Industry

Target Embraces Agentic Commerce With New ChatGPT Experience

Progressive Grocer

"Just in time for the holiday shopping season, Target now has an app available directly in ChatGPT that lets customers search for products and purchase them with their Target account. The app, part of the retailer’s recently announced partnership with OpenAI, is now live and can help shoppers find personalized options for any occasion within given price parameters."

Industry

PayPal and Perplexity Launch Instant Buy Ahead of Black Friday

PayPal Newsroom

"PayPal today announced that it has enabled PayPal merchants to become discoverable within Perplexity, giving consumers the ability to checkout in chat. As of today, U.S. users exploring Perplexity's new shopping experience can seamlessly transition from research to purchase, leveraging PayPal’s identity verification, Purchase and Seller protection, and trusted payment processing, without leaving the answer engine."

Industry

Goodbye MT Format—SWIFT Retires Legacy Payments in Favor of Blockchain-Friendly ISO 20022

CCN

"SWIFT sunsetted the MT (Message Type) format for financial messaging on Saturday, Nov. 22. Having migrated to ISO 20022, global banks are now positioned to accelerate blockchain adoption. ISO 20022 enables interoperability between different CBDCs, tokenized deposits, and blockchain solutions like Ripple and Stellar."

Industry

US Considers Allowing Bitcoin Tax Payments

Digital Watch Observatory

"Americans may soon be able to pay federal taxes in Bitcoin under a new bill introduced in the House of Representatives. The proposal would send BTC tax payments straight into the US strategic reserve and spare taxpayers from capital gains reporting."

Industry

The Quiet Rise Of A New Global Payments System

Eurasia Review

"The BRICS countries’ SWIFT alternative, CIPS, is now operational—a profound change that the West apparently overlooked and ignored to its own disadvantage. Last week, one of the most important geopolitical shifts of 2025 unfolded with almost no Western media attention: the BRICS bloc—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—officially launched a new global payments system that enables more than 180 countries to conduct trade in Chinese currency, bypassing the US dollar entirely."

Industry

TerraPay Launches Xend - A Global Payments Interoperability Network to Power Borderless Payments for Billions of Wallet Users

PR Newswire

"TerraPay announced the launch of Xend, a Payments Interoperability Network designed to unify the fragmented world of wallets, banks, and cards into one seamless, borderless financial ecosystem. Xend serves as a universal infrastructure layer, enabling wallet users to transact with 11,500 banks via the Swift network and access 150 million acceptance locations, all from their existing wallet apps."

Industry

European Collaboration Amid Changing Global Standards

Trade Finance Global

"With much of the world currently preparing for the 22 November deadline to adopt ISO 20022, some nations have had to navigate some choppy waters to get there.  Financial cost is a hindrance for small banks in comparison to the larger banks they often rely on .  The deadline of VOP – the layer of verification for ISO 20022 messages – is the real deadline that banks need to be thinking about. "

Industry

Agentic Commerce and the New Checkout Imperative for Banks

ABA Banking Journal

"The checkout experience has taken on new meaning. A new layer of complexity is also rising fast: agentic commerce, where AI agents act independently on behalf of users. According to a 2025 market report, the agentic commerce market is projected to reach $5.19 billion by 2033, growing at a compound annual rate of more than 32% from 2021. Financial institutions must now design experiences that serve real people and the AI acting on their behalf. This shift will reshape payment flows, risk models and the infrastructure that banks must build to support them."

Industry

Education: Beyond Bitcoin: The Blockchain Story

Barclays

"Blockchain is a digital ledger that securely records and verifies transactions in a distributed network. The system’s decentralised structure ensures transparency, security and trust without the need for intermediaries. Given blockchain’s close association with cryptocurrencies, blockchain companies offer indirect exposure to crypto markets. However, as the technology expanded into new sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing and artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain companies now deliver more than just crypto exposure."

Industry

Auditing Payment Stablecoins Under the Genius Act

The Regulatory Review

"Congress enacted the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act in 2025, mandating monthly audits, public disclosures, and certifications by executives for “permitted payment stablecoin issuers.” The Act’s auditing requirements, particularly monthly reconciliations and personal executive accountability, are indispensable to safeguarding financial stability and ensuring market confidence."

Industry

Binance Pay Surges Past 20 Million Merchants as Stablecoins Take Over

Coinpaper

"Binance Pay has surpassed 20 million merchants worldwide, marking a 1,700-fold increase since early 2025. The announcement highlights that stablecoins are increasingly driving financial inclusion. Low fees, instant settlement, and global accessibility are helping crypto payments gain momentum among individuals, merchants, and entire regions. According to Binance Pay, the rising use of stablecoins is now influencing traditional finance as well. "

Industry

EU Crackdown Uncovers €47M in Digital Piracy Payments as Criminals Turn to Crypto

Finance Magnates

"A Europe-wide enforcement effort has traced more than EUR 47 million in cryptocurrency flowing through accounts tied to illegal streaming and digital piracy operations, marking one of the largest financial mapping exercises yet against online IP crime. According to the agency, the team identified 69 sites with a combined estimated annual traffic of nearly 12 million visitors."

