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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 21, 2026
On the web
Natural Raises $30M to Reinvent Payments for AI Agents — And Take on Stripe
TechCrunch
"AI agents are starting to execute more sophisticated tasks, such as identifying vendors that can deliver freight, comparing prices, and messaging the vendor to organizing a delivery. But when it comes to making a payment for the shipment, they still need to involve a human. One new startup, Natural, is redesigning the whole system from the ground up. And it now has $30 million in fresh capital to pursue an ambitious plan that will put it in direct competition with giants like Stripe."
Introducing Samsung Galaxy Card
Samsung
"Samsung Electronics America unveiled Samsung Galaxy Card, a seamless way to earn cash rewards on everyday purchases with increased cash rewards for purchases made from Samsung — including the latest devices. Samsung’s first ever credit card offers a new financing option, whether you are giving the gift of Galaxy, treating yourself to a new device, or want to earn cash rewards on all your favorite items. Samsung Galaxy Card is issued by Barclays US Consumer Bank on the Visa network."
Kansas City Fed: Smaller Institutions Embrace Faster Payments with FedNow
Kansas City Federal Reserve
"Since the launch of FedNow in July 2023, over 1,800 financial institutions have signed up to participate in the service. Over 96 percent of participants are smaller depository institutions, or those with less than $10 billion in assets. As of July 2026, a total of 1,031 small commercial banks, 129 small savings banks, and 588 small credit unions have adopted FedNow since its inception. Only 20.7 percent of the nearly 8,500 small institutions participate in FedNow."
Adyen Index 2026: Australian Retailers Race Ahead on AI, but Consumer Trust Lags at Checkout
Adyen
"The Adyen Index 2026 Australia Retail Report reveals retailers are increasingly focused on automation and AI-enabled shopping experiences, with 95% of retailers now familiar with agentic commerce. However, consumer trust has not kept pace: nearly two‑thirds (64%) of Australians say they feel uncomfortable allowing AI to complete a purchase on their behalf."
Expensify Expands Collaboration with Marqeta to Bring its Card Offering into Europe
Marqeta, Inc.
"Building on their long-term relationship in the US, Expensify has leveraged Marqeta’s card issuing platform to bring its expense management card offering to the UK and EU. Expensify customers in Europe can now access the same spend management capabilities that have allowed for the rapid growth of its card offering in the US. Marqeta’s comprehensive platform provides the multinational card issuing capabilities that enable customers to scale their card programs with a single integration."
On the wires
Ant International Raises Approx. US $1.2 Billion in Series a Equity Financing to Boost Cross-Border Payments, Agentic Commerce Solutions for Global Businesses
Business Wire
"Ant International announced the successful closing of its Series A equity financing of approximately US$1.2 billion. Existing investors including Ant Group and Alibaba Group participated in this round, as well as other renowned international investment institutions. The proceeds will be used to accelerate Ant International’s global expansion and innovation in merchant payment, account management and other inclusive financial services for SMEs and enterprises across the world."
July 20, 2026
On the web
How PayPal Went from Wall Street Favorite to Unwilling Merger Target
Forth
"Five years ago PayPal was a Wall Street favorite and a leader in digital payments. Owen Lau, an analyst at financial services firm Clear Street, said PayPal prioritized winning market share by pricing aggressively, but failed to charge enough to generate attractive returns. Lau added that growth has slowed across key parts of the business, including Venmo, while newer products such as buy now, pay later have not panned out. PayPal’s user base has plateaued, he said, making growth a secondary concern to boosting profits from existing customers."
Amazon Business Adds Affirm as Its First Buy Now, Pay Later Option at Checkout
Amazon News
"Amazon and Affirm announced an expanded partnership that makes Affirm the first pay-over-time option available at checkout on Amazon Business, a business-to-business (B2B) store that helps businesses of all sizes digitize and automate procurement with powerful management controls and analytic tools—all within the familiar experience of Amazon. Now, these Amazon Business customers can split the total cost of eligible purchases and pay over time with Affirm without late or hidden fees."
July 17, 2026
On the web
BBVA, the First Spanish Bank to Launch Swift’s New Global Retail Payments Scheme
BBVA
"The new scheme marks a step forward in the modernisation of cross-border payments. For customers, this new model delivers an experience that is increasingly similar to that of an instant domestic payment. Funds can be credited to beneficiaries’ accounts in Spain for the full amount within approximately 25 seconds, at any time of the day, every day of the year. In addition, the payer knows in advance the cost of the transaction, the exchange rate and the estimated time for the funds to be credited."
FIS and Anthropic Extend Partnership on Trusted AI for Financial Services
FIS Global
"FIS® is using Mythos 5 through Project Glasswing, Anthropic’s controlled-access initiative that applies frontier AI to help strengthen the security of software supporting critical infrastructure, to secure its own systems. Through Project Glasswing, FIS is putting Mythos 5, Anthropic’s most advanced frontier model, to work as an additional layer within its security program."
