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May 15, 2026
On the web
Lines, Pressure and Lost Profits: New Research from Global Payments Highlights the Cost of Order Anxiety at Restaurants
Global Payments Inc.
Global Payments Inc. released new research revealing the hidden impact of stressful quick service restaurant (QSR) ordering moments, including that 60% of customers say they default to their usual order when rushed, likely ignoring special offers and new items. The survey of 2,000 U.S. QSR customers uncovers the hidden impact of "order anxiety" and how it may be silently shrinking restaurant revenues.
Amazon Ditches Rufus Chatbot, Launches Alexa Shopping Agent in AI Strategy Pivot
CNBC
"Amazon is axing its Rufus chatbot and making its Alexa assistant the centerpiece of its artificial intelligence shopping strategy. The company introduced Alexa for Shopping, an e-commerce bot that can answer queries and take actions on behalf of users. Amazon said the tool brings together Rufus and Alexa+, and taps a user’s history and other data to be “the world’s best, most personalized AI assistant for shopping.”"
Education: Stripe Sessions 2026 Keynote in 12 Minutes [Video]
YouTube
"Everything Stripe launched at Sessions 2026 in 12 minutes."
May 14, 2026
On the web
FedNow® Service Network Intelligence API Launches
The Federal Reserve
"Financial institutions and service providers sending instant payments over the FedNow Service now have access to a new risk mitigation tool that will empower them to send instant payments with confidence. With the network intelligence API, FedNow participants can access receiver account-level data observed over the service, adding an extra layer of information to help them assess the risk of a potential payment. The API, which launched on April 28 for early adopters of the tool, joined the Federal Reserve Financial Services’ (FRFS) suite of fraud and risk mitigation features."
RTP® Network Marks May Day with Record-Breaking Volume and Value
theclearinghouse
"The RTP® network, the nation’s largest system that processes over 98% of the U.S. economy’s bank-to-bank instant payments, set new single-day records by processing 2.27 million transactions worth $8.62 billion on May 1, reflecting the continued adoption of instant payments by consumers, financial institutions, and businesses. The volume growth of the RTP network, operated by The Clearing House, is driven by consumers looking for instant access to their funds to help balance household budgets."
Can Mastercard Ride the Agentic Commerce Wave With PhotonPay?
Yahoo Finance
"Mastercard is exploring the fast-growing world of agentic commerce through a new collaboration with PhotonPay. The companies recently completed a live AI-powered payment demonstration in Hong Kong, where an AI agent autonomously selected, booked and paid for a ride using a tokenized payment credential. The test transaction combined PhotonPay’s programmable financial infrastructure with Mastercard’s Agent Pay capabilities."
Citi: Bridging the 24/7 Divide: How Blockchain and Tokenization Can Propel Finance Into the Real-Time Future
Citigroup
"The financial industry faces an "Always-On Divide"—a structural gap between the 24/7 digital economy and a legacy financial system constrained by batch processing, market hours and fragmented liquidity Blockchain and tokenization offer a solution by creating a programmable infrastructure where digital assets, tokenized deposits and smart contracts enable real-time, continuous and automated financial operations."
Adyen Collaboration with SAP Supports the Launch of SAP Unified Payment
Adyen
"Adyen announced a new collaboration with SAP, deepening its partnership to support the launch of the SAP Unified Payment solution. This native, fully embedded solution is designed to remove the structural complexity of global commerce by connecting digital storefronts directly to the financial backbone of the enterprise."
Affirm CEO Max Levchin on Growth Outlook [Video]
CNBC
"Max Levchin, Affirm founder and CEO, joins ‘Squawk Box’ to discuss takeaways from the company’s annual investor day, state of the Buy Now, Pay Later business, state of the consumer, growth outlook, and more."
Amazon’s New Prime Business and Amazon Business Credit Cards, Powered by U.S. Bank and Mastercard, Are Now Available with Enhanced Rewards and Flexible Financing
Mastercard
"Amazon launched the new Prime Business Card and Amazon Business Card, bringing together the Amazon rewards business customers love with powerful new benefits to help businesses make the most of their spending on Amazon. These cards, issued by U.S. Bank as part of the Mastercard network, offer rewards wherever customers are shopping, access to flexible financing for purchases, and no annual or foreign transaction fees."
May 13, 2026
Top Post
New Fed Data: Differences in Payments Activity at Large and Smaller Institutions
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
"This commentary is based on new data released by the FRPS in March, detailing payments activity by the 100 largest DIs by transaction account deposit size. The release provides the number and value of check, ACH, wire, and alternative payments (bank bill pay and person-to-person) at the 100 largest DIs and all other DIs for 2015, 2018, and 2021. The average business transaction account balances at the Top 100 DIs by deposit size imply that these DIs serve the largest businesses in the US. This flows through to payments."
