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April 8, 2026
Top Post
Visa Opens the Door to AI-Driven Shopping for Businesses Worldwide
Visa
"Visa Inc. unveiled Intelligent Commerce Connect, a new solution that makes it easier for businesses to connect to and participate in AI-powered commerce. Intelligent Commerce Connect acts as a network, protocol, and token vault-agnostic ‘on ramp’ to agentic commerce for agent builders, merchants, and enablers. Through a single integration via the Visa Acceptance Platform, Intelligent Commerce Connect enables secure payment initiation, tokenization, spend controls, and authentication."
On the web
Bank of America: CashPro App Usage Rises 20% as Clients Approve $38,000 in Payments Every Second
PR Newswire
"Bank of America announced that its CashPro App has become an indispensable platform for corporate and commercial clients, attracting a record number of sign-ins and growing 20% year over year. Last year, clients approved a record $1.2 trillion in payment value through the app—an average of $38,000 every second—underscoring the scale of activity and the app's integral role in day‑to‑day treasury operations across industries and geographies."
BILL Extends Supplier Payments to Power a Connected B2B Ecosystem and Help Large Enterprise Suppliers Get Paid Up to ~7 Days Faster
Bill
"BILL announced the latest expansion of BILL Supplier Payments Plus. These new capabilities further extend the solution’s ability to automate and intelligently orchestrate payments and cash application for Enterprise Suppliers, streamlining SMB payments, reducing manual work, and supporting enterprise-grade controls. By sitting between buyers and suppliers, BILL absorbs complexity at scale to reduce friction across both sides of the transaction."
Circle Rolls Out USDC Payments Platform That Lets Users Pay Without Holding Stablecoins
The Block
"Circle launched a stablecoin settlement service that allows payment service providers, fintechs, and banks to benefit from the efficiency of using blockchain-based rails without having to hold digital assets like USDC. The platform is meant to facilitate cross-border settlement using USDC, help merchants accept stablecoin payments, and lower FX costs."
AP+ and Bolt Group Announce the Next Chapter for Popular Peer to Peer Payments App, Beem [Australia]
Australian Payments Plus
"Australian Payments Plus (AP+) has signed an agreement for Bolt to acquire its consumer payments app, Beem. Over the years, Beem has spearheaded the group expense tracking trend and achieved more than 3 million app downloads, while maintaining an average app store rating of 4.9 out of 5. The sale of Beem reflects a deliberate move for AP+ to sharpen its focus on the role it plays in building and operating Australia’s critical payments and identity infrastructure, including eftpos, the NPP, ConnectID and BPAY.”"
Lloyds Bank Uses Quantum Computing to Detect Money Mules
The Times
"Lloyds Bank has been experimenting with quantum computing to improve financial crime prevention, in an early test of whether the technology can deliver practical benefits for banks. The bank tested whether quantum algorithms could spot money mule behaviour within a large collection of transactions, a task that traditional computers tend to struggle with due to the complexity of detecting subtle patterns within large-scale transaction data."
Finastra and Marketnode Transform Credit Agreement Onboarding Through AI
Finastra
"Finastra announced a strategic partnership with Marketnode to digitize and automate the credit agreement onboarding process for corporate lenders. The collaboration brings together Marketnode’s LLM/AI‑powered intelligent document automation and Finastra’s Loan IQ platform through the Loan IQ Nexus Build module. It enables FIs to digitize the credit agreement onboarding process via an integrated, automated workflow."
Mastercard and Krungthai Card Complete First Live Agentic Transaction in Thailand
Mastercard
"Mastercard announced the completion of a pilot that delivered its first authenticated agentic transaction in Thailand with Krungthai Card Public Company Limited (KTC). The pilot demonstrated how AI can support consumers to complete everyday tasks — such as transportation — securely and seamlessly. In the inaugural test case, an AI agent booked a ride from Suvarnabhumi airport to Central Chidlom through Elife, a global mobility provider. The booking and agentic transaction were facilitated by an AI agent, which connects to Elife’s network of services."
Why the UK is Mulling a Centralised Testing Regime for Banking AI
The Global Treasurer
"The Bank of England and the UK government are weighing a landmark proposal to introduce a common testing regime for general-purpose AI models. The move aims to strip away the ‘black box’ opacity of US-developed algorithms and relieve the operational burden on individual lenders. With roughly 75% of UK financial firms now deploying AI, the sector has “substantially outpaced” almost every other industry in adopting the technology. However, this rapid rollout has left regulators uneasy."
Capital One Completes Acquisition of Brex
Capital One
"Capital One Financial Corporation announced that it has completed its acquisition of Brex in a combination of stock and cash transaction. Brex is a modern, AI-native software platform offering intelligent finance solutions that enable businesses to issue corporate cards, automate expense management and make secure, real-time payments. The company also leverages AI agents to help customers automate complex workflows to reduce manual review and control spend."
