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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 25, 2026
On the web
Offline Card Payments Soon to Be Possible in Switzerland
SWI
"The Swiss public will soon be able to pay for essential goods by card, even in the event of a technical fault. The Swiss government, banks, payment service providers and retailers are set to introduce offline card payments by the end of 2027."
On the wires
AsiaPay Launches InsertPass to Help Businesses Create and Deliver Digital Passes and Vouchers with Ease
PR Newswire
"AsiaPay has launched InsertPass, a digital pass solution that enables merchants to create, deliver, and manage digital passes and vouchers for Apple Wallet and Google Wallet customers. Digital wallets are emerging as a convenient way for consumers to keep cards, tickets, memberships, coupons, and rewards in one place. AsiaPay launched InsertPass to help businesses capitalize on this growing trend by providing customers with a more convenient way to store, access and redeem digital passes after purchase."
August 21, 2026
On the web
Australian Businesses Embrace Always-On, Real-Time Payments
Australian Payments Plus
"Corporate Australia embraces real-time payments as finance leaders look beyond speed, according to the latest research from Crisil Coalition Greenwich. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of Australia’s largest corporates are now aware of the transition to real-time payments, up from 51%. 43% of large Australian companies have started planning their transition, up by 48% Banks and technology partners are playing a critical role in supporting the transition."
India Built the World’s Biggest Digital Payments Miracle. Now Comes the Bill
BBC
"For most Indians, paying by Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has become almost absurdly routine. Scan a QR code, tap a few buttons and the money moves instantly. There is no card machine, no cash, and - most importantly - for the user, no visible fee. That may be about to change. India has paved the way for banks and payment companies to charge merchants a fee on UPI transactions, potentially ending a decade-long experiment in free digital payments."
August 20, 2026
On the web
Mobile Payments up in UK but Debit Cards Remain King—for Now
CoinGeek
"Debit cards remain the United Kingdom’s most frequently used payment method. Meanwhile, 91% of adults used at least one form of remote banking in 2025, and mobile contactless payment services such as Apple Pay and Google Pay continue to grow in popularity. The long-term decline of cash has continued, although the pace of change has slowed, and while debit cards continue to dominate, their growth is starting to level off, in contrast to the continued and more notable rise in mobile wallet use."
August 19, 2026
On the web
DBS Hong Kong Partners with Visa, Preface to Empower Customers with AI Readiness Skills, for the Future of Intelligent Payments
Macau Business
"DBS Bank Limited announced a partnership with Preface, a leading tech-enablement company, to help customers build practical AI readiness for everyday life and work. Starting September 2026, DBS Credit Cardholders subscribing to the designated AI tools, can get a free chance to access an exclusive AI Experience Workshop via the “DBS Credit Cards Subscription Bonus Club”. Cardholders can also enjoy up to 15% off when enrolling in Preface AI courses with DBS Credit Card."
August 18, 2026
On the web
WhatsApp Pay Overtakes Cred and Amazon Pay to Race up the UPI Charts
VARINDIA
"WhatsApp Pay has sharply expanded its presence in India’s UPI market. Its transaction volume was more than twice the 74.6 million transactions recorded in the same month last year. The Meta-owned messaging platform’s payments service is now the eighth-largest UPI app in India by transaction volume. The sharp rise in payments activity comes around 19 months after the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) removed restrictions on WhatsApp Pay’s user onboarding in December 2024."
Cash Remains Most Widely Accepted Payment Method in Euro Area
European Central Bank
"According to the latest survey on the use of cash by companies in the euro area published today by the European Central Bank, cash acceptance has rebounded slightly. In 2026, 92% of companies selling goods and services in physical locations in the retail trade, restaurants and cafés, hotels, and arts, entertainment and recreation sectors reported that they accept cash. This compares with 90% in 2024, suggesting that cash acceptance has rebounded after the decline observed during and after the pandemic."
August 17, 2026
On the web
China Expands Digital Yuan Network with 8 New Banks to Accelerate Adoption
South China Morning Post
"China launched the digital yuan in 2019, but retail adoption has been slow as Chinese consumers are accustomed to using Alipay and WeChat Pay. China has added eight more commercial banks to its central bank-backed digital currency network, the latest move by Beijing to scale up adoption of the digital yuan, or e-CNY, and embed it more deeply into the country’s financial system."
August 14, 2026
On the web
European Central Bank: Crypto Payments Have Minimal Use Among Euro Area Merchants
Menafn
"Crypto acceptance is extremely limited: the ECB reports 0.2% of euro area businesses accepting crypto for online purchases. Cash still leads at physical locations, accepted by 92% of businesses with point-of-sale outlets. Mobile payments are the main growth area or in-person transactions, rising to 68% acceptance in 2026 from 36% in 2024. Crypto and stablecoins show little traction at physical points of sale, staying below 1% in both 2024 and 2026."
India Expands Test of Digital Rupee
Big News Network
"New Delhi has extended the pilot scheme of Central Bank Digital Currency to two more federally administered territories India has expanded a pilot scheme that uses Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) to transfer welfare payments to two federally administered territories, as it races ahead with testing the digital rupee among a wider audience."
PSD3 Is Coming: Is Your Payments Licence Ready for 2028?
FinTech Global
"According to Vixio, the third Payment Services Directive (PSD3) and its companion Payment Services Regulation (PSR) are nearing official publication in the EU, with entry into force expected in Q3 2026. That triggers a 21-month transition period, putting the compliance deadline at around mid-2028. Payent institutions (PIs) and e-money institutions (EMIs) face a substantial workload before then, from interpreting new requirements to demonstrating compliance across their operations. Among the key changes..."
