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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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December 1, 2025
Top Post
Visa and AWS Enable Next-Generation Agentic Commerce Capabilities
Amazon
"Visa and Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), an Amazon.com, Inc. announced a collaboration designed to empower developers and enterprises building towards agentic commerce. Visa will list the Visa Intelligence Commerce platform in AWS Marketplace, helping businesses and developers to connect seamlessly to a growing ecosystem of agentic commerce providers for next-generation reliable and secure payment experiences. AWS and Visa will also publish blueprints on the public Amazon Bedrock AgentCore repository designed for multi-network agentic retail shopping, travel booking, and payment reconciliation, enabling developers to create and connect complex workflows."
Mastercard SpendingPulse: US Black Friday Retail Sales up +4.1% YoY as Holiday Momentum Builds
Mastercard
"According to preliminary insights from Mastercard SpendingPulse™, U.S. retail sales excluding autos were up +4.1% on Black Friday, November 28 compared to Black Friday 2024. Mastercard SpendingPulse measures in-store and online retail sales, representing all payment types, and is not adjusted for inflation."
On the web
Sony Plans USD Stablecoin to Pay for PlayStation
Yahoo Finance
"Sony is planning to issue its own dollar-pegged stablecoin. The proposed token will be used to pay for media content, including games and anime. Stablecoins could power PlayStation and Crunchyroll payments as soon as 2026."
UnionPay International and Amazon Payment Services Forge Strategic Partnership Across MENA
TechAfrica News
"UnionPay International and Amazon Payment Services have announced a strategic collaboration in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, across countries including UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon. The agreement empowers merchants in the Amazon Payment Services network to accept UnionPay cards. Once the integration is complete, UnionPay cardholders will be able to access Amazon Payment Services’ merchants. In turn, Amazon Payment Services merchants will be able to tap into UnionPay’s vast global customer base across more than 80 countries and regions."
How Deposits Can Harness Tokenisation
BIS
"Tokenisation has challenged the way we think about money and promises a major leap in how the financial system functions. Understanding the technology behind tokenisation, together with the opportunities and risks it presents, is crucial. Tokenisation introduces the possibility of creating two distinct worlds: private permissioned platforms, which are regulated and governed by trusted entities, and public permissionless platforms, which operate in open, decentralised environments with limited oversight and greater risks."
UnionPay Taps Worldpay to Boost Cross-Border Payments
IBS Intelligence
UnionPay International has extended its decade-long partnership with Worldpay, introducing UnionPay 3D Secure (3DS) and ExpressPay capabilities to expand global online acceptance for UnionPay cards. The enhancement will allow UnionPay cardholders to make eCommerce transactions across major markets, including the US, UK, and Europe, as well as sectors such as airlines, retail, and hospitality.
Ant International Upgrades Antom Copilot to Advance Domain-Specific Agentic AI to Solve Global Payment Complexity
Antom
"Antom, a leading merchant payment provider under Ant International, announced major upgrades to Antom Copilot, its industry-first AI agent designed for merchant payment and operations management. Integrated into the Antom Merchant Portal, Antom Copilot now provides enhanced automation and tailored assistance based on learnings from real-world cases, to help merchants handle payment complexity more efficiently. Main features include..."
On the wires
Wirex and Algorand Expand Stablecoin Payments with New USDC Integration
PR Newswire
"Wirex announced a strategic partnership with Algorand Foundation to bring USDC on Algorand to more than 7 million Wirex users and 80 million Visa-accepting merchants worldwide. Wirex users can now hold, send, and spend USDC on Algorand directly within the Wirex app, benefiting from Algorand's efficiency and low fees. Through the Wirex Visa Card, users can spend USDC with real-time conversion, zero-FX fees, and global cashback rewards. Users can seamlessly move between fiat and stablecoins via ACH, SEPA, FPS, and other local rails, supported by 1:1 fiat-to-stablecoin conversion with no spreads, hidden costs, or friction..."
November 25, 2025
On the web
Klarna to Launch Dollar-Backed Stablecoin as Race in Digital Payments Heats Up
Reuters
"Swedish fintech firm Klarna on Tuesday said it will launch a U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin, becoming the latest major payments company to move deeper into digital assets as regulators tighten oversight of the sector. The token, called KlarnaUSD, is currently in testing and will be available on the mainnet in 2026, will be fully backed by the U.S. dollar the company said."
Cash App Debuts a New AI Assistant That Answers Questions About Your Finances
TechCrunch
"Cash App released a slate of new features as part of its fall update, including an AI chatbot that can answer questions about users’ finances, a new benefits program, and the ability to discover places that accept Bitcoin payments and make Bitcoin payments using USD."
