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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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May 27, 2026
On the web
Japan’s 3DS Mandate: One Year In
Forter
"On April 1st, 2025, Japan’s 3DS mandate went into effect. In the year that has followed its roll-out, the impact has been widespread across the payments landscape. In response to rising fraud, EMVCo’s 3D Secure protocol became mandatory for eCommerce credit card transactions processed in Japan. This applied to both domestic and cross-border transactions, and the stated goal was to get 100% of registered merchants using dynamic authentication such as biometrics or one time passwords in place of static passwords."
The Compliance Moat: Why 88% of UK Banking Customers are Ready to Switch
The Global Treasurer
"With UK financial crime losses exceeding £1 billion, a new ThetaRay report reveals that 88% of banking customers would abandon their institutions over AML failures. This shift signifies that compliance is no longer just a regulatory burden but a critical driver of customer retention. Explore the "Security vs. Convenience Paradox" and why ThetaRay’s findings suggest AI-native infrastructure is now essential to prevent mass deposit flight."
May 22, 2026
Top Post
Should Visa & Mastercard Investors Worry About UK & Europe's Moves?
Yahoo Finance
"Britain’s Payment Systems Regulator, or PSR, has stepped up scrutiny of card networks after years of complaints from merchants over rising card costs. The regulator is now consulting on a proposed regulatory financial reporting framework that would require Visa Inc. and Mastercard Incorporated to disclose detailed information tied to their UK operations. The consultation focuses on margins, profitability and the economics behind scheme and processing fees charged across the card ecosystems."
On the web
Mastercard Is Asking Brazilian Payment Processors To Share A Costly Bill
Finimize-Bloomberg
"Mastercard is pressing some of Brazil’s largest payment processors to absorb part of nearly 5 billion Brazilian reais (about $997 million) in card payments linked to Will Financeira after the fintech collapsed. Bloomberg, via MT Newswires, reports that Mastercard – the card network behind Will Financeira’s cards – became responsible for reimbursing merchant acquirers (the firms that process card payments for stores) for those transactions. It has already repaid roughly half, but it’s proposing a recovery “waterfall” to limit what’s left."
May 21, 2026
On the web
PSD3 Is Getting Closer for EU Banks
RedCompass Labs
"The European Parliament and EU Council have provisionally signed off. Soon, the work to move from PSD2 to PSD3 and PSR (Payment Services Regulation) can begin. PSD3 is the EU’s Open Banking legislation. PSD3 will elevate transparency, reinforcing data security, and strengthening consent management. PSR is expected to be published in the Official Journal in summer 2026 and will come into force 20 days later. More provisions will apply 21 months after coming into force, so we can expect the new payee verification regime regime in early 2028, and the liability shift applying 3 months after that, in mid-2028."
May 20, 2026
On the web
Bizum Shop Payments Spain Begin Gradual Rollout
In Spain
"The rollout of Bizum shop payments in Spain began this week, but it is not yet available everywhere. The new service is being introduced gradually, meaning only some banks, users, and retailers can use it at first. RTVE reports that Bizum began activating payments at physical shops on 18 May, though availability varies by bank and business. Until now, Bizum was best known for instant payments between people using a mobile phone number. It has also grown into online shopping, donations, and some public payments."
Stablecoin News: Japan Opens Stablecoin Market to Foreign Issuers from June 1
The Coin Republic
"Japan will recognize eligible foreign stablecoins from June 1, 2026. The FSA rules keep qualifying trust-type stablecoins outside securities treatment. RLUSD stays near $1 as Japan’s stablecoin market gains clearer rules."
May 19, 2026
On the web
UK Banks Can Issue Wholesale Stablecoins. Retail Coins Must Sit Outside Bank
Ledger Insights
"The Bank of England’s Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) has updated its guidance on how banks should approach stablecoins, e-money and tokenized deposits, superseding a 2023 Dear CEO letter on the same topic. The most notable shift is a lighter approach to wholesale stablecoins. Banks considering stablecoin issuance exclusively for wholesale customers are invited to engage with supervisors early, with the PRA signaling it will take a “proportionate approach” to assessing proposals."
May 18, 2026
On the web
RBI’s ‘Payments Vision 2028’ Ushers Structural Re‑Design of Ecosystem
Deccan Herald
"The vision document...seeks to build an open and interoperable card ecosystem with emphasis on merchant choice, smart tokenisation and orchestration, and transparent pricing. The vision document calls for innovation in card payments. This creates policy space for continued development of tokenised payment models, contactless and embedded experiences, stronger authentication and fraud controls and card-linked innovation aligned with security, inclusion, and efficiency objectives."
Apple Pay India Rollout Delayed Amid Commission Standoff with Banks
CNBCTV18
"The delay comes despite the technology infrastructure for the launch being largely in place. According to one of Apple Pay’s India launch partners, the service could technically go live “the next day”, but talks with large credit card issuers remain stuck over commercial terms. Apple is reportedly seeking 20 basis points (bps) per transaction from partner banks, while large lenders are only willing to offer 15 bps, in line with the commission structure Apple follows globally, including in the US."