Industry

TECH5 Integrates AI Voice Assistant into Digital Wallet

Mobile ID World

"Digital identity innovator TECH5 has announced the integration of a generative AI voice assistant into its T5-OmniTrust platform, moving the company toward what it calls agentic identity. The new assistant, named NISA, was developed in partnership with Ajari Technologies and is embedded directly into the digital wallet interface.  The integration addresses a major hurdle in the adoption of digital IDs: complexity. Instead of navigating confusing menus to find specific credentials (like a driver’s license or health record), users can now issue natural language commands to the NISA assistant."

Industry

OCC Allows Banks to Hold Crypto for Gas Fees

Ledger Insights

"The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) published an interpretative letter allowing banks to hold sufficient crypto-assets in order to pay blockchain transaction charges such as gas fees. Examples in the letter hint at potential expansion of crypto holdings beyond gas fees."

Industry

Stablecoin Boom Forces Basel Committee to Rethink Punishing Bank Rules

Crypto News

"The explosive rise of stablecoins has triggered pressure from U.S. banks and regulators on the Basel Committee to reconsider its stringent capital requirements for crypto assets. Despite being marketed as lower-risk digital currencies, stablecoins remain subject to the same harsh regulatory treatment as volatile cryptocurrencies under current Basel rules. The existing regulations mandate that banks maintain substantial capital reserves against potential crypto losses. Following resistance from the U.S. and U.K. to adopt these standards, the stablecoin surge has intensified demands for reform."

Industry

Another Merchant Lawsuit Settlement Is Reached, This One on EMV-Related Chargebacks

Digital Transactions

"The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York announced a $231.7 million settlement was reached Oct. 17 in the class action lawsuit B & R Supermarket, Inc., et al. v. Visa, Inc. et al., Case No. 1:17-cv-02738-BMC-JAM (E.D.N.Y.). The suit alleged that American Express Co., Discover Financial Services, Mastercard Inc., and Visa Inc. violated antitrust laws by acting in concert to shift the liability for what it said are “certain fraudulent charges” to merchants when a card was enabled with EMV technology and the merchant’s point-of-sale terminal was not enabled for it. The next court date is on April 27 for a hearing to consider any objections and whether to approve the settlements. The notification period for the settlements will end Dec. 16."

Industry

Slope and Samsung Bring Net 60/90 to Samsung Business Checkout, Powered by Real-Time AI Underwriting

Business Wire

"Slope, the AI-powered credit and risk infrastructure provider backed by J.P. Morgan and Samsung Electronics America, announced a partnership to offer U.S. business buyers flexible payment options directly within Samsung Business checkout. Eligible buyers will see both Net 60 and Net 90 options with instant credit decisions powered by Slope’s real-time underwriting, giving buyers greater control over their working capital."

Industry

The Shift to Consumer Fraud in the Digital Age

Bank Info Security

"Digital transformation accelerated by the pandemic created multiple entry points for fraudsters to exploit, shifting their focus from institutions to individual consumers. Fraud-as-a-service platforms have democratized sophisticated attacks, allowing anyone to buy software that executes phishing campaigns, ransomware or other malware with just a click. Combined with AI-driven data mining, fraudsters can now launch hyper-realistic, personalized attacks using publicly available information from social media and digital footprints."

Industry

Wirex and Stellar Go Live with Dual-Stablecoin Visa Settlement in USDC and EURC for 7 Million+ Users

PR Newswire

"Wirex, a global leader in digital payments and principal member of Visa, has announced that dual-stablecoin settlement using USDC and EURC on the Stellar blockchain is now live, marking a major milestone in blockchain-powered finance. This rollout, in partnership with the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF), enables on-chain settlement of card payments using USDC and EURC."

Industry

‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ Is Expanding Fast, and That Should Worry Everyone

Techcrunch

"When Nigel Morris tells you he’s worried about the economy, you listen. Morris co-founded Capital One and pioneered lending to subprime borrowers, building an empire on understanding exactly how much financial stress the average American can handle. Now he’s watching something that makes him deeply uncomfortable. “To see that people are using [BNPL services] to buy something as basic and fundamental as groceries,” Morris told me on stage at Web Summit in Lisbon this week, “I think is a pretty clear indication that a lot of people are struggling.”"

Industry

‘Tis the Season for Safer Shopping: New Jersey’s Gift Card Fraud Notice and Packaging Requirements

Data Privacy + Cybersecurity Insider

"In 2024, Governor Murphy signed into law requirements for the sale and display of physical gift cards in New Jersey, to combat the threat of gift card fraud. The law took effect October 1, 2025, but will delay enforcement until February 1, 2026. Under the law, retailers may not display or sell a gift card unless: The card, or its packaging, prominently displays a tampering warning such as “Do not sell or purchase if the gift card or its packaging has been broken or indicates tampering,” or substantially similar language; If in packaging, the gift card is sealed so it cannot be easily opened, removed, or replaced without clear signs of tampering; and All visible sensitive card information (card number, CVV, PIN, etc.) is fully concealed or covered prior to sale."

