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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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August 7, 2026
Top Post
UnionPay to Plug Chinese Payment Apps Into Brazil’s Pix After US Tariffs Over the System
South China Morning Post
"China’s UnionPay International plans to connect Chinese payment apps to Pix, the Brazilian payment system at the centre of Washington’s trade case against Brasilia, allowing Chinese tourists to pay by scanning a code. Under the pilot, users of the UnionPay app and of Chinese bank apps linked to its platform would scan a merchant’s code and pay from the account they use at home. Pix has become the default way Brazilians move money since the central bank launched it in November 2020."
On the web
Vietnam’s NAPAS Links QR Payments with China’s Weixin Pay, Targeting over 1B Users
TNGlobal
"National Payment Corporation (NAPAS), a payment platform in Vietnam, has connected its VietQRGlobal payment infrastructure with China’s Weixin Pay, enabling Chinese visitors to scan QR codes and make payments in Vietnam. Weixin Pay, also known as WeChat Pay, is the third Chinese payment platform to complete cross-border QR payment connectivity with NAPAS in 2026. The previous ones are UnionPay and Alipay."
Stablecoins: Promise, Risks, and Policy Choices for Emerging Markets
International Monetary Fund
"As new technologies reshape the financial system, they raise new questions for policymakers. One that is becoming increasingly important is how to respond to the growing trend toward the tokenization of financial assets, from stablecoins and tokenized deposits to many other forms of—if not all—financial claims, including wholesale central bank reserves, and theoretical forms of money like retail central bank digital currencies. Of these, stablecoins are the most mature class."
August 5, 2026
On the web
The Courtroom Test for M-PESA
Kenyan Wall Street
"Kenya's biggest mobile money platform, M-Pesa, is heading for a legal battle that could reshape how digital payments are regulated. The High Court has allowed a constitutional case against the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), Safaricom and M-Pesa to proceed after rejecting arguments that the dispute belonged before regulators. The case is a fraud victim's claim that Kenya's mobile money system suffers from broader structural weaknesses, with proposals ranging from mandatory fraud reporting to court-supervised reforms."
Indian Govt Serves up the UPI MDR Removal That the Payments Industry Has Been Waiting For
Medianama
"The Indian government appears to be preparing to let banks and payment apps charge merchants for UPI transactions again, by amending the Payment and Settlement Systems Act to undo the zero-MDR regime it had initiated in 2019. The government is looking to amend the same section, in order to enable charging of MDR to merchants, with the MDR determined by government notification."
August 4, 2026
On the web
China’s mBridge CBDC Network Challenges Swift with Cheaper Cross-Border Settlement Alongside CIPS
VT Markets
"China is preparing to launch mBridge, a blockchain-based cross-border payment platform that uses wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC) issued on a shared distributed ledger rather than routed as bank deposits across multiple institutions. The system is set to be backed by central banks in China, Hong Kong, Thailand and the UAE, with operations overseen by a Hong Kong-based entity. Access fees are expected to be half those charged by SWIFT and other international payment networks."
Singapore Payments Code Bans Drip Pricing, Forces FX Markup Disclosure Before Transfer
Tech Times
Singapore's payments industry has imposed a new transparency standard on itself: payment service providers that want to claim they meet the sector's best-practice norms must now show customers the full, true cost of a transaction — including any exchange rate markup — before that transaction is confirmed. The code defines "drip pricing" as advertising a lower price than the actual final cost by adding mandatory fees only during the transaction process.
Japanese Retailer Lawson Adds USDC, USDT, and JPYC to Stablecoin Payment Trial
Crypto News
"Lawson, the convenience store operator will conduct two proof-of-concept trials this month to test stablecoin payments directly through its existing point-of-sale (POS) registers without requiring separate payment terminals or QR code displays. Lawson said the pilot is designed to verify how its POS system connects with digital wallets, how settlement is processed and how long each payment takes before deciding whether the technology is suitable for wider deployment."
India Paves Way for Return of Merchant Fees on Digital Payments
MarketScreener
"India has moved a step closer to reintroducing merchant fees on transactions made through its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) after proposed changes to the country's payments laws were introduced in parliament on Tuesday. An amendment to India's Payment and Settlement Systems Act, tabled in parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, would allow the introduction of a merchant discount rate (MDR) on digital payments. No decision has yet been made on the level of fees or where they would apply."
August 3, 2026
Top Post
NTT Data Payments to Take UPI Global
The Times of India
"NTT Data Payment Services is working on linking India's UPI with other fast payment systems across Asia through a hub based architecture to eliminate the need for multiple bilateral arrangements. The company launched Adaptis - its brand for its digital payment suite. Cross-border payments rely on one-to-one country links, slowed by regulatory and settlement gaps. NDPS instead builds a shared-switch layer with central banks or switching firms across Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, or India-linking domestic systems into a single network at scale."