On the wires
Worldpay Accelerates the Future of Agentic Commerce With Model Context Protocol
Worldpay
"Worldpay has announced the launch of Worldpay MCP (Model Context Protocol), a publicly available set of server specifications and tools, designed to accelerate AI-powered payment integration and open the door for agentic commerce innovation. This launch marks the next milestone in Worldpay’s ongoing focus on innovation, shaping the future of commerce."
November 24, 2025
Top Post
Mastercard Unveils New Open-Loop Mobility Product
Fintech Global
"Mastercard has reinforced its position at the forefront of mobility innovation with the launch of its enhanced open-loop transit solution. The company’s open-loop transit solution allows riders to tap into public transport systems using existing Mastercard debit or credit cards, as well as digital wallets on mobile phones or wearables. This removes the need for dedicated travel cards, physical top-ups or supplementary ticketing systems, enabling seamless journeys across metros, buses, trains, trams and ferries."
On the web
Pioneering the Future: Highlights from Fall 2025 Payments Conferences
FedPayments Improvement
"Federal Reserve Financial Services remains steadfast in its commitment to payments modernization, instant payments adoption and fraud mitigation through education, evolving innovative tools and industry collaboration. Reflecting on the fall 2025 conference season, several key insights and takeaways stand out from discussions about the future of payments and the industry’s changing landscape."
November 21, 2025
On the web
Agentic Commerce: The Threat Landscape
Visa
"From markets, to malls, to mobile, shopping is continuously evolving. The next major shift is AI agents that can buy and sell on our behalf. Agentic commerce is poised to transform how we shop. AI-powered shopping agents promise faster, smarter transactions — but where innovation leads; fraud often follows – fast. Agentic artificial intelligence — autonomous systems capable of initiating, adapting, and executing complex tasks without human oversight — is rapidly reshaping the cyber threat landscape."
Ahead of Holiday Season, Visa Identifies Five Transformative Forces Reshaping Global Payment Security
Visa
"To celebrate International Fraud Awareness Week, Visa released its Fall 2025 Biannual Threats Report, revealing five forces that are transforming the global payments security landscape. The report, produced by Visa's Payment Ecosystem Risk and Control (PERC) team, draws on intelligence from Visa's global network to identify how criminal operations are evolving with unprecedented speed, scale, and sophistication."
November 20, 2025
On the web
Klarna Deepens Partnership With Blackhawk Network to Tap $447B U.S. Gift Card Market
Business Wire
"Klarna has expanded its partnership with Blackhawk Network to give consumers even more choice and flexibility for purchasing gift cards, just in time for the holidays. Gift cards remain America’s most-wanted holiday gift, with the market projected to reach $447 billion in 2025. Klarna’s launch brings flexible payments to the heart of the holiday season, giving millions of consumers new ways to buy, gift, and pay just in time for peak gifting."
Beyond Stablecoins: Why Bank Tokens Could Boom
Citi
"New technology tends to follow a familiar pattern: we overestimate its impact in the short run and underestimate it in the long run. Blockchain should be no different. But this time, the scale could be extraordinary. By 2030, tokenized bank deposits—digital versions of insured money—could support $100-140 trillion in annual flows, rivaling or even surpassing stablecoins, according to Citi Institute’s latest projections in our recent report Stablecoins 2030: Web3 to Wall Street."
Mastercard’s 2030 Vision Builds an Intelligent Future for Payments
The Asian Banker
"At the Singapore FinTech Festival 2025, Sandeep Malhotra, executive vice president of core payments for Asia Pacific at Mastercard, outlines how the firm is reshaping regional payments infrastructure through tokenisation, interoperability and AI‑ready systems amid accelerating digital transformation."
On the wires
UnionPay Online Payments Now Available for Apple Services in 15 Markets
Yahoo Finance
UnionPay International announced the expansion of its online payment services for Apple Services, including App Store and iCloud subscriptions. UnionPay cardholders in 15 international markets can now use their cards to pay for Apple's digital content and subscription services — including App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV, iCloud, and more. The service is now available in Australia, Cambodia, Georgia, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Macao SAR, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and the UAE.
November 19, 2025
On the web
Cash App Score Pilot Launches Utilizing Near Real-time Data
Block
"Cash App, a part of Block, Inc., announced a pilot program that gives select customers visibility into their Cash App Score, a near real-time measure of a Cash App customer’s financial health. The experience shows customers the score that informs their access to Cash App Borrow and empowers them to better understand how their everyday Cash App financial activity influences the score. Customers are then able to take actions within the app to strengthen their Score."
