Industry

BillDesk to Acquire Worldline India Payment Businesses, Advancing Integrated Payments

BillDesk

"BillDesk announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Worldline India's payment businesses, in a strategic transaction that brings together large-scale payment aggregation, bank-grade transaction switching, and omnichannel merchant acquiring within a single, unified platform. This strategic move establishes a premier, vertically integrated payments stack designed to power the next era of India's digital economy."

Industry

Regional Banks Team Up for Tokenized Deposits

Banking Exchange

"Five regional US banks are preparing to launch a new tokenized deposit network by the end of this year, marking one of the most significant blockchain moves yet by mid-sized lenders. The initiative is being developed in partnership with blockchain platform Cari Network and involves Huntington Bancshares, First Horizon, M&T Bank, KeyCorp, and Old National Bank. The group plans to release a minimum viable product in March."

Industry

Agentic Commerce: When AI Buys on Your Behalf — Who Pays, Who’s Liable?

European Business & Finance Magazine

"Agentic commerce — where AI agents autonomously research, compare and purchase products on behalf of consumers — is projected to generate $3 to $5 trillion globally by 2030, according to McKinsey. ChatGPT’s Instant Checkout has been live since September 2025, and Google launched its Universal Commerce Protocol in January 2026. But no jurisdiction has enacted regulation specifically addressing autonomous AI purchasing."

Industry

Is Europe Ready to Reduce Its Reliance on Visa and Mastercard?

GlobalData

"...Visa and Mastercard processed 47% of the eurozone’s card payment value in 2025, with 13 out of 19 countries being highly reliant on these two providers with at least 96% of their card transaction values, according to GlobalData’s Payment Cards Analytics. The duopoly’s combined market share in the eurozone has doubled since 2010; further intensifying concerns over long-term dependency on foreign providers. Key exceptions that operate dominant local card solutions are Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, but these individual systems are not interoperable."

Industry

MoonPay Launches ‘MoonPay Agents’ to Power AI-Driven Crypto Transactions

The Block

"MoonPay has launched MoonPay Agents, a non-custodial infrastructure layer enabling AI agents to create wallets and transact autonomously. The launch deepens the industry’s push toward an emerging “agent economy,” where AI systems execute financial actions onchain."

Industry

Crypto.com Wins Initial Approval for U.S. Federally Regulated Crypto Custodian Bank

CoinDesk

"Crypto.com received conditional U.S. approval to establish Foris Dax National Trust Bank, enabling expanded custody and digital asset services under federal oversight. The national charter would consolidate custody services under a single framework under federal oversight."

Industry

Agentic Commerce Is Making Unwanted Purchases For Shoppers: Have AI Agents Gone Too Far?

TechRound

Payment networks are experimenting with agentic commerce, where software buys on behalf of humans. Agentic commerce introduces a scenario that is distinct from fraud or human error. [Donald Kossmann, Chief Technology Officer at Chargebacks911], "...when an AI places an order that is incorrect, unauthorised or simply unwanted, who is responsible: the consumer, the merchant or the agent?”. AI agents will naturally favour merchants and platforms with lower fraud rates, cleaner settlement histories and reliable refund processes. In an agentic economy, dispute performance becomes a distribution advantage.

Industry

New York Proposes New Rules to Protect Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) Borrowers

CR Advocacy

"Consumers who make purchases using BNPL loans would enjoy protections under proposed regulations by the NY Department of Financial Services. This includes clear disclosures (loan terms to borrowers, costs, repayment schedule, dispute options, any reporting to credit reporting agencies); Similar rights for disputing charges and getting refunds under the federal Truth in Lending Act when making purchases with credit cards. Charge no more than 16 percent per year for interest, unless the lender has already received an existing NY DFS license or receives a new license allowing it to charge up to 24.99 percent...and more."

Industry

PayPal Attracts Takeover Interest After Stock Slide, Bloomberg News Reports

Yahoo Finance

"Digital payments company PayPal is attracting takeover interest from potential buyers after a stock slide, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, ‌citing people familiar with the matter. The payments firm has fielded meetings ‌with banks amid unsolicited interest from suitors, the report said, adding that at least one large rival ​is looking at the whole company, while some other suitors are only interested in certain PayPal assets. Buyer interest in PayPal is still at a preliminary stage and may not lead to a transaction, the Bloomberg report said."

Industry

White House Sets March 1 Deadline for Stablecoin Rewards Decision

CoinPedia

"The White House signals limited stablecoin rewards may stay in the Clarity Act, pushing banks toward compromise as negotiations continue. Stablecoin reward rules inch toward compromise in the Senate Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, with banks and lawmakers weighing next steps."

Industry

Sumsub Debuts AI Copilot to Transform Compliance Workflows and Fraud Investigations

Sumsub

"Sumsub announced the launch of its new Summy AI Copilot (“Summy”), the first platform-native AI agent for compliance and fraud teams. Operating within thresholds and controls set by compliance teams, Summy keeps AI-driven actions aligned with established policies, eliminating black-box automation and ensuring decisions remain under human control. In practice, it significantly reduces manual analysis and accelerates case handling, helping risk and compliance teams achieve productivity gains."

