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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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January 30, 2026
Top Post
Deciphering the Alphabet Soup of Agentic AI Protocols
The Register
"MCP, A2A, ACP, or UTCP? It seems like every other day, orgs add yet another AI protocol to the agentic alphabet soup, making it all the more confusing. Below, we'll share what all these abbreviations actually mean and share why they are important for the future of AI. On the surface, all the protocols serve a similar purpose. They are all trying to standardize how AI agents communicate, with the main distinction often being what exactly they're trying to talk to."
On the web
Tether Takes the Fight to Circle With a New ‘Made in America’ Stablecoin
CoinDesk
"Tether, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin USDT, is making its move into the U.S. domestic market with the launch of USAT, a dollar-backed token issued by Anchorage Digital Bank. The launch represents Tether’s first product specifically designed to operate within the U.S. federal stablecoin framework established under the GENIUS Act."
Singapore Debuts World’s First Governance Framework for Agentic AI
Computer Weekly
"Singapore has launched a governance framework for agentic artificial intelligence (AI) systems, which are capable of independent reasoning and action, to address the growing security and operational risks posed by AI agents. Unlike generative AI, agentic AI systems can plan across multiple steps to achieve specific objectives. They can interact with their environment, such as updating customer databases or processing payments without direct human intervention."
AI, Deepfakes Are Top Risks for Financial Crime Specialists
BankInfoSecurity
"The financial system has a trust problem driven by artificial intelligence and deepfakes. Investigators looking to prevent fraud and other financial crimes will only face more challenges as criminals find new ways to use AI to swindle, according to the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists' Global AFC Threats Report 2026."
Education: Tokenized Deposits vs. Stablecoins: A Practical Guide for Banks and Credit Unions
Banking Exchange
"For U.S. bank executives, the era of regulatory ambiguity regarding digital assets effectively ended in July 2025. The signing of the GENIUS Act established a federal framework for payment stablecoins, transitioning them from speculative instruments into regulated financial infrastructure. To lead this transition, executives must understand the structural differences between the two primary instruments..."
On the wires
Payfinia and Deluxe Partner to Enable Paze® for ISVs, Embedding Payments Across Issuer and Merchant Ecosystems
Business Wire
"Payfinia, an independent payment services firm providing an open payments framework, announced a new partnership with Deluxe, a trusted Payments and Data company serving millions of small businesses and financial institutions. Together, the organizations are expanding access to Paze®, a digital wallet and online checkout experience developed by Early Warning Services and offered by leading U.S. financial institutions."
January 29, 2026
On the web
White House to Host Meeting Between Bank and Crypto Next Week to Discuss Digital Asset Legislation
The Block
"The summit will be hosted by the White House’s crypto council and will focus on a looming issue that has become a major snag in the Senate Banking Committee — the treatment of stablecoin rewards, Reuters reported. Tensions between banks and crypto firms have intensified in recent months over how to address stablecoin rewards."
On the wires
Nu Secures Approval to Establish US National Bank
Business Wire
Nu announced that it has received conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) of the United States for the formation of a de novo national bank, Nubank, N.A. Once fully approved, the national bank charter will allow Nu to operate under a comprehensive federal framework, facilitating the launch of deposit accounts, credit cards, lending and digital asset custody.
January 28, 2026
On the web
Chainalysis: Crypto Money Laundering Surged to $82 Billion in 2025
Coinspeaker
"Illicit cryptocurrency money laundering activity climbed to over $82 billion in 2025, marking an eightfold increase from $10 billion in 2020, according to blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis. The considerable growth reflects increased accessibility and liquidity of cryptocurrencies, associated with significant changes in laundering operations. Chinese-language money laundering networks (CMLNs) have surged to become dominant players."
January 27, 2026
On the web
Shopify Merchants Face 4% OpenAI Fee on ChatGPT Sales, Reports the Information
Internet Retailing
"Shopify merchants will reportedly pay a 4% fee on sales made via OpenAI-powered checkouts, on top of standard transaction charges, according to US tech and business publication The Information. While the fee had not yet been officially confirmed by OpenAI at the time of writing, news of the proposed 4% checkout charge prompted mixed reactions across LinkedIn."
January 26, 2026
On the web
CBA Releases White Paper Examining Agentic AI, Consumer Payments, and the Future of Regulation
Consumer Bankers Association
"The Consumer Bankers Association (CBA) today released a new white paper, Agentic AI Payments: Navigating Consumer Protection, Innovation, and Regulatory Frameworks, examining how emerging agentic artificial intelligence tools could reshape consumer payments—and the opportunities and risks that evolution presents for consumers, banks, merchants, and policymakers."
