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February 17, 2026
Top Post
Mastercard Completes Fully Authenticated Agentic Commerce Transaction in India
VARINDIA
"Mastercard announced the completion of a fully authenticated agentic commerce transaction on its payment network expanding the company’s global payment capabilities into the Asia Pacific region. Cards issued by Axis Bank and RBL Bank were used to complete the transaction. The purchase was processed through payment aggregators including Cashfree Payments, Juspay, PayU and Razorpay. Merchant participants included Swiggy, Instamart, Vodafone Idea (Vi), Tira and Zepto."
On the web
ACI Connetic Accelerates Global Adoption as UK Banks Can Now Unite SWIFT, CHAPS and Faster Payments on One Cloud-Native Platform
ACI Worldwide
"ACI Worldwide announced a major step forward in the UK’s payments modernization journey as a leading UK retail bank chooses ACI Connetic, the industry’s first unified, cloud-native platform — for deployment. For the first time, UK banks can bring SWIFT, CHAPS, and Faster Payments together on one cloud-native SaaS platform, eliminating the fragmentation that has long driven operational cost, risk, and complexity."
Pagos Expands MCP Server to Enable Conversational Access to Harmonized Payments Data
AI Journal
"Pagos, an AI-powered payments intelligence company, announced a major expansion of its Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server, enabling merchants to access their own verified and harmonized payments data directly through AI chat agents like Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini. This new capability transforms the way businesses view, query, and analyze their payments data."
B2B Cross-Border Payments: Expert Insights on Faster Payments Adoption Report
Faster Payments Council
"This report published by the FPC Cross-Border Payments Work Group, sponsored by Mastercard, explores the most pressing challenges facing B2B cross-border payments and practical strategies for addressing them. While cross-border B2B transactions remain critical to global trade, many organizations still contend with friction around settlement speed, liquidity management, foreign exchange, compliance, data quality, and fraud risk."
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."
UnionPay Partners With NCR Atleos for Cashzone ATMs
ATM Marketplace
"UnionPay has partnered with NCR Atleos to enable cardholders to use surcharge free Cashzone ATMs in the U.K. Based in Shanghai, UnionPay issues cards in 84 countries and regions. With the partnership, cardholders can access cash at up to 13,000 Cashzone ATMs."
Stablecoin Issuer Quantoz Payments Becomes Visa Principal Member
Cryptopolitan
"Quantoz, a European stablecoin issuer, partnered with VISA to offer white-label card solutions to third parties. Quantoz is a certified stablecoin issuer for the Euro area, offering USD and Euro-backed tokens. Quantoz Payments will receive the status of a BIN-sponsor for VISA card issuance. The platform is now a direct VISA principal member and will be able to issue cards on behalf of third-party fintechs and platforms."
NPCI Announces FiMI, a Domain-Specific AI Language Model Built for India’s Payments Ecosystem
NPCI
"National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) released FiMI (Finance Model for India), a domain-specific language model built for India’s payments ecosystem. Developed in-house by NPCI, FiMI has been built to natively understand the complexity of Indian payment systems, including UPI, covering transaction dispute handling, mandate lifecycle management, and regulatory and ecosystem queries."
On the wires
Payoneer to Launch Stablecoin Capabilities, Powered by Bridge, Bringing Secure, Always-On Digital Money to Global Businesses
PR Newswire
"Payoneer announced plans to launch a suite of stablecoin capabilities embedded within the Payoneer platform. Powered by Bridge, a leading stablecoin infrastructure platform and a Stripe company, these new capabilities will enable businesses to securely receive, hold, and send stablecoins as part of their day-to-day global financial operations."
February 16, 2026
Top Post
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."
On the web
Visa’s Olympics Monopoly Highlights Europe’s Payment Headache
CNBC
"Anyone trying to buy a souvenir at the official Olympic stores at the Milano Cortina Games will have been exposed to an issue troubling Europe’s policymakers: the dominance of foreign payment providers and the fading role of cash. Under a sponsorship deal with the International Olympic Committee extended to 2032, Visa is the sole card provider at the Games, with signs reading “Card payment? We accept only Visa” and staff offering prepaid cards on the spot. By the next Winter Games in France in 2030, people could have another option if the European Central Bank meets its goal of launching a digital euro in 2029."
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."
PayPal Makes Solana Default for PYUSD Stablecoin Payments
Live Bitcoin News
"PayPal has named Solana as the default blockchain for PYUSD stablecoin payments, marking a new step in its digital asset strategy. The company said the integration aims to provide faster settlement and near-zero transaction costs for users worldwide."
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."
Klarna Launches on Google Pay in the UK
Klarna
"Klarna is now available on Google Pay in the UK. Google Pay users in the U.K. can choose Klarna’s interest-free payment options at checkout. Klarna on Google Pay will offer Google Pay’s UK consumers the flexibility of Klarna pay in 3 interest-free installment payment method."
February 13, 2026
Top Post
Fiserv Introduces INDX, a Real-Time Cash Settlement Platform for Digital Asset Companies
Fiserv, Inc.
