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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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March 20, 2026
Top Post
Visa Launches ‘Agentic Ready’ Programme to Advance Agentic Commerce in Europe
Visa
"Visa announced the launch of Visa Agentic Ready, a new global programme, designed to support the payments ecosystem as it prepares for a new era of agentic commerce. Launching first in Europe, including the UK, this builds on Visa Intelligent Commerce. In its first phase, Visa Agentic Ready focuses on issuer readiness, providing issuing partners with a structured pathway to test and validate agent-initiated transactions, working in close partnership with Visa and selected merchants to explore how these transactions could operate securely, at scale, in controlled production environments."
March 19, 2026
Top Post
Wero Attacks Margins, Visa and Mastercard Protect Rent
Paperjam
"With reduced costs and rapid deployment, Wero is establishing itself as a credible alternative to cards in Europe. Behind this pressure on everyday payments, the bulk of Visa and Mastercard’s profitability is based on cross-border flows, a high value-added segment that European infrastructures do not yet cover. Stablecoins, particularly at Visa, could strengthen this position."
March 13, 2026
On the web
Europe’s Agentic Commerce Shift: Why AI Agents Are Set to Become Economic Actors
Retail Banker International
"Europe has crossed a new threshold by allowing an AI agent to perform a regulated financial transaction. With Santander and Mastercard completing the region’s first live end-to-end AI-executed payment, the significance goes beyond the technology itself. This was not a simple API trigger but an autonomous system acting with delegated authority, marking a defining moment: AI agents are becoming economic actors."
March 12, 2026
On the web
European Central Bank Unveils Tokenized Finance Plan to Bolster EU’s Financial Autonomy
CoinDesk
"The European Central Bank set out a timeline for building a tokenized wholesale financial ecosystem centered on the euro to safeguard its role as a leading international currency. The strategy hinges on Pontes, a distributed-ledger-based transaction layer, and Appia, a long-term project to design the architecture, governance and standards of a tokenized financial system. The initiative aims to bolster the EU's financial sovereignty, strategic autonomy and resilience while adapting market infrastructure to blockchain-based assets."
March 11, 2026
Top Post
Agentic Payments: A New Challenge for Europe’s Payments Ecosystem
Osborne Clarke
"The rapid development of AI-agent-initiated payment models signals a pivotal shift for the European payments ecosystem. While current implementations are pilot-based within the EU, market signals suggest production deployments are targeted as early as 2026. As AI-agent technology moves from the 'back office' to the 'front office' for payment institutions, the relevance of regulatory requirements increases significantly. In this context, questions arise around the regulatory classification of the service, the allocation of liability, and the satisfaction of authorisation requirements and Strong Customer Authentication (SCA)."
On the web
How Close Is the EU to Break Free From Visa and Mastercard’s Grip?
Euronews
"In 2023, Visa and Mastercard processed about 4.7 trillion USD in payment volume across the bloc. Transactions in 13 out of 21 eurozone member states still run exclusively on international card schemes. US card brands monopolize almost the entire international segment, handling 61% of the euro-area card transactions. Increasing EU-US tensions have heightened fears of 450 million European citizens being potentially cut off from international financial infrastructures."
March 10, 2026
On the web
Goodbye Visa & Mastercard - Europe Is Building Its Own Payment System [Video]
MSN
"Europe is preparing one of the biggest changes to its financial system in decades: the digital euro. Today, most digital payments in Europe rely on American companies like Visa and Mastercard. Every card payment passes through private networks that charge fees and process large amounts of transaction data. The digital euro could change that. Instead of relying on private payment networks, Europeans would be able to pay directly through a public digital wallet issued by the European Central Bank."
March 5, 2026
On the web
Euro Safe Asset Status up for Grabs in Emerging ‘Multi-Moneyverse’
OMFIF
"A key plank of the developments is the European Central Bank’s provision later this year of a facility for Eurosystem banks to settle tokenised finance in public money. The Federal Reserve is avoiding even pseudonymous efforts in this area for now, wary of the political risk in appearing to work on a central bank digital currency, which in retail form is explicitly banned. Even parts of the Eurosystem have studiously avoided calling their Pontes initiative ‘wholesale CBDC’."
March 4, 2026
On the web
Why Europe Needs a Payment System Independent of Mastercard and Visa [Video]
Euro News
"Most card or online purchases in Europe go through Visa or Mastercard, two American companies that lead global payments. EU leaders now see this as a risk Europe can't ignore, and they're acting. Wero is a digital wallet created by European banks and payment companies to avoid using card networks."
February 24, 2026
On the web
European Central Bank and ONCE Foundation Launch Collaboration to Ensure Digital Euro Is Accessible for Everyone
European Central Bank
"The European Central Bank (ECB) and the ONCE Foundation for Cooperation and Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities have signed a collaboration agreement to promote, develop and ensure the digital euro app is easily accessible for everyone, including people with disabilities or limited digital skills and older adults."