August 13, 2026
On the web
Hong Kong Dollar Stablecoin HKDAP Goes Live on Ethereum, Institutions Only for Now
Tech Times
"Hong Kong's regulated stablecoin era moved to practice on August 12, 2026, when Anchorpoint Financial — one of the first two licensed stablecoin issuers in the territory — announced that HashKey Exchange joined as its first authorized distributor for HKDAP, its Hong Kong dollar-pegged token, and completed the first real minting and redemption cycle. The transaction, included fiat on-and off-ramping, marks the first circulation of a regulated HKD stablecoin under Hong Kong's Stablecoins Ordinance on a live public blockchain."
August 12, 2026
On the web
Why Europe Is Creating An Alternative To Visa & Mastercard [Video 0:00-7:57]
Mshale
In this video, an explanation of why Europe’s is developing a new digital payments network, how it aims to replace Visa and Mastercard, and whether it could work.
UPI Transaction Levy: How India’s Proposed Fee Is Linked to US Trade Concerns
The Kanal
"The Finance Ministry has introduced a Bill that would allow banks and payment system providers to charge fees for UPI and RuPay debit card payments. UPI is used in India because transactions are convenient and generally involve zero transaction charges for users. RuPay is also an Indian card network that has expanded its presence in the domestic payments market. According to the report, US payment companies Visa and Mastercard raised concerns about the loss of business as Indian consumers increasingly use UPI instead of card payments."
On the wires
Bank of America Enters into a Joint Venture Agreement with Jio Financial Services Limited to Acquire up to 49.9% in Jio Credit Limited
PR Newswire
"Jio Financial Services Limited (JFSL) and Bank of America Corporation (BofA) announced that they have signed a definitive agreement whereby BofA will acquire up to a total of 49.9% interest as a joint venture partner in JFSL's wholly-owned NBFC (non-bank financial company) lending subsidiary, Jio Credit Limited (JCL) through a preferential allotment of equity shares and warrants. The venture will combine JFSL's digital reach and knowledge of the Indian market with BofA's global financial services expertise."
August 11, 2026
On the web
End of an Era for South Africa’s National Payments System
MyBroadband
"The Payments Association of South Africa (PASA) has transferred some of its functions, staff, and intellectual property to the South African Reserve Bank. The Reserve Bank said in a statement that the transfer was effective from Tuesday, 11 August 2026 and was part of an important change in how South Africa’s national payment system (NPS) is managed. “The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is in the process of withdrawing its recognition of PASA as a payment system management body (PSMB),” it said."
Apple Pay Might Finally Launch in India, but Without UPI Support: 3 Key Things to Know
India Today
"Apple Pay could finally be making its long-awaited India debut, with the service reportedly set to arrive by September-end or October. The initial version is expected to focus on credit cards running on networks such as Visa and Mastercard. The reason is that bringing UPI to Apple Pay would require approval from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), along with a banking partner that can sponsor the transactions. Apple therefore appears to be taking a card-first approach instead."
Crypto Regulation in Brazil 2026
TradingView
"In 2026, Brazil finished building one of the most comprehensive crypto regulatory frameworks in Latin America. The Central Bank of Brazil BCBUSD confirmed that three landmark resolutions took effect February 2, requiring every crypto company serving Brazilians to get authorized like a bank. Months later, the same regulator moved to close a stablecoin-based loophole in cross-border payments, and the tax authority is rolling out a new monthly crypto reporting system. This report covers all of it."
BRICS Is Talking Payments Links, From Fast Rails To CBDCs
Finimize
"BRICS members are weighing ways to link their instant payment networks – and possibly connect central bank digital currencies ahead of India hosting the 2026 BRICS summit. Talks are still preliminary, but the goal is to make cross-border payments cheaper and smoother. One option is to connect existing “fast payment” rails so a transfer can route directly between countries instead of bouncing through multiple intermediary banks. A bigger leap would be making central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) work across borders."
August 10, 2026
Top Post
Brazil Finalizes 24 Hour Delay for Crypto, Stablecoin Transfers to Combat Fraud
Ledger Insights - blockchain for enterprise
"Banco Central do Brasil has finalized a rule requiring Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) to hold certain crypto and stablecoin transactions for up to 24 hours, giving them time to run compliance checks before processing the transfer. The delay applies where a customer’s transactions reach $10,000 or more, whether in a single transfer or in daily aggregate, and the destination is either an offshore virtual asset entity or a self hosted wallet. The rule takes effect on 1 January 2027."
On the web
Bix Introduces Unified Financial Platform for Modern Payments [Europe]
Yahoo Finance
"Bix announced the launch of its unified financial platform, bringing together self-custody digital asset management, payment capabilities and European banking services within a single application. The platform is designed to simplify financial management by integrating services that have traditionally been offered through separate providers. The platform enables users to maintain control of their digital assets while accessing payment functionality through the Visa network for eligible cardholders."
On the wires
Adding Pix Lifts Global Merchant Revenue by up to 37% in Brazil, EBANX Data Shows
Globe Newswire
"International companies that add Pix to their checkout in Brazil see revenue rise by as much as 37% and reach an average of 25% more customers within six months of integration, according to internal data from EBANX , a technology company connecting global businesses to emerging markets through payments. That sample includes U.S.-headquartered merchants, whose results track with the broader group. As of May, EBANX has processed Pix payments for more than one-third of the system's users."
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.
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