Bank of England: Extending RTGS and CHAPS Settlement Hours – Next Steps Towards near 24x7 Settlement
Bank of England
"Rapid innovation is driving a shift towards fast, resilient and always‑on payments. We aim to lead this transformation by delivering future‑ready infrastructure that enables private‑sector innovation, improves system‑wide outcomes and strengthens UK competitiveness. This consultation paper sets out our proposed direction for moving RTGS and CHAPS (the UK’s high-value payment system) settlement hours toward near 24x7 operation, and the key choices that will shape that journey."
Australia’s Central Bank Plans Tokenization Sandbox in Project Acacia Roadmap
Ledger Insights
"The Reserve Bank of Australia and the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre have published the final report from Project Acacia, a tokenization research project exploring digital money and settlement infrastructure for wholesale asset markets. The project ran 20 use cases developed by domestic and international participants ranging from banks and fintechs to fund managers and exchanges. Twelve were live pilots involving real money and real assets, with the remainder operating as proofs of concept."
May 15, 2026
On the web
NAB Acquires Banked To Expand Real-Time Payments Capabilities
Pulse 2.0
"National Australia Bank announced it has acquired Banked, a fintech company that enables businesses and customers to make and receive payments instantly through account-to-account payment technology. The acquisition strengthens NAB’s payments capabilities and supports the bank’s strategy to help businesses receive payments faster and at a lower cost. Banked’s platform powers “Pay by Bank” transactions, allowing merchants to receive funds directly from a customer’s bank account without requiring a credit or debit card."
May 14, 2026
On the web
Treasury Proposes 16% VAT on M-Pesa and Other Digital Payment Platforms [Kenya]
Techweez
"Treasury wants to slap a 16% VAT on the country’s 42 licensed payment service providers, a list that includes M-Pesa, Airtel Money, Pesapal, and Kenswitch. The proposal is tucked into the Finance Bill 2026, and it has set off a quiet but serious fight between the government and the companies that run the country’s digital payment infrastructure."
Britain's Stablecoin Pivot Looks Like Concession, but It's Really About Financial Positioning
U.Today
"The decision by the Bank of England to soften certain aspects of its proposed stablecoin regime will inevitably be portrayed as a win for the cryptocurrency sector. The BoE retreated from its initial 2023 framework, which mandated that stablecoin reserves be held solely in non-interest-bearing central bank deposits, following months of pressure from issuers and fintech organizations. The amended proposal allows issuers to allocate up to 60% of reserves into short-term UK government bonds, while keeping the remaining 40% in central bank funds."
May 13, 2026
On the web
Alibaba Integrates Qwen With Taobao and Tmall: What End-to-End Agentic Commerce Means for Shoppers, Brands, and Retail Search
ALM Corp
"Alibaba’s latest expansion of agentic commerce across Taobao and Tmall matters for a simple reason: it pushes AI shopping beyond chat, beyond recommendations, and beyond a search box. Instead of using AI only to summarize options, Alibaba is moving toward a model where an AI system can help a shopper discover products, compare choices, apply promotions, complete payment with confirmation, coordinate logistics, and support post-purchase tasks. That is a much larger change than adding a smarter assistant to an e-commerce app."
Brazilian Payments Network Elo Selects Banks for Potential US IPO
Global Data
"Brazilian payments company Elo Servicos has selected banks to support a potential initial public offering (IPO) in the US, Bloomberg reported. Equally owned by Banco Bradesco, Banco do Brasil and Caixa Economica Federal, Elo competes with global card networks such as Visa and Mastercard in Brazil. The company launched in 2011 with the intention to reduce fees paid by Brazilian banks to global payment networks."
May 11, 2026
On the web
Bank of England Echoes EU Concerns over Multi Jurisdiction Stablecoins
Ledger Insights
"Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey expressed concerns about stablecoins, especially the potential impact on the UK if there’s a stablecoin run. The European Central Bank and European members of parliament have raised a related concern. Where a stablecoin operates under a common brand across multiple jurisdictions, holders may seek to redeem in whichever country offers the easiest path, consuming reserves that were sized for local holders."
Boku Gets Brazil License to Launch Pix Recurring Payments by 2026
IBS Intelligence
"Boku, a local payment solutions provider, has received Payment Institution authorisation from the Central Bank of Brazil (BCB) to support Latin America’s fast-evolving digital economy. The licence empowers Boku to operate as both a Payment Initiator and E-money Issuer, enabling the company to actively participate in Brazil’s Open Finance framework and offer advanced Pix-based capabilities, including Pix Automático, by early 2026."
ECB President: EUR Stablecoin Case “Weaker than it Appears”
The Full FX
"European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has poured cold water on efforts to introduce euro stablecoins, arguing that the products, which “were initially designed to solve a narrow problem within the crypto ecosystem” need to have their two current functions – monetary and technological – separated, to overcome what is a “far weaker” argument for their deployment."
