Barclays Takes Stake in U.S. Stablecoin Settlement Platform Ubyx
As more financial institutions expand into digital assets, UK banking giant Barclays has invested in newly launched Ubyx, a platform that facilitates the transfer of stablecoins and tokenized deposits. Although the size of the investment was not disclosed, Barclays said it marked the bank’s first investment in a stablecoin company. However, it was not the […]
CFPB: U.S. Credit Cards are Prosperous and Strong
The CFPB remains in flux, but it met its requirement to report on the credit card industry. Although the report is typically produced mid-year for the prior year, the requirement was met when it was published on December 30, 2025. The report is full of relevant industry metrics that indicate the business is operating effectively. […]
Retailers Fight Back Against Amazon’s AI Shopping Program
Online retailers are pushing back after Amazon’s Shop Direct agentic AI program trained its bots on their websites without permission. In addition to not being asked to participate, some retailers claim that Shop Direct directs customers to products they don’t even stock. Businesses have been posting about the issue on social media, fueling a wider […]
Is There a Future for Unattended Retail?
Imagine you’ve wrapped up a long, fun-filled weekend in Las Vegas and are now at the airport heading home. You’re tired, cranky—maybe a little hungover—and all you want is a snack and a drink for the flight. The last thing you feel like doing is interacting with anyone. Then you spot a Hudson News with […]