On the web
Africa Is Quietly Becoming the World’s Toughest Test Lab for Stablecoins as Real Payment Infrastructure
Tech In Africa
"Across the continent, stablecoins are shifting from being a cryptocurrency product to becoming commercial infrastructure. Treasury teams running operations across several African countries are moving money without constantly converting through volatile local currencies, and payment companies are quietly building stablecoin settlement directly into their infrastructure so businesses can move funds around the clock instead of only during banking hours. The underlying reason isn’t really about the technology, it’s about economics."
Eftpos NZ Launches Biometric-Ready Terminals for Future Face and Palm Payments
Biometric Update
"Eftpos New Zealand has launched Verifone‘s Victa payment platform, bringing biometric-ready payment terminals to the local market ahead of the eventual rollout of face and palm authentication. The terminal includes a 6.7-inch touchscreen, built-in cameras, a barcode scanner that can be activated through third-party applications. It accepts tap, chip, and swipe payments, along with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Zip, Alipay+, WeChat Pay, and other supported services."
July 31, 2026
On the web
Preparing Your Business for Card Surcharge Changes from 1 October 2026 [Australia]
CommBank
"From 1 October 2026, businesses will no longer be able to apply surcharges to designated debit, prepaid and credit card payments across eftpos, Mastercard, Visa and American Express networks. The RBA also announced broader changes to card payment costs and transparency, including: Lower domestic interchange fee caps from 1 October 2026. New interchange caps for foreign-issued cards from 1 April 2027 and more."
July 30, 2026
On the web
Visa Expands Visa Pay SDK Across Africa and Central Asia to Accelerate Digital Payments
TechAfrica News
"Visa is expanding access to Visa Pay for additional issuers across Africa and Central Asia through a software development kit (SDK) that helps banks, mobile money operators and fintechs embed Visa Pay capabilities into their existing mobile applications and launch virtual cards and payment experiences quickly and securely. Visa Pay is an interoperable and secure way for banked and unbanked consumers to pay, get paid, and move money across participating banks, fintechs and mobile networks."
Why Kenya's Stablecoin Rules Reach Beyond the Crypto Market
TechTrendsKE
"Kenya’s decision to ban interest payments on stablecoins is one of the most consequential parts of its new virtual asset regulations, although it has attracted far less attention than capital requirements and licensing rules. The provision does more than restrict how crypto firms market digital dollars. It defines the role stablecoins will play within Kenya’s financial system by allowing them to function as payment instruments while preventing them from evolving into products that resemble bank deposits or savings accounts."
July 29, 2026
On the web
With Swift, RBC and TD, a New Era for International Money Transfers Arrives in Canada
Business Wire
"People in Canada receiving money from family, friends or businesses abroad will get a significantly better experience as Canadian financial institutions go live with a new consumer payments initiative from Swift. The initiative sets a new standard for international retail transfers so consumers experience several key benefits: The full amount arrives. It arrives faster. The cost is clear from the start."
Stablecoins Offer Limited Retail Payment Appeal in UK, FCA Says
Crypto News
"FCA participants identified cross border payments as the strongest current use case for stablecoins, particularly in markets with limited access to U.S. dollars. The regulator said UK consumers have little incentive to switch payment methods, though merchants could benefit from lower costs and faster settlement. Findings from the Stablecoin Sprint have informed the FCA’s stablecoin issuer rules and will shape future policy for stablecoin payments."
TerraPay Partners with HDBank to Power Real-Time International Payments from Vietnam
TerraPay
"TerraPay has partnered with HDBank, one of Vietnam’s leading commercial banks known for its strong retail and SME franchise, to enable real-time outbound international payments from Vietnam to bank accounts and mobile wallets worldwide. Vietnam’s outward remittance market was valued at approximately US$275 million in 2025, and is forecast to grow to US$346 million by 2030 — a CAGR of 4.69% — reflecting rising outbound payment demand from Vietnamese businesses and individuals."
July 28, 2026
On the web
Brazil Stablecoins Face IMF Scrutiny as Crypto Flows Outpace Capital
Crypto News
"The IMF has urged Brazil to strengthen oversight of stablecoins as cross border crypto flows continue to grow faster than traditional capital movements. The fund said Brazil’s crypto market has become more connected with the financial system while gaps remain in stablecoin rules, customer protection and AML compliance. IMF analysis found stablecoin purchases are two to three times more sensitive to global shocks than portfolio investment and foreign direct investment."
July 24, 2026
On the web
China Completes First Digital Yuan Payment to Singapore
Crypto News
"ICBC has completed China’s first digital yuan cross border payment with Singapore through the CBETS platform, settling nearly 10 million yuan in shipping fees. The payment reached the Singapore recipient on the same day as China expands the use of its digital yuan for cross border trade settlements. The transaction builds on China’s push to strengthen digital yuan payment infrastructure alongside ongoing cross border CBDC and stablecoin initiatives."