Namibia Sets 2030 Vision for Digital Payments Growth
CoinGeek
"The Bank of Namibia (BoN), together with the Payments Association of Namibia and financial stakeholders, has launched the National Payment System (NPS) Vision and Strategy 2026 – 2030 to accelerate digital transformation and promote inclusive economic growth in the African nation. The NPS was unveiled as part of the “Inclusive Payments, Shared Prosperity: Charting the Next Era” strategy, which aims to modernize Namibia’s payments infrastructure and strengthen financial innovation."
April 7, 2026
Top Post
FDIC Reveals Proposed Rules for Stablecoin Issuers Under Genius Act
Decrypt
"The FDIC approved a proposed rule implementing stablecoin regulations under the GENIUS Act, establishing standards for permitted payment stablecoin issuers. Deposits held as reserves backing payment stablecoins would not receive pass-through deposit insurance protection for token holders. Stablecoin issuers must redeem tokens within two business days and cannot represent that tokens pay interest or yield. The FDIC's action implements the GENIUS Act, which allows payment stablecoin issuers with less than $10 billion in outstanding tokens to choose state-level regulation if their state meets federal standards. The FDIC seeks feedback on 144 specific questions in its proposal, with the 60-day comment period beginning upon Federal Register publication.
On the web
Kenswitch and Visa Sign Framework Agreement to Support the Evolution Of Kenya’s Payments Ecosystem
Kenswitch
"Kenswitch Limited, Kenya’s shared payments infrastructure provider, and Visa, a global leader in digital payments, announced the signing of a framework agreement to collaborate on advancing payment innovation and supporting the continued development of Kenya’s domestic payment processing and settlement ecosystem. The agreement brings together Kenswitch’s national payments infrastructure and Visa’s global digital payments expertise to support financial institutions, merchants, businesses, and consumers across Kenya."
Ahold Delhaize USA Makes Pay by Bank Available for Online Grocery Orders
Progressive Grocer
"Ahold Delhaize USA has grown its partnership with Fiserv Inc. to make Pay by Bank available on the grocer’s proprietary omnichannel platform, providing customers with a secure, streamlined digital payment option for online grocery orders directly from their bank accounts. The solution is currently available on the e-commerce websites and mobile apps of three Ahold Delhaize USA grocery brands: The Giant Co., Giant Food and Stop & Shop."
Dual-Sided ATM Offers Improved CX in a Smaller Footprint
ATM Marketplace
"The traditional ATM has many limitations, such as the fact it can take up a lot of space, and only one customer can interact with the machine at a time. NCR Atleos is answering this issue with a small form factor dual-sided ATM, where two customers can transact on separate screens across from each other. This proof-of-concept device uses shared safes and a PC core to provide a smaller footprint, alongside 3D printed components for reduced weight and waste."
Bitcoin Day Is Live: Cash App, Square, and Bitkey Are Giving Away $1 Million in Bitcoin
Block
"For the first time, Cash App, Square, and Bitkey are teaming up to celebrate Bitcoin Day with $1 million in bitcoin giveaways. Running April 6 through April 10, Bitcoin Day is designed to help people actually use bitcoin in everyday life, from buying coffee, to getting paid, to owning it for real."
Multicurrency Crypto Wallet: The Future of Flexible and Secure Payments
News18
"The #1 global gaming platform, proudly announces the launch of Multiwallet – an innovative feature that brings all currencies together in one account with separate wallets for INR, USDT, and USDC. This innovative solution lets users easily manage their funds, combining crypto and fiat payments while keeping every transaction safe, transparent, and fully under their control."
Cross Switch Goes Live With Absa Pay to Deliver Frictionless, Bank Authenticated Payments for South African Merchants
Cross Switch
"When customers select Absa Pay at checkout, they are routed to a secure Absa environment to authenticate the payment directly with their bank before being returned to the merchant’s platform to complete the transaction. Absa developed Absa Pay to provide fintechs, e‑commerce platforms, and other digital partners with a safe, authenticated way to engage with the bank through secure, API‑based systems. Through the enablement of Absa Pay, Cross Switch merchants benefit from strong customer authentication, real‑time payment confirmation, and consistent system reliability delivered through bank‑side monitoring."
April 6, 2026
On the web
Why UPI Payments Will Feel Different From April 2026 [India]
ET Edge
"From April 1, 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is set to implement a major overhaul of India’s digital payment security framework. These new rules which were formally issued under the “Authentication Mechanisms for Digital Payment Transactions Directions, 2025”,will significantly change how Indians use UPI, debit/credit cards, mobile wallets, and online banking. The most important feature of the new framework is mandatory two-factor authentication (2FA) for all digital payments."
Aussies Face Grim Warning Amid New Bank
Yahoo Finance
"One of Australia’s most hated hidden fees has been removed. The RBA released its review of merchant card payment costs and surcharging, recommending three changes to Australia’s payment network. These include removing surcharges which will be banned from October 1, with businesses now having to display the entire cost - including credit charges – as part of the sticker price. The RBA is reducing interchange fees – which are paid by a business’ bank to the customer’s bank, will be lowered while the RBA promised to ensure increased transparency surrounding fees charged by card networks."
