PAYMENTS ON FIRE RESOURCE CENTER

Smart thinking for smart payments professionals

Payments On Fire is the industry’s leading resource center for payments professionals. Here, you’ll find the resources and thought leadership that only Glenbrook’s experienced team can provide. Curated news stories, insightful opinion papers, provocative podcasts, and more – it’s all the thinking you need to stay competitive in a dynamic payments world.

December 5, 2025

IMF: Understanding Stablecoins

International Monetary Fund

“Stablecoins, a type of crypto asset, have seen significant growth and attention recently. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of stablecoins. It discusses market developments, use cases, potential benefits, associated risks, and the evolving international regulatory landscape. Stablecoin issuance has doubled over the past two years, driven by their use in crypto trades.”

Proposed Rules from the Bank of England to Regulate Systemic Stablecoins

Mayer Brown

“This update explains the Bank of England’s proposed regime for regulating sterling‑denominated systemic stablecoin issuers and payment system operators (and other service providers recognised as systemic in the supply chain) as set out in its consultation paper issued on 10 November 2025; in particular its impact on banks and other participants in wholesale financial markets.”

Klarna Launches Premium and Max Memberships in the U.S., Offering Lounge Access and Premium Perks Without Spending Requirements

Business Wire

“Klarna has expanded its membership program with the introduction of Premium and Max plans for U.S. consumers, building on its existing Core and Plus plans and following successful launches in the UK and EU. The U.S. debut offers an alternative to the traditional credit card model. Klarna’s memberships deliver premium perks, including airport lounge access, […]

England Enacts Law Recognizing Digital Assets as Property

Ledger Insights

“The Property (Digital Assets, etc) Act 2025 has received Royal Assent, creating a new category of property under English law. Digital assets such as cryptocurrency did not fit neatly into existing laws, resulting in the courts creating a new category, which is now recognized in the legislation. If an asset is not recognized as property, it […]

Federal Reserve Board Requests Public Input on the Impact of Potential Strategic Changes to Check Services Provided by the Fed

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

“The Federal Reserve Board requested public input on the impact of potential strategic changes to check services provided by the Fed, as well as check usage and preferences. Over time, check use has steadily declined, digital payment methods have grown in availability and use, and check fraud has risen. Also, the Reserve Banks will need […]

Education: Regulated Payment Stablecoins Become a Reality in the U.S.

St Louis Fed

“The Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act was signed into law June 18, establishing a regulatory framework for the issuance and transaction of payment stablecoins in the U.S. The law goes into effect 18 months after enactment (December 2026) or 120 days after the Federal Reserve Board (FRB), the Office of […]

December 4, 2025

A November to Remember: The Clearing House Networks Shatter Records as Digital Payments Surge Nationwide

The Clearing House

“The CHIPS®, EPN®, and RTP® networks all posted record-breaking results in November, underscoring the advantages banks gain from utilizing the payment systems operated by The Clearing House – from CHIPS’ unmatched intraday liquidity savings, to instant settlement and 24/7 availability through the RTP network, to EPN’s capacity for high-volume, recurring payments. Together, these new records […]

How Will AI Agents Pay Each Other Using the X402 Payments Protocol

CFOtech Asia

“Long before anyone imagined AI assistants buying things on our behalf, the internet quietly reserved an error code for online payments. “HTTP 402: Payment Required” was included in early web standards in the 1990s, intended for future digital commerce. For decades it remained unused – a forgotten code akin to the famous 404 “Not Found” […]

MoneyGram and Fireblocks Partner to Supercharge Global Treasury Management Using Stablecoins and Real-Time Payments

PR Newswire

“MoneyGram has partnered with Fireblocks, the infrastructure platform securing more than $5 trillion in digital asset transfers annually. The collaboration will further advance stablecoin-based settlement and multi-asset treasury operations across MoneyGram’s retail and digital footprint, enabling faster, lower-cost payments and real-time treasury operations throughout its network.”

Trulioo Joins Google’s Agent Payments Protocol (AP2) to Help Build Trust in Agent-Led Payments

Business Wire

“Trulioo announced it has joined Google’s Agent Payments Protocol (AP2) initiative to help securely initiate and transact agent-led payments across platforms. This move deepens Trulioo’s collaboration with Google, which leverages the Trulioo Global Identity Platform for Know Your Customer (KYC) verification across its payments organization, including fraud prevention and abuse mitigation.”

International Takedown of Cryptocurrency Fraud Network Laundering Over Eur 700 Million

Europol

“The final actions in a sweeping international operation have successfully dismantled a large-scale cryptocurrency fraud and money laundering network that had laundered over EUR 700 million. Coordinated across multiple jurisdictions, these actions, carried out last month and earlier this week, mark the culmination of years of investigation and the effective disruption of a criminal operation […]

Circle Collaborates with Pismo and Visa to Launch Vietnam’s First AI-Powered PayLater Card

Visa

“Visa and Pismo today jointly announced a strategic collaboration with Circle Asia Technologies, a pioneering credit-led neobank in Southeast Asia, to unlock credit for millions in Vietnam. This will enable Circle to launch the nation’s first truly AI-powered PayLater card aiming to set new standards for transparency, personalization, and user experience in the financial industry. Scheduled for […]

December 3, 2025

Episode 282 - Why You Need a Stablecoin Strategy, with Ran Goldi, Fireblocks

In this episode, Yvette Bohanan welcomes back Ran ‘Goldi' Goldshtein, Senior VP of Payments and Networks at Fireblocks to provide his perspective on the evolution of the digital currency space. Tune in as they break down a stablecoin transaction, discuss the current state and adoption of blockchain technology, and review various use cases for stablecoins. They define terms like TradFi, Defi, and smart contracts, and explore the impact of tokenized deposits and AI on the digital currency landscape.

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