"Fiserv, Inc. announced the launch of INDX, a real-time cash settlement platform that helps digital asset companies securely store and transfer US dollars in real-time 24x7x365. INDX is redefining fiat operations for digital asset companies by distributing their funds across the Fiserv Deposit Network, an ecosystem of more than 1,100 insured US-based financial institutions. This keeps cash securely off-chain while delivering the real-time settlement speed and operating windows demanded by digital asset companies."
On the web
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."
Adyen and Uber Expand Global Partnership and Launch Uber Kiosks
Travel Daily News
"Adyen and Uber have expanded their partnership to new markets and supporting the rollout of Uber kiosks in airports, hotels and venues. New geographies include the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong and the Caribbean. The collaboration also includes expanded local acquiring capabilities in markets such as Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia. In parallel, Uber is adopting additional local and high-growth payment methods through Adyen, including Pix in Brazil, AfterPay in Australia and WeChat Pay globally."
Grab Accelerates Financial Services Roadmap with Acquisition of Digital Investing Platform, Stash Financial, Inc.
Grab
"Grab is expanding its international Financial Services footprint and accelerating entry into the mass-market investing segment by acquiring Stash, an AI-powered investing app. Acquiring Stash offers Grab access high-margin subscription-based revenue. This includes AI Money Coach, which serves as a financial companion offering guidance and execution tailored and adaptable to users’ life goals and financial circumstances."
Starbucks Taps Adyen to Power In-Store Payments Across 940+ European Stores
Adyen
"Adyen has partnered with Starbucks Coffee Company to transform its payment infrastructure in Europe and the UK. Adyen has partnered with Starbucks in a multi-market European rollout, which spans 943 Starbucks stores across the UK, Austria, and Switzerland, supported by 2,375 Adyen payment terminals. This expansion builds on an existing partnership between Adyen and Alsea, Starbucks’ licensee, for which Adyen already powers payments for Alsea Mexico."
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."
Education: What Is Agentic Commerce?
IBM
"Agentic commerce is an approach to buying and selling in which AI agents act on behalf of consumers or businesses to research, negotiate and complete purchases, often without direct human intervention. With agentic commerce, AI-powered shopping assistants proactively gather requirements, scan multiple retailers in real time, evaluate products against user preferences and constraints, and make purchases or recommendations on the user’s behalf. Thus streamlining the process. Read on for Agentic Commerce Use cases."
February 12, 2026
Top Post
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."
On the web
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."
Cash App to Sell Its Credit Score
Yahoo Finance - Payments Dive
"Digital payments company Block is working to expand the reach of its internal Cash App credit scores, betting that lenders will pay for more data about non-traditional payments and installment loans. A company spokesperson said Block will charge for the scores, but declined to reveal pricing."
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."
Uber Eats Layers Agentic AI Into Grocery Shopping
EMARKETER
"Uber Eats is boosting its grocery delivery push with an AI assistant. The feature, called Cart Assistant, helps customers build a shopping cart using text or images, such as a handwritten grocery list or screenshot of recipe ingredients. It can automatically consider product availability and offer store-level details like prices and applicable promotions. Zooming out: The new tool is part of a larger effort from Uber to integrate agentic AI across its platform and provide more value to users,"
74% of Asia Pacific Consumers Already Use AI to Shop, But Trust and Transparency Hold the Key to Checkout: Visa Survey
Visa
"Visa released new survey findings on the state of digital commerce in Asia Pacific, revealing that while consumers are increasingly using AI to shop, concerns over security and transparency are creating hesitation at the crucial moment of checkout. With Asia Pacific’s rapid shift towards digital commerce and mobile-first shopping, the research shows that consumers are drawing a clear line between using AI to help them browse and trusting the same technology to handle their money and personal data. Demonstrating clearly how AI is used to spark discovery and securely handle payments is critical for consumers to feel confident using the technology to shop and pay."
Banks Caution Against Relaxing Standards for Fed Account Access to Preserve Financial Stability
The Clearing House
"The Bank Policy Institute, Financial Services Forum and The Clearing House Association responded to the Federal Reserve’s request for input on a special-purpose payment account, sometimes referred to as a “skinny master account.” This proposal would relax Federal Reserve master account access standards by introducing a new type of account aimed at payments companies. The associations warned that granting direct access to the Fed’s payment infrastructure to lesser-regulated institutions without sufficient guardrails could increase payment system risks and undermine financial stability."
On the wires
Sabre, PayPal, and Mindtrip Partner to Deliver the Industry’s First End-To-End Agentic AI Experience for Travel
PR Newwire
"Sabre Corporation, PayPal Holdings, and Mindtrip, announced a strategic partnership to deliver a next-generation agentic AI experience that reimagines how consumers discover, plan, book, and manage travel. The collaboration unites Mindtrip's agentic consumer platform, PayPal's agentic commerce capabilities, and Sabre's enterprise-grade travel technology and agentic AI expertise. The companies are set to launch in Q2 2026."
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