February 18, 2026
Top Post
43 Million Users in 12 Months: How Wero Is Building Europe’s Answer to Visa and Mastercard
European Business & Finance Magazine
"Europe’s push to break its dependence on Visa and Mastercard is accelerating on three fronts. Wero, the pan-European digital wallet backed by 16 banks, has reached 43.5 million registered users and processed over €7.5 billion in transfers in its first year. E-commerce payments go live in 2026. In parallel, the European Parliament voted on 10 February to back the digital euro for a 2029 launch, and a consortium of 11 European banks is building a euro-backed stablecoin."
On the web
Europe’s $24 Trillion Breakup With Visa and Mastercard Has Begun
European Business & Finance Magazine
"ECB President Christine Lagarde told Irish radio that Europe needs its own digital payment system “urgently,” warning that virtually all European card and mobile payments currently run through non-European infrastructure controlled by Visa, Mastercard, PayPal or Alipay. Days later, the European Payments Initiative (EPI) and the EuroPA Alliance signed a landmark agreement to build a pan-European interoperable payment network covering 130 million users across 13 countries. The system, built around the digital wallet Wero, aims to let Europeans pay and transfer money across borders without touching a single American network."
ECB’s Cipollone Says Digital Euro Will Protect European Banks, Card Schemes
Reuters
"The digital euro will be designed to ensure it protects European card schemes and keep banks at the core of the euro zone payments system, a senior European Central Bank policymaker said on Wednesday...Fraying transatlantic ties have prompted the ECB to brand as a strategic risk the fact that more than three quarters of transactions in Europe take place through international payments schemes such as Visa or Mastercard."
February 2, 2026
On the web
European Central Bank: Payments Statistics: First Half of 2025
European Central Bank
The European Central Bank (ECB) published statistics on non-cash payments for the first half of 2025. The statistics comprise indicators on access to and use of payment services, payment cards and payment terminals by the public, as well as volumes and values of transactions processed through retail and large-value payment systems. This press release focuses on developments in the euro area as a whole, while statistics are also published at country level for all euro area and most non-euro area EU member states. EU and euro area aggregates are also published.
January 27, 2026
On the web
Loomis Pay Brings Next-Generation POS and Payment Innovation to Merchants
Loomis Pay
"Loomis Pay is continuing to expand its POS and payment offering across Europe through a collaboration with Castles Technology, a global provider of Android-based payment devices. Merchants can manage cash, card, and digital payments in one unified setup, while benefiting from flexible, secure, and scalable technology. Following a successful pilot in Norway, Loomis Pay is now preparing for a broader rollout across Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Spain."
December 18, 2025
On the web
Joint European Banking Authority (EBA) and the European Central Bank (ECB) Report on Payment Fraud: Strong Authentication Remains Effective but Fraudsters Are Adapting
European Central Bank
In 2024, the payment fraud rate in the European Economic Area is stable at around 0.002% of the total value of transactions in a calendar year. The total value of fraud increased to €4.2 billion in 2024 from €3.5 billion in 2023. However, new types of fraud are on the rise, particularly the manipulation of payers, which will require additional and new mitigation approaches."
November 26, 2025
On the web
Introducing One Click Payments: A Simpler, Faster Way to Pay by Bank in Europe
Plaid
"One click streamlines the open banking payment journey for Pay by Bank users through a cleaner, more accessible experience. For returning users and those who’ve selected their bank earlier in the onboarding journey, one click automatically recalls their preferred bank and removes the selection pane entirely."
November 24, 2025
On the web
ECB Calls Stablecoins a Threat to Global Financial Stability… Again
Cryptopolitan
"The European Central Bank just flagged stablecoins as a global threat. Again. On Monday, the bank put out a pre-release of its financial stability review, warning that the sudden rise in these tokens needs serious attention. Even though things look fine right now, the bank says that could change real fast if stablecoins get adopted for more uses. One of the biggest issues? If people start swapping bank deposits for stablecoins, banks could lose a big source of funding."
Eurosystem Moves Forward on Work to Connect Tips With India’s Unified Payments Interface and With Nexus Global Payments
European Central Bank
The Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) has decided to further advance the ongoing initiatives to interlink the Eurosystem’s TARGET Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS) service with other fast payment systems globally. The decision is part of the Eurosystem’s overall efforts to make it easier for businesses and consumers in Europe to send and receive payments to and from other countries, including remittances.
November 20, 2025
On the web
Eurosystem Moves Forward on Work to Connect Tips With India’s Unified Payments Infrastructure and With Nexus Global Payments
European Central Bank
"The Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) has decided to further advance the ongoing initiatives to interlink the Eurosystem’s TARGET Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS) service with other fast payment systems globally. The decision is part of the Eurosystem’s overall efforts to make it easier for businesses and consumers in Europe to send and receive payments to and from other countries, including remittances."
