Finish 2025 strong with new or renewed expertise with an On-Demand Learning module or course!
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.
Search Payments News
November 19, 2025
On the web
Apple Introduces Digital ID, a New Way to Create and Present an ID in Apple Wallet
Apple Newsroom
"Apple announced the launch of Digital ID, a new way for users to create an ID in Apple Wallet using information from their U.S. passport, and present it with the security and privacy of iPhone or Apple Watch. At launch, Digital ID acceptance will roll out first in beta at TSA checkpoints at more than 250 airports in the U.S. for in-person identity verification during domestic travel, with additional Digital ID acceptance use cases to come in the future."
November 13, 2025
On the web
Apple, Tencent Agree to 15% Fee on Wechat Mini Game Purchases: Bloomberg
Capital Brief
"Tencent Holdings has agreed to allow Apple to handle payments and take a 15% cut of purchases made in WeChat mini games and apps, according to sources cited by Bloomberg. The context: The deal has been negotiated by the two firms for over a year and opens a new source of revenue for the iPhone maker. Apple had been demanding that Tencent close loopholes used by app makers to push users to external payment systems – circumventing Apple’s usual 30% commission."
September 24, 2025
Top Post
Apple Confirms iOS 26 Wallet Passport Feature is Coming in 2025
MacRumors
"Digital ID, the iOS 26 feature that lets U.S. passport holders add their passports to the Wallet app, is coming later in 2025, Apple confirmed today. Apple updated the release timing wording of Digital ID on its iOS 26 features page. "Digital ID will be coming later this year with US passports only," it reads."
September 22, 2025
Top Post
Here’s Everything New for Apple Wallet in iOS 26
9to5Mac
"Apple Wallet, like every other iOS 26 app, has gotten some Liquid Glass UI changes this year. But iOS 26 is also an especially packed update for new features coming to Apple Wallet. Here’s what’s new..."
September 16, 2025
On the web
Apple Pay Adds Affirm and Klarna for In-Store Purchases
MAC Observer
"Apple Pay users in the U.S. and UK can now use Affirm and Klarna to split in-store purchases into flexible payment plans. Until now, Apple Pay supported these services only for online and in-app checkouts. The update extends “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) options to physical retail stores, giving shoppers more choice at checkout."
July 29, 2025
On the wires
JPMorgan Nears Deal to Take Over Apple’s Credit Card Program, WSJ Reports
Reuters
"JPMorgan Chase is in advanced talks to take over Apple's credit card program from Goldman Sachs, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. Talks between the largest U.S. bank and the tech giant began last year, as Goldman sought to unwind a partnership that had once been a cornerstone of its consumer banking strategy. JPMorgan and Goldman declined to comment on the WSJ report, while Apple did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment."
July 10, 2025
Top Post
Apple, Visa and Mastercard Win Dismissal of Merchant Antitrust Lawsuit Over Payment Fees
Reuters
"Apple, Visa and Mastercard have persuaded a U.S. judge to dismiss a lawsuit accusing them of conspiring to suppress competition in the payments network market and causing merchants to pay inflated transaction fees."
July 9, 2025
On the web
Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries
MacRumors
"Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes...Now, backend changes to Apple Pay spotted by MacRumors suggest the feature is expanding to additional countries in Europe: Ireland, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Portugal."
June 27, 2025
On the web
Here’s Everything New for Apple Wallet in iOS 26
9to5Mac
"Apple Wallet, like every other iOS 26 app, is getting some Liquid Glass UI changes this year. But iOS 26 is also an especially packed update for new features coming to Apple Wallet. Here’s what’s new."
June 10, 2025
On the web
Apple Intelligence Gets Even More Powerful With New Capabilities Across Apple Devices
Apple Newsroom
"Apple Wallet can now identify and summarize order tracking details from emails sent from merchants or delivery carriers. This works across all of a user’s orders, giving them the ability to see their full order details, progress notifications, and more, all in one place."
May 15, 2025
On the web
Apple Is Placing Warnings on EU Apps That Don’t Use App Store Payments
The Verge
"Apple suggests that users are putting themselves at risk by using third-party alternatives. Apple is trying to dissuade Europeans from using iOS apps that support alternative payment options by making them look scary. Daring Fireball’s John Gruber spotted that a red exclamation mark icon is being prominently displayed on the App Store listing for Instacar, alongside a message warning users that it doesn’t use Apple’s “private and secure payment system.”"
May 9, 2025
On the web
Apple Tries to Delay Ruling That Bars It From Taking a Cut on External App Payments
TechCrunch
"In an attempt to protect a valuable revenue stream, Apple is trying to delay a court ruling that forces the company to let iOS app developers in the U.S. redirect users to external payment systems and avoid paying a commission to the iPhone maker. The company filed an emergency motion late on Wednesday, asking an appeals court to grant a partial stay on a previous ruling."
May 2, 2025
On the web
Apple Changes US App Store Rules to Let Apps Link to External Payment Systems
TechCrunch
"Apple has changed its App Store rules in the U.S. to let apps link users to their own websites so they can buy subscriptions or other digital goods. This change comes after a U.S. court ruled in favor of Epic Games in a case against the iPhone maker, ordering the latter not to prohibit apps from including features that could redirect users to their own websites for making digital purchases."