Industry

Why McDonald’s Is Rounding Up on Cash Payments

Inc.

"McDonald’s told CBS News they’ll be taking on a rounding method when it comes to customers paying in cash. Reason being? The U.S. Mint in Philadelphia pressed its last penny on Wednesday, leaving McDonald’s and other stores to figure out how to deal with the fallout.  Order totals will be rounded to the nearest five cents. So if a customer’s order totals $10.17, they’ll pay $10.15. But if instead it comes out to $10.18, they’ll be asked to pay $10.20.  Other chains are curving more to the customer’s advantage. GoTo Foods, the parent company of Auntie Anne’s, Cinnabon, Jamba, and Carvel said that it’s “recommending that franchisees round cash transactions in the guest’s favor.”  Wendy’s and Midwestern convenience chain Kwik Trip are hopping on a similar train."

Industry

Telcoin Makes U.S. Banking History with Approval to Launch the First Regulated Digital Asset Bank

Business Wire

"Telcoin announced its final charter approval from the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance to launch Telcoin Digital Asset Bank, the first Digital Asset Depository Institution in the United States. The charter positions Telcoin to become the first true blockchain bank, directly connecting U.S. bank accounts to regulated “Digital Cash” stablecoins."

Industry

Atlanta-Based App Aims to Speed Payments for Immigrant Small Business Owners

CBS News

"An Atlanta fintech startup launched by an immigrant entrepreneur is transforming how small immigrant-owned businesses manage payments and cash flow. Pagarva, a mobile point-of-sale app built for multilingual immigrant micro-businesses, recently raised capital through Atlanta's new Pinnacle Innovation Accelerator and is now scaling across the metro area. The app allows merchants to accept cards, Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, PIX, and more in a multilingual interface with no extra hardware. It also offers instant bank payouts and tax reporting tools.."

Industry

JPM Coin: A New Era for Stablecoins in Asia's Fintech Scene

Onesafe

"JPM Coin's arrival signals a significant shift in the stablecoin world, introducing fresh standards for compliance and institutional trust. This change presents both challenges and opportunities for Asia's fintech startups, who must adapt to a rapidly evolving landscape. In this post, let's unpack how JPM Coin's entry is reshaping the stablecoin market, what hurdles smaller players might face, and the new doors it opens for institutional adoption."

Industry

Paystand Acquires Bitwage to Make Stablecoins Enterprise-Grade for Global B2B Finance

Business Wire

"Paystand, the leading blockchain‑powered B2B payments network, announced it has acquired Bitwage, the leading platform for stablecoin‑enabled cross‑border payouts. The deal positions Paystand to deliver enterprise‑grade stablecoin settlement and FX across its network, which has processed more than $20 billion in payment volume for 1,000+ enterprises and more than one million businesses worldwide."

Industry

Episode Six and Fireblocks Join Forces to Deliver Unified Payments Solution Bridging Traditional and Digital Finance

Business Wire

"Episode Six and Fireblocks announced the co-development of a unified payments solution at Singapore Fintech Festival. The payments solution seamlessly integrates traditional and digital finance, bringing fiat, stablecoins, loyalty points, and other digital assets onto a single, programmable platform, empowering financial institutions to operate across asset classes with speed, security, and flexibility."

Industry

Basys Launches iQ Pro+: A Proprietary Payments Platform Built for Business Owners, by Payment Experts

PR Newswire

"Basys announced the launch of iQ Pro+, a proprietary, all-in-one payments platform engineered entirely in-house. Purpose-built to meet the real-world demands of modern business owners, iQ Pro+ marks Basys' bold shift from reselling third-party tools to delivering full-stack innovation at scale."

Industry

Stablecoins Surpass Bitcoin as Go‑To Cryptocurrency for Illicit Transactions

Bitget

"While stablecoins aim to keep their value steady by being tied to fiat currencies, their expanding presence in digital finance has made them central to the movement of funds within blockchain networks. They play a vital role in decentralized finance (DeFi), aid cross-border payments, and help sustain liquidity. Yet, as their circulation widens, these same advantages have also drawn the attention of criminal networks, with stablecoins now beginning to replace Bitcoin as the favored option for money laundering and related illegal transfers."

Industry

Mastercard on Agentic Payments: How AI Agents, Tokenization, and Authentication Will Redefine Digital Commerce

Bank Info Security

"As commerce enters the era of AI-driven transactions, Mastercard is helping define what secure, trusted digital payments look like when machines act on behalf of people. In this discussion, Pablo Fourez, Chief Digital Officer at Mastercard, joins Rory O’Neill, Chief Marketing Officer at Checkout.com, to explore how agentic payments, powered by tokenization, biometric authentication, and intent-based consent, will reshape the architecture of digital commerce."