Ant International’s Alipay+ Connects Argentina's National QR Payment Scheme via PVS, Enabling Cross-Border Payments at Millions of Merchants
Yahoo Finance
Alipay+ announced that it will enable global travellers to make QR code payments at millions of merchants across Argentina through integration with the country's national QR payment scheme Transferencias 3.0, in partnership with PVS, a fintech company specialized in developing customized payment solutions in Latin America.
Education: Automated Clearing House Payments
The Federal Reserve History
"Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments were first established in the 1970s by the Federal Reserve System and the banking industry. Up to that point, cash and checks had been the principal methods for retail payments in the United States. ACH payments, which are initiated electronically, were envisioned as a more-efficient payment method. At first, ACH payment volumes were relatively low, and the Fed processed far more ACH payments than private-sector ACH operators."
July 16, 2026
Top Post
Ushering in a New Era of Digital Wallet Innovation [Mastercard Wallet Services]
Mastercard
"Apple's decision to open device access is now creating more room for mobile payment choice and innovation. Mastercard is introducing Mastercard Wallet Services, a set of software tools and services that simplifies the creation of wallet capabilities on both iOS and Android. Mastercard Wallet Services is a solution including a Secure Element applet and software developer kits that enable contactless payments for Android and iOS environments. Partners can build contactless capabilities across platforms without managing separate integrations."
Visa Introduces Platform for Stablecoin Minting, Movement and Management
VIsa
"Visa announced the Visa Stablecoin Platform (VSP), an enterprise platform designed to help financial institutions, fintechs, and crypto natives access stablecoin capabilities through a single Visa-managed environment. VSP gives FIs, fintechs and other payment providers a simple way to access, store, and redeem stablecoins, beginning with Open USD (OUSD), a stablecoin introduced by Open Standard. This includes onchain wallet infrastructure through a newly introduced Wallet-as-a-Service offering and connectivity for minting and burning Open USD."
On the web
Are U.S. Consumers Ready to Use Pay-by-Bank at the Point of Sale?
The Federal Reserve
"Pay-by-Bank, a direct transfer from individuals’ bank accounts to merchants’, is gaining popularity as a point-of-sale payment method in countries around the world. Although Pay-by-Bank has yet to become available at points of sale in the United States, data suggest that U.S. consumers are increasingly ready to use this method."
Inside Cash App Borrow: Expanding Access Through Responsible Lending
Block
"Borrow provides eligible customers with access to small-dollar loans directly within Cash App, offering a simple, transparent and fast way to access funds when they need them. Rather than relying on traditional credit scores, we consider signals from a customer's activity on Cash App when determining eligibility and make those factors transparent through Cash App Score, an in-app view that helps customers understand the behaviors that influence their Borrow eligibility."
Visa: Agentic Payments from the Ground Up
Visa
"Two open protocols went live over the past year to handle machine-native payments, and the report studies both. The first, x402, was incubated by Coinbase and Cloudflare, now stewarded by the Linux Foundation. Since launching in May 2025, it processed roughly $15.0 million in adjusted volume across 109.6 million transactions. The second, the Machine Payments Protocol (MPP), was built by Stripe and Tempo with contributions from Visa. In its first few weeks after launching in mid-March 2026, it settled about $25,000. The two tell very different stories."
Nexi Among the Payment Service Providers That Will Participate in the Digital Euro Pilot Phase
Nexi Group
"Nexi is among the Payment Service Providers that will participate in the Digital Euro pilot phase, scheduled to begin in the second half of 2027 and run for 12 months. The European PayTech will contribute to testing the technical functionalities and operational processes of the payment system, while helping to improve the user experience thanks to its specialized know-how and extensive experience in the payments sector."
On the wires
Visa Reimagines Visa Infinite for Asia Pacific's Modern Affluent
PR Newswire
"Visa unveiled a refreshed Visa Infinite in Asia Pacific, designed for the modern affluent and how they live, spend and travel today. The refresh introduces a more flexible and personalised offering, anchored in a three-tier card suite. Alongside Visa Infinite, the portfolio includes the two newly launched tiers of Visa Infinite Privilege and Visa Infinite Private, each tailored to distinct affluent segments within a unified premium offering."
July 15, 2026
Top Post
PayPal Draws $53 Billion Takeover Bid From Stripe and Advent
Yahoo Finance
"Stripe has teamed up with private equity firm Advent International to make a play for PayPal. Stripe and Advent submitted the offer earlier this month, following an initial approach in April, Reuters reported. Under the proposal, the two buyers would hold equal stakes and keep PayPal intact. PayPal has not responded yet. Stripe and Advent still hope to move talks forward within weeks. A deal would bring together two large payment networks under a single owner. Stripe owns Bridge, a stablecoin infrastructure platform it bought for $1.1 billion in 2025."
