Is Visa’s Stablecoin Gambit a Tipping Point for Cross-Border Payments?
Many financial entities have entered the stablecoin arena in recent years, but Visa’s exploration of digital assets for cross-border payments could be a game changer. It marks the first adoption of a stablecoin by a major payment rail that already processes the lion’s share of international transactions. While this is an important step forward, stablecoins […]
Walmart’s OnePay Adds Crypto Trading to Its Burgeoning Resume
OnePay has made significant enhancements to its services since Walmart took a majority stake in the company, and now the fintech is expanding further by adding crypto trading to its platform. According to CNBC, OnePay customers will be able to trade bitcoin and ether as early as this year through a partnership with crypto firm […]
Market Changes and FICO Scores
Credit cards are better than cash. You can spend more than you have and set all your repayment terms, as long as they are more than 3% per month. They can also be used virtually anywhere. Their ubiquity comes from the technologies behind them and their widespread acceptance. Since the late 1950s, companies operating behind […]
The Continued Tokenization of Real-World Assets Is Inevitable, Says Robinhood CEO
Tokenization has gained increasing traction in the financial services industry in recent years, but Vlad Tenev, CEO of Robinhood, believes this is just the tip of the iceberg. Speaking at a crypto conference in Singapore, Tenev described tokenization as a “freight train” that will “eat the entire financial system.” He highlighted several forces driving this […]
In the Exit Row: Barclays Leaves Two Airline Cards, Shifts Focus to GM
Barclays is exiting its cobranded airline credit card partnerships with both American Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. Citibank, which has been American’s primary card issuer for nearly four decades, is taking over the entirety of that business, while Hawaiian’s portfolio is being integrated into Alaska Airlines’ unified Atmos Rewards program. These shifts leave Barclays with only […]
Why Affirm’s Pay-Over-Time Plans Make Sense for Ace Hardware
Ace Hardware’s new partnership with Affirm, which offers pay-over-time options at the point of sale, gives the retailer another way to show its advantages over big-box stores. As a cooperative, with most of its locations independently owned and operated, Ace has already worked to ensure shoppers enjoy consistent payment options. Now, it can provide Affirm […]
Mobile Wallets Are Shaping the UK Payments Landscape
Contactless payments have become the norm in the UK, with data showing that more than half of adults now use mobile wallets. A study from UK Finance found mobile wallet usage for both online and in-store purchases has increased, with roughly 57% of UK adults using them last year—up from 42% in 2023. Mobile wallets […]
The Invisible Checkout: Embedded Payments Transform Small Business
Almost without notice, disappearing payments have shifted from novelty to expectation in small business transactions. A traveler arrives at an airport, books a rideshare, and checks into a hotel—never pulling out a wallet or handing over a card. The transaction happens seamlessly, almost invisibly. The same technology fueling consumer-facing apps is now within reach for […]
As Paper Checks Sunset, Fifth Third Bank Scales Up Prepaid Program
Today marks the official end of paper checks for federal benefit payments. As Social Security and the IRS fully transition to direct deposit and prepaid cards, Fifth Third Bank is already capitalizing on the shift. Just three weeks ago, Fifth Third took over the Treasury Department’s Direct Express program, which had previously been managed by […]
OpenAI and Stripe Launch Agentic Commerce Initiatives
Artificial intelligence has become embedded in the shopping experience, and new collaborations between OpenAI and Stripe are expanding the technology’s role in payments. First, ChatGPT’s U.S. users can now make Etsy and Shopify purchases directly on the platform. For example, once a shopper engages with the AI interface to explore a product and refine their […]