On the web
Google Teams with Affirm, Klarna for Flex Payments in AI, Search
Chain Store Age
"Google is partnering with two leading flexible payment platforms to provide new options for checkout with Google Pay in its AI and search environments. The tech giant is collaborating with Affirm and Klarna to bring flexible payment opportunities to its Google Gemini agentic AI engine and its search offering, including AI mode, via the Google Pay digital payment tool in the U.S. Following are overviews of Google’s new partnerships with each flexible payment provider:"
Fiserv Expands Clover’s Restaurant Portfolio with New Fine Dining Solution, Clover Reserve Powered by Tabit
Fiserv, Inc.
"Fiserv, Inc. announced an exclusive Clover partnership with Tabit, a mobile-first, AI-driven restaurant POS and hospitality technology provider, to launch Clover Reserve powered by Tabit. It delivers advanced capabilities designed to manage the intricate requirements for fine-dining restaurants, including multi-course pacing, sophisticated floor management, and white-glove table service. The solution enables a true tableside experience, allowing staff to open, modify, split, tip, and close checks without disrupting service."
The American Express Digital Payments Trendex
American Express
"Amid rapid innovation in the payments ecosystem, the 2025 American Express Digital Payments Trendex provides a view into what is helping drive decision-making for U.S. consumers and merchants when it comes to payments — from shifting payment preferences to the rise of AI-powered commerce — and underscores the central role of trust, experience and established habits in enabling adoption. Payment choice has expanded — now consumer adoption is the opportunity"
JPMorgan’s New Blockchain Fund Targets Stablecoin Issuers Under Genius Act
AMBCrypto
"JPMorgan has filed for a blockchain-enabled money market fund designed to support stablecoin issuers preparing for a regulated U.S. market under the proposed GENIUS Act. Ethereum will serve as the first supported blockchain network. JPMorgan also emphasized that the product itself is not a stablecoin. Instead, it functions as a tokenized money market fund whose shares can move across blockchain rails. "
Square Is Turning Bitcoin Payments Into a Main Street Test
Startup Fortune
"Square has reportedly crossed roughly 1 million merchants enabled to accept bitcoin payments, a number that sounds impressive until you look closely at how it was built. This is not a million shop owners waking up one morning and deciding they want to price coffee, haircuts and sandwiches in bitcoin. It is Block using Square’s payments network to switch on a new option for eligible U.S. sellers, then letting merchants decide whether to use it, change it or turn it off."
AI-Referred Shoppers Convert Better and Spend More: What Shopify’s Early Data Shows
Shopify
"What we've found is that shoppers arriving from AI search are more valuable than those arriving from organic search: They arrive with higher purchase intent. More than half of AI-referred sessions start on product pages, compared to 20% for organic search. They convert more often. AI-referred sessions convert at nearly 50% higher rates. They spend more when they do. Average order values from AI-referred sessions are 14% higher."
May 12, 2026
Top Post
2026 Diary of Consumer Payment Choice: Consumer Habits Hold Steady as Payment Options Grow
Federal Reserve
"For about 1 in 7 payments, consumers still pay with cash despite the growing proliferation of digital payment options, according to the 2026 Diary of Consumer Payment Choice (Diary), the annual survey from Federal Reserve Financial Services measuring the evolving role of cash in the U.S. economy. Now in its 10th year, the national survey revealed that U.S. consumer payment use remained largely consistent over the past three years."
On the web
Affirm Works with Google to Make AI Shopping Payments Clear and Simple
Affirm Holdings, Inc.
"Affirm is expanding its work with Google to start rolling out its payment options into Google Search, including AI Mode, and the Gemini app when checking out with Google Pay. Shoppers will be able to move confidently from decision to purchase, with the same clear options and transparent terms they rely on from Affirm."
Visa Flexible Credential Brings More Flexible Ways to Pay to Zilch Cardholders in the UK
Visa
"Visa, a world leader in digital payments, Zilch and Thredd today announced the introduction of Visa Flexible Credential on Zilch cards in the UK, enabling more flexible ways to pay through a single, familiar card experience. The new capability allows different payment options to sit behind one card or digital credential, giving cardholders greater choice and control while preserving the familiarity of tapping or paying as they always have."
Etsy and eBay Expand AI Shopping Tools amid Shift to Agentic Commerce
MSN
"Etsy and eBay have rolled out new AI-driven shopping integrations in partnership with OpenAI, aiming to reshape how buyers discover and purchase products. The moves come as AI-assisted 'agentic commerce' gains traction, with autonomous shopping agents expected to drive a $1 trillion market by 2030. Early data shows consumers increasingly turn to AI tools before visiting retailer sites, signaling a fundamental shift in e-commerce dynamics."