Major European Banks Unite to Develop Euro-Backed Stablecoin
Digital Watch Observatory
"A consortium of 10 central European banks has established a new company, Qivalis, to develop and issue a euro-pegged stablecoin, targeting a launch in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The initiative seeks to offer a European alternative to US dollar-dominated digital payment systems and strengthen the region’s strategic autonomy in digital finance. Initial use cases will focus on crypto trading, enabling fast, low-cost payments and settlements, with broader applications planned later."
The $35 Trillion Illusion: Unpacking the Real State of Stablecoin Adoption
TechStory
"The research presents a clear and stark contrast in expectations for the industry as compared to reality; given the overall figure ($35 Trillion); one might think that this is a huge number where everybody is using it—however, the reality is that only about 1% (approximately $390 B) is actually being used for real payments. The majority of transactions in stablecoins still remain circular in nature; being made up mainly of people trading tokens, arbitragers executing trade-within-trade algorithmically via bots, and internal transfers that do not actually occur within the economy."
January 23, 2026
On the web
Shoppers Are Pulling Back From E-Commerce – Here’s Why
Chain Store Age
"Consumers are becoming less likely to engage with retailers online, with several economic and behavioral factors as key drivers. Daily online shopping frequency is dropping sharply, falling from 21% to 9% in the past year. The Salsify 2026 Consumer Research report also reveals that brick-and-mortar stores (60%) now outrank online marketplaces (57%) and social platforms (52%) among surveyed consumers for discovery of new products."
January 22, 2026
Top Post
Consumer Credit Cards in 2026: Opportunities and Threats in a Complex Landscape
This Week in Fintech
"The U.S. consumer credit card market enters 2026 in a position of strength but facing mounting headwinds, including high interest rates, affordability concerns, regulatory scrutiny, and renewed political focus on interchange. According to the Nilson Report, U.S.-issued general-purpose credit cards generated $6.136 trillion in purchase volume in 2024, representing a 5.3% year-over-year increase. Outstanding receivables reached $1.346 trillion at year-end 2024, up 7.9% year over year, while the 30 largest U.S. issuers held $1.208 trillion in receivables at midyear 2025, up 4.8%. Federal Reserve data tells a similar story."
On the web
Kasada Launches AI Agent Trust to Secure Agentic Commerce
Yahoo Finance-Business Wire
"Kasada announced the launch of AI Agent Trust, designed to help brands securely manage the growing volume of AI agents and automated traffic interacting with their digital properties. As AI agents increasingly act on behalf of consumers – browsing products, comparing prices, and assisting with transactions – organizations face a new trust challenge."
New Reg E Liability: The AI Bought That, Not Me!
Lexology
"Artificial intelligence tools are expanding into every aspect of consumers’ daily lives. That proliferation has the potential to dramatically increase bank liability under the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (“EFTA”) and Regulation E...Banks may unwittingly find themselves underwriting the risk that the agentic AIs get these transactions wrong. Banks are already well aware that under the EFTA and Regulation E, banks can end up being liable for losses resulting from unauthorized transactions from consumer accounts."
SEPA Instant Adoption in Europe Build It and They Will Come
ClearBank
"The EU Instant Payments Regulation’s (IPR) SEPA Instant Credit Transfer (SCT Inst) mandate is a watershed moment for Europe’s payments market. This research report examines the readiness of banks, electronic money institutions (EMIs) and payment institutions (PIs). It also considers where the market is headed, the factors and developments that could influence real-time payment growth, and how firms are preparing to capture the SEPA Instant opportunity."
What’s the Future Hold for ATMs in 2026?
ATM Marketplace
"We are now firmly in 2026, and with it comes many opportunities for ATMs along with challenges. Although cash usage has plateaued, expenses surrounding cash management continue to rise. In addition, the potential of AI has yet to be fully realized. When looking at where ATMs are headed in 2026, it's important to take a holistic approach that takes into account hardware, software, peripherals, cash management and AI."
January 21, 2026
On the web
Acquired.com & Visa: Unlocking Real-Time Recurring Payment Solutions with cVRPs via Visa A2A
Acquired.com
"Recurring payments are the backbone of many businesses, especially those operating in subscription-based or recurring revenue models. Commercial Variable Recurring Payments (cVRPs) launched by Acquired.com are the next evolution in payment technology, enabling businesses to facilitate real-time, bank-to-bank transactions with unprecedented flexibility and transparency. Powered by Visa’s Account-to-Account (A2A) solution, cVRPs provide an alternative to legacy payment systems, combining the benefits of speed, efficiency, and customer control."
