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Episode 281 - Fanning the Flames - Unpacking the Latest Proposed Settlement of the Payment Card Interchange Litigation

In this episode, Bryan Derman, Russ Jones, and Chris Uriarte share their first-take analysis of last week’s proposed settlement of the long-running antitrust litigation between Visa/Mastercard and a group of merchants regarding Payment Card Interchange and Merchant Discounts. The discussion covers the basic parameters of the settlement proposal and then investigates some of the possible reactions by merchants, issuers, and networks were the settlement to be approved the by judge.

Companies

dLocal Joins Circle Payments Network to Power Stablecoin Payouts Across Emerging Markets

dLocal

“dLocal has integrated with Circle Payments Network operated by Circle Technology Services, LLC, an affiliate of Circle Internet Group, Inc., to enable seamless payouts across emerging markets. Powered by Circle’s payment stablecoins, USDC and EURC, CPN connects financial institutions to enable real-time settlement of cross-border payments.”

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Global

Brazil Eyes Taxing Crypto for Cross-Border Payments, Sources Say

Reuters

“Brazil is looking at taxing the use of cryptocurrencies for international payments, two officials with direct knowledge of the discussions told Reuters, closing a loophole in the country’s usual levy on foreign-exchange transactions. One of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity about the confidential talks, said the Finance Ministry is looking at expanding […]

Tags: Brazil

Companies

Alibaba Taps JPMorgan To Build Stablecoin-Like Payments System for Its $35B Commerce Network

Yahoo Finance

“Alibaba plans to launch a tokenized global payment network by December. The system uses a stablecoin-like model and is being developed with JPMorgan’s tokenization technology. The network is designed to streamline cross-border B2B payments using tokenized fiat and AI-powered smart contracts.”

Tags: Alibaba

Companies

UBS and Ant International Partner on Blockchain-Based Real-Time Cross-Border Payments Settlement and Liquidity Management

Business Wire

“UBS has entered a strategic partnership with Ant International to explore innovations in blockchain-based tokenised deposits to support Ant International’s global payments settlement and liquidity management. Both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at UBS’s flagship office in Singapore.”

Tags: Ant International

Industry

Stablecoins Surpass Bitcoin as Go‑To Cryptocurrency for Illicit Transactions

Bitget

“While stablecoins aim to keep their value steady by being tied to fiat currencies, their expanding presence in digital finance has made them central to the movement of funds within blockchain networks. They play a vital role in decentralized finance (DeFi), aid cross-border payments, and help sustain liquidity. Yet, as their circulation widens, these same […]

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Episode 279 - Fanning the Flames - Money 20/20 2025 Recap

Chris Uriarte and Drew Edmond are back from Money 20/20 and join Yvette Bohanan on this episode to provide their insights on the prevailing themes and standout announcements.  Tune in to also hear tips for navigating the conference and overall thoughts on the evolution of Money 20/20 and other industry events.

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Episode 278 - From Prefunding to Flow: Rethinking Global Settlement, with Mouloukou Sanoh, MANSA

In this episode, Yvette Bohanan and Ashley Lannquist welcome Mouloukou Sanoh, CEO and Co-Founder of MANSA, to explore liquidity challenges in cross-border payments, the transformative potential of stablecoins in emerging markets, and the strategic role of fintechs and banks in evolving global payment infrastructures.

Companies

Tencent Showcases Future of Finance at Hong Kong Fintech Week 2025

Tencent

“Tencent joined the 10th anniversary edition of the Hong Kong Fintech Week X StartMeUpHK Festival 2025, highlighting how technology is shaping the future of financial innovation. Tencent announced that it’s making payments simpler and more convenient for international travellers visiting the Chinese Mainland by expanding its cross-border payment support with Weixin Pay through the CPG […]

Tags: Tencent

Companies

Clear Junction Launches Multi-Currency Swift Service for Remittances Across Latin America, Asia-Pacific and EMEA

Clear Junction

“Cross-border payments provider Clear Junction has launched a multi-currency Swift service aimed at streamlining transactions for remittance companies across Latin America, Asia-Pacific and EMEA. The new service targets one of the industry’s long-standing pain points: achieving faster and more cost-effective last-mile payouts in destination markets.”

Tags: Clear Junction

Industry

Afriex and Visa Bring Real-Time Cross-Border Payments to 160+ Markets

TechAfrica News

“Afriex, a global fintech platform, announced a collaboration with Visa, a world leader in digital payments, to bring real-time cross-border payments to more than 160 markets. By integrating Visa Direct through Afriex’s financial institution partner, Afriex is making it faster and easier for individuals and businesses to send and receive funds across borders.”

Companies

Thunes and Ecobank Group To Power Africa's Instant Payments for the Next Billion Users

PR Newswire

“Thunes and Ecobank Group, the leading pan-African financial institution, announced a collaboration which will enable instant cross-border payments for millions of individuals and businesses across Sub-Saharan Africa. The partnership operationalizes the landmark memorandum of understanding signed between Ecobank and TransferTo, Thunes’ holding company, in 2024. That agreement envisioned a fundamental transformation of financial access and cross-border […]

Tags: Thunes

Companies

Visa Unveils Key Partnerships and World-class Payment Innovations at Global Fintech Fest, 2025

ptinews

“Visa unveiled a range of cutting-edge solutions at the recently concluded Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2025. Across the three days Visa made multiple announcements and product launches, highlighting their commitment to shaping the next chapter of digital payments in India, focusing on security, cross-border convenience, and the transformative potential of AI.”

Tags: Visa

Companies

Zelle® Goes International: Early Warning Expands $1T Payments Network with Stablecoin Initiative

Early Warning

“Early Warning Services, the network operator of Zelle®, announced a new initiative to enable Zelle to deliver faster and more reliable cross-border money movement. The effort marks an important step in expanding the reach of Zelle globally by leveraging stablecoins. Zelle is a preferred way of moving money to people they know and trust, designed to […]

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Industry

Future-Proofing the Architecture of Real-Time Payments

OMFIF

“Real-time payment systems are reshaping how value moves across economies, accelerating domestic commerce and transforming cross-border trade. Yet their rapid growth introduces new risks and infrastructure challenges, according to a new report from OMFIF, produced in partnership with Mastercard.”