands Membership Rewards® Points Redemption Opportunities for U.S Card Members Checking Out with Apple Pay®
American Express
"American Express is expanding Membership Rewards® points redemption options for eligible Card Members with the launch of Use Pay with Points with Apple Pay. The feature allows Card Members to redeem points directly within Apple Pay’s easy, secure and private checkout experience online, giving them greater flexibility to use points on everyday purchases."
Visa Highlights Key Role of Smartphones in Global Payment Transactions
Trend
"The company is developing a suite of solutions that simplify both accepting and sending payments, turning smartphones into universal financial transaction tools. Traditional POS terminals remain expensive and not always economically feasible for small retailers. There is a particular focus on reducing barriers to accepting payments through Tap to Phone and Visa Accept technologies, which allow smartphones to be used as fully functional payment terminals. Visa Accept allows for almost instant merchant registration through a banking app, with initial transaction limits set that can be expanded as the business grows."
New Zelle® Research: The Group Chat Is Lit. Settling Up Is Another Story.
Early Warning
"New research from the Zelle Avoidance Economy Report finds that 76% of Gen Z consumers who have fronted money for a group expense, like a trip or event, say they were not fully repaid, and 55% say it created tension or negatively affected a relationship. Nearly half (47%) say they have gone into debt to cover group expenses."
Amazon Offers Agentic Shoppers up to 365 Days of Price History
Chain Store Age
"Amazon is expanding the price history capabilities of its "Alexa for Shopping" solution. Released in May 2026, Alexa for Shopping” combines the personalization capabilities of the next-gen Alexa+ voice model with the functionality of its Rufus agentic AI shopping assistant (which was discontinued as part of the launch) to deliver a targeted shopping experience where customers can browse and shop the full Amazon store using voice, touch, or both. Now Alexa for Shopping shows 30, 90, and 365 days of price history,"
Mastercard Launches Africa Cybersecurity Center of Excellence to Help Secure the Continent’s Digital Future
Mastercard
"Mastercard announced the launch of its Africa Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, a pan-African initiative designed to strengthen cyber resilience, enhance collaboration and help safeguard the trust that underpins Africa's expanding digital economy."
Feedzai Opens $9 Trillion Fraud Intelligence Network
Feedzai
"Feedzai announced the availability of Feedzai IQ Score, an AI-native, network-derived fraud risk scoring solution for banks of all sizes. Feedzai IQ Score marks a fundamental shift in how fraud is detected. Financial institutions today face a growing “Silo and Legacy Paradox,” meaning data used to prevent fraud is restricted to internal sources, and replacing existing end-to-end risk infrastructure can be time consuming and disruptive."
Chargebacks911: 2026 Chargeback Field Report Released
https://chargebacks911.com/chargeback-field-report/
"The 2026 Chargeback Field Report provides a real-world look at chargeback management in the Card-Not-Present Payments Space. Built on a proprietary survey data from more than 250 merchants, the report offers a picture of how charge backs and chargeback abuse are affecting merchants today. We looked at how chargebacks affect different industries, business models, and transaction sizes, with a strong focus on eCommerce."
June 29, 2026
Top Post
Six in Ten UK Consumers Would Stop Using an AI Shopping Agent After One Mistake, ACI Survey Finds
ACI Worldwide
"New research from ACI Worldwide reveals a significant trust gap between artificial intelligence and human decision-makers, highlighting a key barrier to the widespread adoption of AI shopping agents. A YouGov survey of more than 2,000 UK adults, conducted on behalf of ACI Worldwide, found that just 19% of consumers trust AI assistants to follow rules to set up make every day purchasing decisions, compared with 55% who trust a human expert or adviser. Seven in ten (69%) do not trust AI, even when it follows rules they set."