January 20, 2026
Top Post
ABA, Associations Seek Extension of Comment Period for FDIC’s Genius Act Implementation
ABA Banking Journal
"The American Bankers Association joined four other associations to request that the FDIC push back the deadline for comment on its proposal to create a process through which banks can seek agency approval to issue stablecoins through a subsidiary. Comments on the FDIC proposed are currently due Feb. 17. The associations asked that the deadline be pushed back by either 60 days or 30 days after separate rulemaking is issued to address the capital, liquidity, risk management and other requirements."
On the web
Agentic Checkout Grows Across Major AI Platforms
The Keyword
"Agentic checkout is no longer an abstract idea discussed in demos. Over the past several months, major technology companies have begun rolling out tools that allow AI systems to guide, assist, or complete purchases inside chat and assistant interfaces. The growing sophistication of AI agents has made this possible, influencing the rise of agentic commerce. Companies like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google have invested heavily in systems that can execute multi-step tasks rather than respond to single prompts."
Klarna Backs Practical Stablecoin Use as ACP Emerges as Industry Standard
The AI Journal
"Klarna’s launch of its own stablecoin using Stripe’s infrastructure marks one of the most significant developments in the fintech and payments sector this year. Not because it heralds a new consumer crypto trend, but because it reflects a shift towards grounded, commercially viable applications of blockchain technology. After years of predictions about mass consumer crypto adoption, Klarna’s announcement is notable for its focus on solving a real, well-documented problem rather than feeding the hype cycle."
50 Stablecoin Statistics That Matter in 2026
Stablecoin Insider
"50 essential stablecoin statistics for 2026: $312B+ market cap, $33T transactions, Visa adoption, remittances, lending & more. The guide to the rise of the internet's dollar."
Why Central Banks Should Embrace Stablecoins
OMFIF
"Stablecoins are no longer a niche experiment. They now have a market value in excess of $300bn, with annual transaction volumes surpassing Visa and Mastercard combined. That momentum is likely to accelerate following the Genius Act in the US, which introduces federal regulation and allows banks to issue stablecoins."
On the wires
The New York Stock Exchange Develops Tokenized Securities Platform
Business Wire
"The New York Stock Exchange announced its development of a platform for trading and on-chain settlement of tokenized securities, which it will seek regulatory approvals. The platform is part of a broader strategy, which includes preparing its clearing infrastructure to support 24/7 trading and the integration of tokenized collateral. They are working with banks (BNY and Citi) to support tokenized deposits across clearinghouses to help members transfer and manage money outside of banking hours over different jurisdictions and time zones.
January 19, 2026
Top Post
AI in Shopping: Implications and a Value-Creating Roadmap for Retailers
Snowflake
"Even a passing familiarity with the spate of announcements in recent months makes clear that while the AI-in-shopping foundation remains distinctly unsettled, the longer-term direction of travel is clear....While some retailers like Amazon are initially blocking shopping agents, that strategy is not a viable one for most other companies. As consumer behavior shifts and the path to purchase increasingly flows through AI tools, retailers will be confronted with rising complexity across three core operational areas: inventory and fulfillment; customer service; and returns."
On the web
Gaming Brand Goes Live With Truelayer’s Pay by Bank Technology
Open Banking Expo
"bet365, one of the world’s leading online betting and gaming brands, has gone live with TrueLayer’s Pay by Bank technology – giving players a faster, safer way to directly deposit from and withdraw to their bank accounts. In a major milestone for the igaming industry, bet365 has made Pay by Bank the recommended payment option in its checkout."
January 16, 2026
On the web
Education: Agentic Payments and Crypto’s Emerging Role in the AI Economy
Galaxy
"AI agents promise to transform the internet landscape. Already, continuous improvements in artificial intelligence have enabled agents to serve as coding assistants, shopping concierges, planning tools, and all other manner of subject-matter experts. They represent a powerful new primitive for how humans interact with the internet, mainly because they remove much of the need for humans themselves to directly engage with browsers and search engines."
January 15, 2026
Top Post
Senate Banking Committee Cancels Crypto Market Structure Markup
Coindesk
"The U.S. Senate Banking Committee will no longer be marking up its crypto market structure bill Thursday, after crypto exchange Coinbase publicly withdrew its support for the legislation on Wednesday and other rifts in the negotiation had already put it on unsteady footing. The market structure bill, aimed at defining how federal regulators oversee the U.S. crypto industry, was postponed late Wednesday and a new date was not set, according to a statement from committee Chairman Tim Scott."
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