On the web
Capital One Flips Millions of Discover Cards to Its Own Platform on July 27
The Motley Fool
"Capital One is best known for issuing credit cards. However, it demonstrated that it had wider aspirations when it bought Discover. Although the merger is complete, the integration process is still a work in progress. July 27 will be a big date to watch, since that's when some Discover products will start being integrated into Capital One's back end. While Discover cards will still exist in name, that is when they will start being supported by the Capital One back end."
Driven by AI, Customers Now Rival Criminals for Ecommerce Fraud, Say Merchants
Ravelin
"Ecommerce fraud is accelerating, driven by a surge in customer abuse and the rapid adoption of AI. This is a key finding of new research from ecommerce fraud prevention platform Ravelin. Ravelin’s Global Fraud Trends 2026 report estimates that fraud has cost the average ecommerce enterprise $11.4m (£8.4m) over the past year – an increase of 7.5% compared with 2025."
JPMorgan Moves to Curb AI Token Costs, Ramps Up Tech Hiring in Singapore
BigGo Finance
"JPMorgan is imposing stricter cost controls on generative AI, moving from unchecked experimentation to disciplined budgeting as token consumption by advanced AI models drives up computing expenses. Routine tasks will be handled by cheaper models, while premium tokens are reserved for high-value functions such as real-time treasury agents. While the per-token price has dropped, the sheer volume consumed by advanced reasoning models and autonomous AI agents is eroding any savings and making expenses harder to forecast."
Worldline Selected for the Eurosystem’s Digital Euro Pilot
Worldline
"Worldline will participate as both an acquiring payment service provider and technical service provider, supporting banks and financial institutions throughout the digital euro value chain, from infrastructure connectivity and transaction processing to banking channel integration and merchant acceptance. The pilot, which is due to be launched in the second half of 2027 and will run for 12 months, will evaluate digital euro payment journeys across a range of use cases helping to validate the readiness of the future ecosystem."
On the wires
Spreedly Launches Standalone Payment Vault as Merchants Move to Control Their Own Payment Credentials
PR Newswire
"Spreedly announced the availability of its standalone payment vault, giving merchants a way to securely store and control their own payment credentials without first adopting a full payments orchestration platform. While Spreedly has long offered payment vault capabilities as part of its orchestration platform, merchants can now begin with secure, portable credentials today and expand into additional capabilities over time on the same platform with no re-vaulting required. Spreedly's standalone vault includes..."
July 14, 2026
Top Post
How J.P. Morgan Payments Eliminated 13 Billion Keystrokes a Year by Automating the Paper Behind Payments
Tearsheet
"In 2025 alone, the bank processed roughly 480 million checks and payment documents through its lockbox network. Behind every payment was a mix of invoices, remittance slips, handwritten notes, folded documents, and variations that required human intervention. Before automation, processing that volume meant employees performed roughly 13 billion manual keystrokes every year. Rather than eliminating checks that account for about 25% to 26% of outgoing and incoming B2B payments in the U.S., they focused on eliminating the work they create."
On the web
Mastercard: Helping the UK Get AI-Ready
Mastercard
"Agentic AI is becoming one of the UK’s biggest commercial opportunities. They chose the UK to announce expansion of Agent Suite with Proto, a sandbox environment to explore, test and validate agentic AI use cases before introducing them into production. Mastercard will be live in the UK in August. Retailers and their partners will be able to test whether their products are discoverable by agents, how to scale the payment experience, whether their plan for handling disputes in this environment works at scale, and much more."
Confirmo Subscribe: Stablecoin Subscriptions for Your Business
Confirmo
"Confirmo launched the first stablecoin subscription product that supports both exchange accounts and self-custody wallets in a single integration. Subscribe enables enterprises – from SaaS providers to trading platforms and AI companies – to run recurring stablecoin payments without building custom infrastructure. Pull payments automatically from a customer's wallet on each billing date, with no manual input and fewer failed payments"
Visa Introduces AI Financial Assistant, Helping Banks Guide Customers from Insight to Action
Visa
"Visa announced AI Financial Assistant, a new value‑added service designed to help financial institutions evolve their apps for an AI‑driven era. The feature helps banks bring AI-powered financial insights to cardholders under their own brand, look and feel with no custom development required. AI Financial Assistant brings conversational financial guidance into the banking apps consumers already trust for spending and saving. The Visa Value‑Added Service applies benchmarking insights to deliver personalized recommendations."
Kraken Rolls Out Mastercard Crypto Debit Card in UK and Europe
Yahoo Finance/Globe Data
"Kraken has launched a Mastercard debit card in the UK and Europe, allowing users to spend from a wide range of cryptocurrency and cash balances. The crypto exchange said the card can be used for everyday purchases online and in stores wherever Mastercard is accepted. Users can pay from more than 600 supported crypto and cash currency balances. The funds are converted in near real time at the point of purchase. Kraken said the card offers up to 2% cashback, paid weekly in Bitcoin, euros or pounds."
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