How Layer 1 Networks Could Transform Stablecoin Transactions
The new Layer 1 networks being rolled out by organizations like Stripe and Circle are the first blockchain networks that settle natively on stablecoins rather than cryptocurrencies like bitcoin or ether. They remove the need for entities to hold a volatile token to pay for blockchain transfers, and this could have a huge impact on […]
Visa Aims to Safeguard Agentic Commerce Transactions
As artificial intelligence plays a growing role in purchasing decisions, Visa is launching its Trusted Agent protocol to give merchants more visibility into the process. In the emerging agentic commerce environment, merchants will need the ability to screen AI agents and filter out bots and bad actors. Visa’s platform was developed to enable exactly that—using […]
Merchants Look to Monetize Payments Amid Rising Costs
In a challenging economic climate, more merchants are turning to their payments providers for guidance on how to better monetize their payment operations. Many are also exploring ways to lower costs by encouraging customers to use cash or debit cards instead of credit. Nearly half of the merchants surveyed by Wind River report that their […]
Making Cross-Border Payments Work at Smaller FIs—as Originating Institutions or Correspondent Banks
For decades, typically large regional or money center banks served as correspondent banks that enabled smaller banks to offer cross-border payments. It was rare for credit unions, community banks, and other smaller financial institutions to offer cross-border payments. And if they did, it was a money-losing proposition, offered out of necessity to prevent their customers […]
Nevada Tightens Rules Around BNPL
As buy now, pay later services grow in popularity, more states are updating their laws to address this emerging financial offering. A new law taking effect this month in Nevada makes it easier for BNPL firms to operate locally, while also giving regulators stronger oversight of these loans. Passed by lawmakers and signed by the […]
Visa and Mastercard Resolve Longstanding Dispute with Merchants
After nearly a decade, Visa and Mastercard have agreed to pay merchants $199.5 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over chargebacks. Merchants filed suit after the companies changed the rules around chargebacks, which occur when payments are reversed following customer disputes. Retailers alleged that Visa and Mastercard violated antitrust laws by coordinating to alter the […]
Banking, Reimagined: The Role of ITMs
As more people choose to bank online, the role of the traditional branch has undergone a transformation. Once the go-to place for every financial need, the branch is now primarily a hub for more complex transactions that can’t be completed digitally or at an ATM. At the center of this evolution is the interactive teller […]
Germany Shuts Down Investment Fraud Network
Officials in Germany have shut down more than 1,400 illegal domains in Eastern Europe linked to cybertrading fraud, marking a potential dent in the fast-growing international problem. Dubbed Operation Heracles, the probe was led by Germany’s financial watchdog BaFin, alongside law enforcement agencies in Germany and Bulgaria. Users visiting the fraudulent websites were directed to […]
Klarna Leans Further Into Agentic Commerce
As the race to build the infrastructure for artificial intelligence agents heats up, Klarna has announced support for Google’s open-source Agent Payments Protocol (AP2), a neutral framework designed to connect merchants, consumers, and third-party platforms to enable agent-driven commerce. AP2 supports multiple payment types, including debit and credit cards, stablecoin transfers, and real-time payments. However, […]
How Emerging Technologies Are Powering the Modern Payments Stack
For years, tech and payments leaders have called for financial institutions to modernize their core banking systems. However, the meteoric rate at which payment technologies have evolved has caused many financial institutions to struggle to identify the optimal components of a modern payment stack. In the Unpacking The Modern Payment Stack: What Matters Most […]