Bank of Korea's 'Project Hangang' Phase 2 Begins September: 500,000 Users to Test Deposit Tokens
BigGo Finance
"The Bank of Korea's digital currency pilot program, "Project Hangang," will enter its second phase in September 2026. Participating banks will expand from seven to nine, while user wallets will increase from 100,000 to 500,000. Phase 2 introduces peer-to-peer transfers, biometric authentication payments, and auto-top-up features. The pilot will also begin testing government subsidy disbursements—such as electric vehicle grants—using deposit tokens. Phase 2 is to become a proving ground for deposit tokens as an everyday payment method."
Indian Payments Firms Oppose One-Click UPI Checkout Proposal, Citing Competition Risks
Yahoo Finance
"Several Indian digital payments firms have opposed a proposal that would allow merchants to store customers' preferred Unified Payments Interface option for one-click checkouts, arguing it could entrench the dominance of the bigger payment apps. The proposed framework, referred to as UPI Meta or UPI Checkout, would let users save a preferred payment handle or linked bank account with merchants, eliminating the need to select a payments app each time they make a purchase."
July 23, 2026
On the web
Smaller UPI Apps Urge NPCI to Rethink UPI Meta Launch, Warn of Deeper Phonepe-Google Pay Dominance
Money Control
"Smaller UPI apps urge the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to rethink the launch of the UPI Meta protocol, warning it could inadvertently entrench the dominance of PhonePe and Google Pay. NPCI runs UPI, the country’s most popular digital payments platform. The industry representation follows NPCI's push to roll out UPI Meta, a tokenisation layer, under which users can save their preferred UPI app on merchant platforms such as Amazon, Blinkit or Swiggy and authenticate payments using their UPI PIN or biometrics."
Decoded: How Offline UPI Can Keep Digital Payments Running Without Internet [India]
Business Standard
"The payments body is developing an offline UPI system that could allow users to make tap-and-pay transactions even when both the customer's smartphone and the merchant's point-of-sale (PoS) terminal are offline. Instead of relying on instant bank authentication, the proposed system is expected to use Near Field Communication (NFC), secure offline token storage and deferred settlement once connectivity is restored."
UK Parliament Opens Inquiry Into Banks Blocking Crypto Payments as £1 Billion in Transactions Gets Rejected
Startup Fortune
"The numbers are hard to argue with. Research published by the UK Cryptoasset Business Council found that roughly 40% of domestic payments to crypto exchanges are either blocked or delayed by British banks. One platform reported nearly £1 billion in rejected transactions over the course of 2025. Every single exchange surveyed said banks offer no explanation when payments are declined. Now Parliament has decided it wants answers."
Google Slapped with $1 Billion Fine Under Landmark EU Digital Law
CNBC
"European regulators have fined Google 890 million euros ($1 billion), alleging the company gives preferential treatment to its own services. The fine is Google’s first under the European Union’s sweeping Digital Markets Act (DMA) which aims to scrutinize Big Tech’s operating practices in Europe. European regulators alleged the company gives preferential treatment to its own services."
July 22, 2026
On the web
Singapore to Upgrade PayNow, Launch New Finance Institute to Drive Innovation
The Business Times
"The Republic will upgrade its national payments infrastructure with new PayNow capabilities, including interoperable QR payments and support for artificial intelligence-driven commerce. Singapore will also expand payment capabilities for emerging business needs including request-to-pay; structured data fields for automated reconciliation; a micropayments rail; expanded cross-border connectivity; enhanced resilience to payment operations [offline payment capabilities]; and functionalities to facilitate agentic commerce."
Revolut Launches as Licensed Australian Bank After APRA Approval
Yahoo Finance
"Revolut has received an independent authorised deposit-taking institution licence from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). The approval marks the neobank's official debut as a licensed bank in Australia. It is also Revolut's first banking entity in the APAC region."
Russia’s Parliament Passes Crypto Market Law with $3,800 Annual Cap for Retail Investors
CoinDesk
"Russia’s State Duma passed legislation establishing the country’s first comprehensive framework for regulating cryptocurrencies with most of the new rules set to take effect on Sept. 1. The law does not lift Russia’s longstanding prohibition on the use of crypto for payments of goods and services within the country. It also bans banks and others from advertising and promoting crypto payments."
On the wires
European Central Bank: Payments Statistics: Second Half of 2025
EIN News
The European Central Bank (ECB) published statistics on non-cash payments for the second half of 2025. In the second half of 2025 the number of card payments within the euro area was 47.8 billion, 7.9% higher compared with the second half of 2024. The corresponding total value of card payments was €1.8 trillion, 6.9% higher than in the second half of 2024. In the second half of 2025, 36 retail payment systems within the euro area processed around 60.1 billion transactions with a combined value of €27.9 trillion.
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