Mojaloop Foundation’s Global Partner Program Expands with Addition of Four Industry Leaders
Mojaloop
"The Mojaloop Foundation announced that four influential organizations have joined its Global Partner Program: Finternet, the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) and Visa. These partners bring extensive experience and domain expertise that will further empower the Mojaloop Foundation’s mission to advance inclusive instant payment systems (IIPS) worldwide. The Mojaloop Foundation launched the Global Partner Program earlier this year to accelerate the development, deployment and adoption of open, interoperable digital payment systems in emerging markets."
Afterpay and Cash App Bring Pay Over Time to Anywhere Visa® is Accepted
Block
"Cash App announced the upcoming pilot launch of Afterpay on Cash App Card, a new feature that allows eligible Cash App Card holders to turn their upcoming online or in-store transaction into a pay-over-time purchase anywhere Visa is accepted, through the issuance of a new Visa Debit Flex Card. This launch will unite Cash App Card features like no hidden fees, fraud protection, and custom weekly offers with a new pay-over-time option through one new intuitive card."
Apple Introduces Digital ID, a New Way to Create and Present an ID in Apple Wallet
Apple Newsroom
"Apple announced the launch of Digital ID, a new way for users to create an ID in Apple Wallet using information from their U.S. passport, and present it with the security and privacy of iPhone or Apple Watch. At launch, Digital ID acceptance will roll out first in beta at TSA checkpoints at more than 250 airports in the U.S. for in-person identity verification during domestic travel, with additional Digital ID acceptance use cases to come in the future."
dLocal Joins Circle Payments Network to Power Stablecoin Payouts Across Emerging Markets
dLocal
"dLocal has integrated with Circle Payments Network operated by Circle Technology Services, LLC, an affiliate of Circle Internet Group, Inc., to enable seamless payouts across emerging markets. Powered by Circle’s payment stablecoins, USDC and EURC, CPN connects financial institutions to enable real-time settlement of cross-border payments."
Mastercard Brings Agentic Payments to Life with Majid Al Futtaim in the UAE
Mastercard
"In a world where artificial intelligence is reshaping how people shop, pay, and connect, Mastercard is introducing Agent Pay in the UAE, and today marked its first transaction outside the US. As part of this pilot phase in the UAE, Mastercard is collaborating with Majid Al Futtaim, a leader in shopping malls, communities, retail, and leisure across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, and with fintech Dataiera."
First Visa A2A Transaction Completed in the UK with Partners Kroo Bank, Utilita and Tink
VIsa
"Visa announced that Kroo Bank, Utilita and Tink have successfully completed the first commercial variable recurring payment (cVRP) through its Visa A2A solution in the UK, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of account-to-account (A2A) payments. The transaction, made to demonstrate an energy bill being paid to Utilita, was enabled through the Visa A2A open industry model. This transaction, along with multiple subsequent transactions, showcases the readiness of the solution to upgrade the A2A payment experience, ahead of its rollout in the UK."
November 18, 2025
On the web
Digital Defenders: Leveraging Risk Signals to Help Combat Fraud and Scams
The Federal Reserve
"The payments industry is beginning to leverage broader digital risk signals to better detect and mitigate fraud and scams. Legacy fraud detection traditionally has relied heavily on rules-based systems that are less able to detect evolving threats, such as fraud caused by generative artificial intelligence (AI), deepfakes and other relatively new technologies. In comparison, a multi-layered approach that combines more advanced risk signals and verification methods allows for more effective customer security than any single solution. This approach may include one or more of the “digital defenders.”"
Global Payments Announces Uber Eats Partnership at Inaugural Genius User Conference
Global Payments Inc.
"Global Payments announced it has joined forces with Uber Eats to help restaurants in the U.S. and Canada deliver better customer experiences and drive growth. Restaurants that use Genius, Global Payments’ flagship POS offering, will now have the Uber Eats platform seamlessly integrated into their system as Global Payments makes Uber Eats its preferred delivery partner."
Intuit and OpenAI Join Forces to Revolutionize Financial Intelligence, Powering Every Person, Business, and Dream with Personalized Experiences
Intuit Inc.
"Intuit Inc. announced a multi-year, strategic partnership with OpenAI to create the future of Financial Intelligence by bringing together leading platforms to drive the next era of growth with Intuit-powered apps in ChatGPT. ChatGPT users will be able to take trusted, secure, and accurate financial actions through these apps, which can be directly accessed within the ChatGPT experience."
The Upgraded M-PESA Engine Taking Shape Beneath One of Africa’s Busiest Financial Networks
TechTrends
"Safaricom has entered a period defined by engineering decisions rather than spectacle. The total customer base now sits above sixty million. The newest features lean into habits that already exist in the market. Shared wallets give households and partners a way to run certain payments jointly. The feature lets two individuals operate a single balance while keeping clear records of activity. Bill splitting lands as a direct response to group transactions that have long been handled through improvised workarounds."
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