FIS Selected to Streamline Reconciliations for Australia’s Largest Bank
FIS Global
"Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CommBank) is adopting FIS Data Integrity Manager to consolidate and automate reconciliation across the bank. Delivered in a SaaS model, the solution will process over 150 million transactions daily on a single, unified platform, enhancing operational efficiency and scalability. FIS is delivering the solution via Microsoft Azure, providing cloud-native scalability and seamless third-party integrations."
Worldline and Ecoflow Announce Strategic Partnership to Power Seamless Global Payments
Worldline
"Worldline and EcoFlow, a leading provider of smart home energy storage solutions, today announced a strategic partnership to enhance EcoFlow's global payment infrastructure and accelerate its expansion across the US, UK, Europe and new international markets. EcoFlow has selected Worldline's Global Collect platform to unify its global payment operations, enable local acquiring and deliver a seamless, reliable checkout experience for customers worldwide."
On the wires
Blackhawk Network Brings Digital Gift Cards to TikTok Shop, Opening New Path for Brands to Reach Shoppers
Business Wire
"Global branded payments leader Blackhawk Network (BHN) has introduced a new in-app digital gift card experience within TikTok Shop. TikTok users can purchase digital gift cards for leading brands without ever leaving the app. BHN also allows users to purchase digital gift cards alongside physical products in a unified shopping journey. By embedding digital gift cards directly within TikTok Shop, BHN enables brands to extend their presence into a content-driven environment where shopping often begins ."
May 11, 2026
On the web
Visa: Your Card, Your Security. Tap: A Safer Way to Verify Identity — Visa, Keyno, and Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) Lead the Transformation
Visa
"Visa announced a major step forward in how consumers verify their identity in the digital era, with the first-ever deployment of its Tap to Confirm and Tap to Activate technology for issuing banks. Launched in collaboration with fintech partner Keyno and Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) Limited, this innovation represents a paradigm shift in how consumers prove who they are to their financial institutions — turning the physical Visa card into a trusted identity credential that works with a simple tap inside the banking app they already use."
Venmo’s Biggest Makeover in Years Comes at a Very Interesting Time
Techcrunch
"Venmo is rolling out a significant redesign over the coming months that aims to make the app more useful, social, and easier to navigate. This is the peer-to-peer payments app’s biggest refresh since 2021. PayPal, which owns Venmo, is restructuring to spin Venmo off as a standalone business unit — a move widely seen as laying the groundwork for a potential sale. Stripe has reportedly expressed interest in buying PayPal outright. The rollout will begin this week, followed by additional features over the next few months."
AI Agents Can Now Pay for What They Use — How Amazon Bedrock AgentCore Opens the Door to Autonomous Commerce
CCN
"The ‘buy’ button is no longer a human-only privilege. Amazon Bedrock AgentCore Payments, which went into preview on May 7, 2026, provides AI agents with native payment capabilities. This means that in the foreseeable future, AI agents will be able to identify, access, and pay for digital resources, such as APIs, content, and other services, in real time. Amazon Web Services (AWS) has given AI agents their own digital wallets by connecting Amazon Bedrock AgentCore with well-known financial gateways like Coinbase and Stripe."
On the wires
Seattle Seahawks and PayPal announce PayPal as the team's Official Fan-to-Fan Payments & Exclusive Digital Ticket Payment Processing Partner
PR Newswire
"The Seattle Seahawks and PayPal Holdings, Inc., a global leader in payments, announced today a new multi-year partnership to become the team's Official Fan-to-Fan Payments & Exclusive Digital Ticket Payment Processing Partner. The Seahawks become the first NFL club partner for PayPal, following the company's landmark announcement with the league in April."
Augustus Receives OCC Conditional Approval to Charter the First Clearing Bank For The AI Era
PR Newswire
"Augustus (formerly known as Ivy), announced that it has received conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish Augustus Bank, N.A. as a full-service US national bank. Augustus Bank N.A. will be the world's first clearing bank for the AI era, built on a stablecoin and AI-native core—a bank that's always open, made for machines, at the speed of compute. Augustus Bank N.A. will be designed for global financial institutions that need instant, always-on, programmable clearing of major Western currencies."
Circle Launches AI Infrastructure to Power the Agentic Economy
Business Wire
"Circle Internet Group, Inc. announced the launch of Circle Agent Stack, a new set of services and tools designed for the agentic economy. Initial products in Circle Agent Stack include Circle CLI (Command Line Interface), Agent Wallets, Agent Marketplace, and Nanopayments powered by Circle Gateway. Together, these products and capabilities help developers and self-running AI agents to build systems where agents can hold assets, discover services, and transact programmatically with USDC across supported blockchains and payment protocols."