May 7, 2026
On the web
The New (And Strict) Controls of Pix
Finsiders Brasil
"On April 23rd, the Central Bank (BC) published Resolution BCB No. 559. The new rule adds to the BC's recent efforts to provide greater security to the to the instant payment system, particularly in light of fraud cases in the second half of 2025. The resolution provides for the exclusion of participants, mandatory audits, and the summoning of representatives by the Central Bank."
EU Presses Anthropic For Access To Mythos As Cyber Concerns Grow
Banking Exchange
"European Union officials are increasing pressure on Anthropic to provide access to its unreleased AI model Mythos, as concerns rise among regulators that the technology may expose vulnerabilities across the region’s banking system. Officials from the European Commission and the EU’s cyber agency ENISA will scrutinize the risks of the Mythos model in the European Parliament."
On the wires
Indonesia–China Launch Cross-Border Payments Connectivity, Connecting Millions of Merchants via Ant International’s Alipay+
PR Newswire
"Under the guidance of Bank Indonesia and People's Bank of China, the China-Indonesia cross-border QR payment linkage was launched between Indonesia’s Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) and China’s leading payment ecosystems, enabled by Alipay+, the unified wallet gateway of Ant International, and UnionPay International."
May 6, 2026
On the web
UK Probes PayPal, Visa, Mastercard as FX and CFD Payment Rails Come Into View
Finance Magnates
"The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched an investigation into PayPal, Visa, and Mastercard over concerns that digital wallet arrangements may restrict competition. The probe, for instance, focuses on how PayPal’s wallet is funded and used, placing one of the most widely used online payment systems under regulatory review."
May 5, 2026
On the web
Shopify and National Bank of Canada Are Among Backers of a New Digital Currency Built to Settle Trades 24/7
CoinDesk
"Tetra Trust launched CADD, the first CAD-pegged stablecoin from a regulated Canadian financial institution, approved by Alberta Treasury Board and Finance. CADD is aimed at institutional use for 24/7 cross-border settlement, real-time corporate treasury, and direct fintech transfers, replacing old batch systems. The token is live on Base, Ethereum, and Tempo, with Solana support planned. Its launch is backed by a consortium including Shopify and the National Bank of Canada."
May 4, 2026
On the web
ANZ to Acquire Worldline’s 51% Stake in Australian Payments Joint Venture
GlobeData
"ANZ has signed a binding agreement to acquire Worldline’s 51% interest in Worldline Australia (ANZ Worldline), which provides payment acceptance services for merchants across the country. Under the agreement, ANZ will acquire Worldline’s 51% share for an enterprise value of A$89m (on a 51% basis) ($63.4m). The transaction implies an estimated equity value of around A$30m (on a 51% basis)."
Brazil’s Central Bank Bans Stablecoin and Crypto Settlement in Cross-Border Payments
CoinDesk
"Brazil’s central bank banned electronic foreign exchange (eFX) providers from using stablecoins and other cryptos (like Bitcoin) to settle overseas remittances, effective October 1. The ban applies to fintechs and payment firms, closing the back-end payment rail for cross-border flows, but individual crypto investors can still buy and hold assets. EFX payments must now use foreign exchange transactions or non-resident real accounts. Unauthorized firms must apply for BCB approval by May 2027."
May 1, 2026
On the web
Why “One‑Click Returns” Are an Operational Wake‑up Call [European Union]
Internet Retailing
"By 19 June 2026, online retailers across the European Union will be required to ensure that consumers can withdraw from a purchase contract as easily as they can enter it. In practice, this means a fully digital, frictionless withdrawal process. The regulation is designed to eliminate so-called dark patterns – hidden forms, unnecessary steps or forced contact with customer service that make withdrawals difficult."
Hong Kong a Key Global Hub for USDC Cross-Border Payments
South China Morning Post
"Stablecoin payments into Hong Kong are surging on the cross-border payment network of Circle Internet Group, operator of the world’s second largest stablecoin issuer USDC, as the US firm eyes regulatory approval in the Asian crypto hub, its CEO said in an interview. HSBC plans to integrate stablecoins into its consumer app PayMe, while Anchorpoint Financial’s HKDAP stablecoin will initially target institutional users for cross-border payments and tokenised asset settlement."
April 30, 2026
On the web
Amazon, Meta Join Fight to End Google Pay, PhonePe Dominance in India
Techcrunch
"Amazon and Meta are set to lobby India’s payments body over the dominance of Walmart-owned PhonePe and Google Pay in the country’s fast-growing instant payments network. Executives representing Amazon Pay, WhatsApp, CRED, MobiKwik, and Flipkart’s Super.money are scheduled to meet the National Payments Corporation of India. The meeting comes over a year after India deferred plans to cap the market share of UPI apps at 30% until December 31, 2026, a measure that would have limited any single app’s share of UPI transactions."