Industry

FBI Says ATM ‘Jackpotting’ Attacks Are on the Rise, and Netting Hackers Millions in Stolen Cash

TechCrunch

"According to a new security bulletin issued by the FBI, hackers have rapidly ramped up their attacks in recent years, with more than 700 attacks on cash dispensers during 2025 alone, netting hackers at least $20 million in stolen cash. Per the bulletin, the FBI says hackers are using a mix of physical access to ATM machines, such as generic keys for unlocking front panels and accessing hard drives, and digital tools, like planting malware that can force ATMs to rapidly dispense cash in a flash."

Industry

OCC-Regulated Anchorage Digital Brings Stablecoin Minting to Banks

Bitcoin News

"Anchorage Digital has introduced a federally regulated stablecoin platform aimed at helping licensed international banks move U.S. dollars across borders in minutes instead of days. The company, which operates as a federally chartered trust bank under oversight from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, said its new “ Stablecoin Solutions” platform consolidates stablecoin minting and redemption, custody, fiat treasury management and settlement into a single framework."

Industry

FTC's "Click-to-Cancel" Rule Gets New Life As FTC's Enforcement Wave Continues To Target Negative-Option Sellers

MarketScreener

"The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is increasingly directing both its enforcement and rulemaking efforts toward auto-renewal programs, with a particular focus on burdensome or opaque cancellation procedures. In ongoing litigation against Uber, the FTC recently upped the ante, adding a civil penalty claim and 21 state co-plaintiffs to its complaint that alleges, in part, that its UberOne membership is too hard to cancel."

Industry

Education: OpenAI Expands Agentic Commerce Push

Digital Commerce 360

"In September, OpenAI announced the debut of “Instant Checkout” within ChatGPT, allowing users to complete select purchases without leaving the chat interface. Central to the strategy is the Agentic Commerce Protocol, or ACP, an open framework OpenAI co-developed with Stripe and released last year. ACP establishes standardized APIs that allow AI agents to access merchant product catalogs, pricing and checkout systems."

Industry

Crypto Insurance – BDIC Unveils AgentCover Pro to Protect AI-Driven Payments, Stablecoins, and Cross-Chain Transfers

The AI Journal

"BDIC, Blockchain Deposit Insurance Corporation, a crypto insurance provider, announced the commercial launch of AgentCover Pro, a first-of-its-kind crypto insurance product specifically engineered to protect payments executed by agentic AI systems. Comments from the company detailed how AgentCover Pro delivers modular coverage across agent failures, unauthorized transactions, smart contract and cross-chain bridge risks, as well as stablecoin volatility, combined with real-time on-chain monitoring and automated claims processing."

Industry

Banks to Discuss UK Alternative to Visa and Mastercard

Computer Weekly

"UK bank bosses are to meet this week to discuss a potential local alternative to Visa and Mastercard as the US president stokes fears over countries being cut off. According to a report by The Guardian , a meeting chaired by the chief executive of Barclays will be held this week to discuss funding a new payments company for the UK. Such a company would reduce the country’s reliance on US companies Visa and Mastercard, which, according to the Payments Systems Regulator, account for 95% of UK payments."

Industry

Bank of America Is Upping Its Tech Budget as Wall Street Goes All in on AI

Business Insider

"Bank of America spent around $13 billion on tech in 2025. Speaking at a conference in February, CEO Brian Moynihan said that the bank plans to spend 10% more on technology development in 2026. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon defended his bank's spending, saying he is trying to keep the company from falling behind during its January earnings call. JPMorgan has an annual technology budget of about $18 billion...the technology is reshaping not just workflows, but workplace culture."

Industry

Judge Issues Decision Largely Upholding Illinois Interchange Law

America's Credit Unions

"The judge’s decision is in on the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act (IFPA) case. America’s Credit Unions is swiftly appealing the decision. Any member from any credit union who uses their card in the state of Illinois subjects that credit union to compliance requirements. Even a traveler grabbing lunch on a layover may incur charges that need to be split between purchase and sales tax. America’s Credit Unions are evaluating options regarding the impending July 1, 2026 effective date. The penalty for errors is $1,000 per transaction."

Industry

IMF Warns Stablecoins Are Just Private Dollar Warehouses

Cryptopolitan

"The IMF says stablecoins are becoming more closely tied to the US dollar system rather than replacing traditional banks. Dollar-backed stablecoins dominate the market, with USDC and USDT making up most of the total supply. The IMF warns that these Digital fiat tokens could weaken local currencies in fragile economies, but says proper regulation could improve financial access."