The United States Attacks Pix Again, and Lula Reacts
Finsiders Brazil
"Pix has once again come under scrutiny from the US government led by Donald Trump . A report published by the Office of the United States Trade Representative alleges that the Brazilian instant payment system "disadvantages" US electronic payment service providers. According to the annual US trade the Central Bank will give preferential treatment to the Pix system, to the detriment of other payment systems. This includes, therefore, card brands such as Visa and Mastercard."
Delaware General Assembly Addresses Swipe Fees
NFIB Small Business Association
"The Delaware General Assembly took up the issue of swipe fees with House Bill 315. This bill prohibits payment card networks from charging swipe fees on tips on credit card transactions. Though limited in scope, HB315 signals the legislature is willing to take action on this critical issue. The legislation has been voted out of committee and is now awaiting action by the full House. NFIB has advocated on this issue at the federal level – Congress is considering legislation to inject competition into the credit card market and bring down swipe fees. One proposal would require most credit cards to have two network options, giving small merchants an option to choose whichever one has lower swipe fees."
April 4, 2026
On the web
Lightyear Capital Signs Agreement to Acquire PayByPhone
PayByPhone
"Lightyear Capital has signed an agreement to acquire PayByPhone, a global leader in mobile parking payments, from Corpay. PayByPhone is a leading provider of digital parking payments and mission critical parking management software to more than 1,300 clients globally. Lightyear’s investment in PayByPhone will drive continued product innovation to better serve the needs of its growing customer base. Under Lightyear’s ownership, PayByPhone will operate as a stand-alone independent business."
April 3, 2026
Top Post
China Expands Digital Yuan Network — 12 New Banks Join as E-CNY Push Accelerates
Crypto Economy
"The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) has given a major push to its central bank digital currency (CBDC) network. A total of 12 new financial institutions, including seven national joint-stock banks and five regional commercial banks (notably Bank of Ningbo), have joined the digital yuan (e-CNY) operating platform. This ends the previous oligopoly of the “Big Six” large state-owned banks This expansion process is not accidental; it is linked to a key regulatory shift: the e-CNY has been reclassified as M1, now functioning as a digital deposit that generates interest."
On the web
Ghana’s National ID Cards Can Now Make Payments
TechCabal
"Ghana’s National Identification Authority (NIA), a statutory body mandated to establish a national identification system, has now added a digital wallet to the Ghana Card, the identification card used for services like SIM registration and passport applications. The new payments feature, first announced in September 2025, allows users to make use of ATMs, make payments in stores and online, make international payments with over 200 countries, and access other services such as insurance and emergency assistance."
Small Business Sales Grew Steadily in March as Higher Ticket Sizes Offset Softer Foot Traffic, Fiserv Data Shows
Fiserv, Inc.
"Fiserv, Inc. has published the Fiserv Small Business Index for March 2026, indicating that U.S. small business sales continued to grow steadily in March, despite consumers being more selective in their spending. Higher average ticket sizes helped offset slower transaction volumes as small businesses closed out Q1 on solid footing."
Coinbase Locks in Conditional Approval to Become a Trust Bank
Yahoo Finance
"Crypto exchange Coinbase (COIN) Global said that the firm has received conditional approval from a key federal regulator to become a national trust bank. Final approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency brings a new threshold of legitimacy to Coinbase in the eyes of certain clients, vice president of Institutional Product Greg Tusar said in an interview."
The Infrastructure Layer for AI Agents in Institutional Finance
Fireblocks
"We are quickly entering an era where AI agents are executing B2B payments, moving capital, settling transactions, and managing treasury operations autonomously. While the use cases are exciting (think treasury rebalancing, liquidity management, and cross-border payment routing), there’s a gap that the industry is just now starting to uncover: these agents need to be able to move value, not just process information. That’s where AI infrastructure solutions enter the conversation."
Cash App Unveils P2P Pay Over Time With 7.5% Fee
NewsBytes
"Cash App just dropped a new pay-over-time feature, letting users split peer-to-peer payments over several weeks instead of paying all at once. If you're sending $25 or more, there's a 7.5% fee, and you can pay back weekly or in one go after six weeks."
On the wires
SoFi Launches Big Business Banking to Power Fiat and Crypto Banking on a Single Regulated Platform
Business Wire
"SoFi Technologies, Inc. announced the launch of SoFi Big Business Banking, a new offering that gives enterprise partners the ability to manage both fiat and crypto banking from a single, nationally chartered bank. This launch builds on SoFi’s integration of blockchain into its core platform. Big Business Banking brings it all together, enabling any company operating across both traditional and digital finance to hold deposits, move money and settle transactions 24/7 within SoFi’s regulated banking platform."