April 2, 2025
Top Post
Visa Offers Apple Roughly $100 Million to Take Over Credit Card From Mastercard
WSJ
"Visa has offered Apple a roughly $100 million payment to get the tech giant’s credit card, part of a battle between the country’s biggest payment networks for the splashy Apple card." [Subscription Required]
March 19, 2025
On the web
Apple Wallet Gets Deeper Integration With PayPal's Debit Card This Year
MacRumors
"In the final sentence of an October 2024 press release, celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Apple Pay, Apple said iPhone users in the U.S. would be able to see their PayPal balance when using their PayPal debit card in the Wallet app. Apple said this feature would launch in 2025, so it should arrive in a future iOS 18 or iOS 19 update."
March 18, 2025
On the web
Apple Introduces Tap To Pay on iPhone in More European Countries
Apple
"Apple today introduced Tap to Pay on iPhone in Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland, enabling millions of merchants to use iPhone to seamlessly and securely accept in-person, contactless payments. In collaboration with payment platforms, app developers, and payment networks."
November 22, 2024
On the web
Apple, Google to Face UK Probe Over Mobile Browser Dominance
BNN Bloomberg
"Apple Inc. and Alphabet Inc. are set to face a formal investigation over their dominance of web browsers on cell phones, the UK’s antitrust regulator said in a provisional decision aimed at curbing the tech giants’ stranglehold on mobile operating systems."
October 22, 2024
On the web
Apple Says Support for Redeeming Rewards With More Partners Is Coming to Apple Pay
TechCrunch
"Apple recently celebrated 10 years with Apple Pay and announced how the service will evolve in the future, including features like redeeming rewards and expanding installment loan options. In addition to Apple Pay’s newly added support for loan options from Affirm in the U.S., and Monzo Flex in the U.K., the iPhone maker shared that support for Klarna will go live in the two countries, including both at checkout online and in-app with Apple Pay."
October 17, 2024
Top Post
Apple Celebrates 10 Years of Apple Pay
Apple Newsroom
"Today, Apple Pay is used by hundreds of millions of consumers in 78 markets, at checkout on millions of websites and apps, in tens of millions of stores worldwide, and is supported by more than 11,000 bank and network partners."
August 14, 2024
On the web
Apple Pressures Tencent to Block Loopholes That Allow WeChat to Bypass App Store Fees
9to5Mac
"Apple is pushing Tencent and ByteDance to “close loopholes” that currently allow their apps to skirt the App Store’s in-app purchase system, according to a new report from Bloomberg."
Apple Is Finally Going to Open up iPhone Tap-To-Pay
The Verge
"Secure Element starting with iOS 18.1, and as part of the update, you’ll also be able to set a default contactless payment app that’s accessible when you double-click your iPhone’s side button. Previously, Apple has only allowed Apple Pay to appear when you double-click that button."
Tencent Says in Talks With Apple About Mini Games Mobile Revenue
Yahoo Finance
"Tencent Holdings Ltd. acknowledged for the first time it’s in discussions with Apple Inc. about sharing the revenue that flows through its popular WeChat mini games, a potentially significant move for China’s mobile developer ecosystem."
August 2, 2024
On the web
Apple Is Fighting Tencent and Bytedance Over In-App Payments in China
Engadget
"Apple has been pressuring ByteDance and Tencent to close loopholes in China that funnel customers to external payment systems for making in-app purchases, according to a report by Bloomberg."
July 11, 2024
Top Post
Apple Reaches Deal With EU Regulators to Open up Mobile Payments System to Rivals
CNBC
"EU antitrust regulators on Thursday accepted commitments from Apple to allow access to its tap-and-go payments technology to rivals, bringing an end to a four-year investigation."
June 24, 2024
On the web
Apple to Delay AI Rollout in Europe
bankinfosecurity
"Apple said in a Friday statement it will delay the rollout of artificial intelligence-powered features on smartphones in Europe, citing European law meant to rein in the power of large tech companies."
June 17, 2024
Top Post
Apple Discontinuing Apple Pay Later, Ahead of New Features Launching This Fall
9to5Mac
"Apple has announced that it is no longer offering Apple Pay Later, the “buy now, pay later” service that launched in the United States last year. The change goes into effect starting today, Apple says. Existing users with open Apple Pay Later loans will still be able to manage them via the Wallet app."
June 11, 2024
On the web
Affirm Buy Now, Pay Later Loans Will Be Embedded Into Apple Pay Later This Year
CNBC
"Apple device users will soon be able to tap into buy now, pay later loans from Affirm for purchases, the companies said Tuesday. Affirm will surface as an option for U.S. Apple Pay users on iPhones and iPads later this year, the San Francisco-based fintech company said in a filing. Apple confirmed the news in its own update."
June 10, 2024
On the web
Santander’s Zinia Becomes Provider of Consumer Finance Services for Apple in Germany
Santander
"Grupo Santander's financing platform becomes the financier for Apple in Germany, both in Apple stores and online. Zinia has been present in Germany since 2022 and offers a range of financing solutions (buy now pay later and installments, among others)."
IOS 18 Includes Tap to Cash, Easily Send Money to Friends With Apple Pay
9to5Mac
"iOS 18 includes Tap to Cash, a new way to send money to your friends using Apple Pay Cash. By simply bringing your phone close to a friend, you can send money instantly – transferring from your Apple Cash account."
May 24, 2024
On the web
Tap to Pay on iPhone Now Available in Canada
9to5Mac
"Tap to Pay on iPhone is continuing its rollout to more countries. Less than a week after the service debuted in Japan, Apple is bringing seamless, iPhone-centric contactless payments to Canada."
Take us with you
Payments on Fire is available on iTunes, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, and other podcast apps and services. Or just say “Alexa, play Payments on Fire podcast.”