November 19, 2025
On the wires
Nuvei and European Payments Initiative Launch Wero Payments for European eCommerce Merchants
Cision
"Nuvei announced that its eCommerce merchants have started processing transactions via Wero, the innovative digital wallet of the European Payments Initiative (EPI). Wero is designed to deliver instant, secure account-to-account payments across Europe. Wero enables instant account-to-account (A2A) payments through SEPA Instant Credit Transfer protocols, allowing consumers to pay securely and directly from their bank accounts in seconds."
November 10, 2025
On the web
Italy’s Banks Support Ecb’s Digital Euro Plan, but Want to Spread Out Costs Over Time: Reuters
The Block
"Italy’s banks support the European Central Bank’s plan to introduce a digital euro but want its required investments to be spread out over time, a top official of Italy’s banking association said, per Reuters. The ECB in recent weeks has advanced its plan to introduce a digital euro, finalizing a roadmap with EU finance ministers to develop the central bank digital currency (CBDC), projected to launch in 2029 given EU approval next year."
October 30, 2025
On the web
Eurosystem Moving to Next Phase of Digital Euro Project
European Central Bank
"The Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) has decided to move to the next phase of the digital euro project. This decision follows the successful completion of the preparation phase. The Governing Council’s decision aligns with European leaders’ request to accelerate progress on the digital euro, as recently stated at the October 2025 Euro Summit."
October 29, 2025
On the web
Google Taps Yepily to Power Bank Account Verification in Europe
IBS Intelligence
"Yapily has partnered with Google to enable the rollout of Google’s bank account verification service for business customers across Europe. The partnership marks a significant milestone in advancing digital finance, combining Yapily’s secure, API-driven connectivity with Google’s innovative financial technology to deliver a seamless, fast, and trusted verification experience for businesses. The announcement comes at a pivotal time for open banking in Europe, as adoption continues to accelerate across markets."
October 8, 2025
On the web
European Central Bank Selects Digital Euro Service Providers
European Central Bank
"The ECB has signed framework agreements with the following providers for the five digital euro components and related services: Alias lookup: (1) Sapient GmbH & Tremend Software Consulting S.R.L, (2) equensWorldline; Risk and fraud management: (1) Feedzai, (2) Capgemini Deutschland; App and software development kit (SDK): (1) Almaviva SpA & Fabrick SpA, (2) Sapient GmbH & Tremend Software Consulting S.R.L; offline solution: (1) Giesecke+Devrient, (2) To be announced in due course; secure exchange of payment information: (1) Senacor FCS, (2) equensWorldline"
September 29, 2025
On the web
Swiss National Bank, European Central Bank Explore Linking Up Instant Payment Systems
Reuters
"The Swiss National Bank and the European Central Bank are exploring interlinking their instant payment services, Switzerland's central bank said on Monday. "This initiative supports the general goal of making cross-border payments faster, cheaper, more transparent and more accessible," the SNB said in a statement."
September 25, 2025
On the web
Digital Euro May Be Rolled Out in Mid-2029, ECB’s Cipollone Says
Luxembourg Times
"The digital euro could become a reality in 2029 as efforts intensify to get the long-running project off the ground, according to European Central Bank executive board member Piero Cipollone. The ECB has been pushing for a digital euro for years in a bid to reduce the region’s reliance on firms like Visa and PayPal for retail payments."
On the wires
European Banks to Launch Euro Stablecoin in Bid to Counter US Dominance
Reuters
"A consortium of nine European banks, including ING and UniCredit, said they are forming a new company to launch a euro-denominated stablecoin, a move they hope will help counter U.S. digital market dominance."
September 23, 2025
On the web
ECB Paper Explores What Makes Stablecoins a “Fungible” Means of Payment
Ledger Insights
"The European Central Bank published a notable paper on stablecoin fungibility. This is not related to the debate around fungibility of EU versus foreign stablecoins, where the EU’s comparatively generous redemption rules are causing concerns that a run on a US stablecoin could encourage foreigners to redeem from the EU version of the same stablecoin. Instead, the paper explores a broad definition of fungibility. The authors focus on stablecoins, but note that the framework outlined also applies to retail CBDCs."
September 22, 2025
On the web
Wero Has Successfully Positioned Itself on Payments and Is Preparing Its Entry Into the Online and In-Store Payment Market
EPI Company
"The European Payments Initiative (EPI), presents the results of its first twelve months of official activity and unveils the outlines of the launch of its e-commerce payment solution, expected in 2026. Available since the second half of 2024 for transactions between individuals in Belgium, France and Germany, Wero already has more than 43.5 million registered users. Designed as an alternative to international payment systems, Wero offers Europeans a secure and seamless mobile payment solution."
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