On the web
X Money Rolls Out to More Verified Users and Its 6% Savings Rate Is Just the Opening Move
Startup Fortune
"X Money expanded to a broader pool of verified US users on June 25, 2026, offering 6% APY on FDIC-insured deposits, 3% cashback, and a personalized metal Visa debit card. Built on Cross River Bank's infrastructure, the launch positions X as the most credible American super-app attempt yet, while the verified-user gating addresses a peer-to-peer payments market badly damaged by fraud."
BIS Warns Stablecoins Risk Fragmenting Global Financial System
Trading View
"The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) warned that the rapid expansion of stablecoins risks fragmenting the global monetary system and weakening sovereign monetary control, urging central banks and the financial industry to accelerate the development of tokenized forms of central bank and commercial bank money as a safer alternative."
Why Meta’s Cred Investment Matters for WhatsApp Pay in India
The Economic Times
Meta's substantial investment in Cred and appointing its founder Kunal Shah as global head of WhatsApp signals a major push into India's fintech landscape. For Meta, with Shah at the helm, there is a chance that WhatsApp's position in India, its largest market, will go beyond messaging into payments, commerce, and business services.
UAE Central Bank Licenses Adyen for Expanded Operational Capabilities
Zawya
"Adyen announced that it has obtained its Retail Payment Services Category II license from the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE). The reaching of this regulatory milestone represents the strategic evolution of Adyen’s established presence in the UAE, beginning in 2020, where it has powered payments for leading brands including Careem, Ellington Properties, Gargash Group, Noon and Ziina."
Huawei and 7-Eleven Thailand Partner to Enhance Smart Wearable Payments and Chinese Tourist Experiences
Yahoo Finance
"Announced during the Huawei Developer Conference, CP All, the operator of 7-Eleven in Thailand, and Huawei signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a strategic partnership to accelerate digital retail innovation. A key highlight of the summit was the successful integration of 7-Eleven's membership code and TrueMoney's payment code into Huawei's wearable devices. Since its launch, this "two-in-one" feature has garnered significant local traction, with a user base already adopting it for daily transactions."
June 26, 2026
Top Post
PayPal CEO Unveils AI Reset, $1.5B Savings Plan at Bernstein Conference
MarketBeat
"PayPal CEO Enrique Lores laid out a broad reset focused on simplifying the company, modernizing its pre-cloud technology stack, and making PayPal more AI-native while shifting more attention back to consumers. The company has reorganized into three core businesses — Checkout, consumer financial services and payment processing — and is now prioritizing sustainable profitability, stronger Venmo monetization, and added value services for Braintree and Checkout rather than pure volume growth."
On the web
Google Opens the Play Store to External Billing in the US, UK, and Europe
9 to 5 Google
"Google announced that it will open up the Play Store to external payments starting on June 30 in the US, UK, and Europe. The new policy sees developers paying 10% fees on their first $1,000,000 in annual earnings regardless of billing method, whether that be Google Play Billing, an alternate built-in system, or external links for billing outside of the app. That’s well down from the 30% cut that was standard when this whole dispute first began."
Jack Henry and Google Cloud Expand Collaboration to Deliver AI-Driven Security for Banks and Credit Unions
Jack Henry
Jack Henry® and Google Cloud announced an expanded collaboration to deliver AI-driven security capabilities for banks and credit unions. Building on their strategic relationship established in 2022, Jack Henry will use Google Cloud's suite of agentic defense products to develop a proprietary AI security platform purpose-built for the financial services ecosystem. This initiative will strengthen cyber resilience for financial institutions and help them defend against emerging threats while improving operational efficiency.
U.S. Bank, Gigsafe Team to Advance Payment Infrastructure for Logistics Industry
U.S. Bank
"U.S. Bank announced a collaboration with GigSafe, a compliance and payments platform built for regulated delivery and logistics operators, to enhance the way workers using GigSafe get paid. GigSafe will leverage to provide customers reliable, transparent and scalable payment workflows designed to support complex contractor networks. The embedded approach allows payments to occur seamlessly within GigSafe’s existing platform, eliminating delays associated with traditional pay cycles and manual payout processes."