Industry

Stablecoin Usage Statistics 2026: Explosive Growth

SQ Magazine

"Stablecoins have emerged as a cornerstone of digital finance, blending the speed and accessibility of blockchain with the stability of fiat currencies. Stablecoin transaction volumes reached unprecedented heights, with on-chain activity underscoring their expanding role across global markets. Corporations are using stablecoins to settle cross-border payments instantly, reducing costs and delays vs traditional banking rails. Meanwhile, fintech innovators are integrating stablecoin rails for treasury operations and merchant checkout solutions."

Global Industry

PayPay and Visa Enter into a Strategic Partnership Agreement to Advance Global and Domestic Payment Innovation

PayPay

"PayPay Corporation and Visa Inc. announced that they have entered into a strategic partnership agreement centered on payment services. Through this partnership, the two companies have begun discussions toward jointly pursuing PayPay’s expansion into the United States as the first step in its global strategy, while also strengthening collaboration across their businesses in Japan."

Tags: Japan

Industry

In a Blow to the Banks, Pioneering Swipe Fee Law Survives First Legal Challenge

Capitol News Illinois

"A federal judge has upheld a first-of-its-kind Illinois law that protects consumers and retailers from paying so-called credit card “swipe fees” on taxes and tips. The Interchange Fee Prohibition Act was passed in late 2024 and immediately challenged by banks and credit unions. Illinois Bankers Association and Illinois Credit Union League announced after the ruling they would file an appeal in coming days."

Industry

FanDuel to Eliminate Credit Card Deposits Starting March 2

ESPN

"FanDuel Sportsbook will no longer accept deposits by credit cards beginning March 2, the same step DraftKings Sportsbook took in August. FanDuel issued a statement saying this decision has been in the works. "Over the last few months, FanDuel has been evaluating the payment methods that we offer to customers and made the decision to remove credit cards as an option for our Sportsbook, casino and racing product in the United States," the sportsbook said. "This change was made to improve the deposit experience for our customers."

Industry

Google Makes Etsy and Wayfair Items Shoppable Within Agentic AI Search

Retail Brew

"Google is rolling out its new set of agentic AI tools, launched just last month, to third-party e-commerce platforms. Its Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) will now let people buy items from online marketplaces Etsy and Wayfair without ever leaving Google. US shoppers can buy items available on Etsy and Wayfair when they search within AI Mode or when they use Google’s AI agent Gemini. AI Mode is Google’s AI powered search tool that rolled out last May, and shoppers will see more of it when using Google’s AI shopping experience."

Industry

New Jersey Senators Introduce Four Bills Targeting Online Gambling Marketing and Payments

Yogonet

"New Jersey lawmakers have introduced four Senate bills that would revise how online casinos and sportsbooks engage with customers, focusing on promotional outreach, account limits, and payment methods, in a bid to encourage responsible gambling: SB 3401: Ban on push notifications and text promotions; SB 3461: Credit card funding prohibited; SB 3419 and SB 3420: Account limits and incentive restrictions."

Industry

Illinois Merchants Score a Big Win in Their Battle for Interchange Relief

Digital Transactions

"Illinois merchants scored a big victory late Tuesday in their battle for interchange relief as United States District Court Judge Virginia Kendall upheld the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act. The law exempts Illinois merchants from paying interchange on sales tax and gratuities linked to credit and debit card transactions. In exchange, the state will cap what merchants earn for collecting sales tax at $1,000 per month."

Industry

Credit Card Debt Tops $1.28 Trillion — Consistent With ‘K-Shaped’ Economic Divide, New York Fed Research Shows

CNBC

"Americans ended 2025 more in debt than ever before. Credit card balances hit a fresh high in the fourth quarter, rising by $44 billion to $1.28 trillion, according to a new report on household debt by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York released Tuesday. That’s a 5.5% jump from a year earlier.   The central bank’s monthly Survey of Consumer Expectations , released Monday, also found that fewer consumers expect their households’ financial situations to be better off a year from now — and a larger share expect to be worse off."

Industry

When AI Clicks “Pay”: The Emerging Compliance Risks of Agentic Commerce

JD Supra

"AI-driven “agentic commerce” is no longer theoretical. Today’s AI assistants can already search for products, compare options, populate shopping carts, check out, initiate payment, and make returns, all on behalf of a person who may never see the website on which a transaction is executed on their behalf. In some cases, users move all the way through checkout using stored payment credentials. While many systems still operate within guardrails (e.g., requiring human user confirmation or operating under preset limits), the direction is clear: AI agents are beginning to autonomously initiate and execute financial transactions on consumers’ behalf."

Industry

Deel Partners with MoonPay to Enable Stablecoin Salary Payouts for Global Workers

PR Newswire

"MoonPay, a leader in global crypto payments and stablecoin infrastructure, announced a new partnership with Deel, the all-in-one global payroll and HR platform. Together, MoonPay and Deel will further enhance stablecoin salary payouts for workers and expand these capabilities to employees around the world, offering a faster and more flexible way to get paid. Deel helps companies hire, manage, pay, and equip any worker, anywhere. This partnership builds on Deel's continued expansion into crypto-enabled payroll."