Apple Expands Contactless Payments to Singapore
Apple has now brought its contactless payments platform to its 50th market, marking a major milestone in the company’s global push to turn the smartphone into a full-service point-of-sale terminal. Accepting payments on a phone has become a critical lifeline for small businesses and independent workers—from gig drivers to creators. Apple has long targeted this […]
Democratic Lawmakers Drill Down on BNPL Practices
As buy now, pay later services become more widely used, Democratic officials at both the federal and state levels are pushing for stronger oversight—filling the gap once covered by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Seven Democratic senators have sent letters to major BNPL providers, seeking detailed information on their lending practices and urging them to […]
Metal Card Magnitude: How a Premium Touch Can Enthrall High-Value Customers
In an industry dominated by plastic, metal cards stand out. Their distinctive look, feel, and even sound have drawn in an emerging customer base that sees them as powerful symbols of status and stability. While often associated with affluent consumers, metal cards represent more than just a luxury novelty. In a recent PaymentsJournal webinar, Amanda […]
Sony to Launch Stablecoin Aimed at U.S. Gaming Market
Through its banking arm, Sony plans to launch a U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin that could play a significant role in the company’s gaming and entertainment ecosystem. This launch represents one of the few direct USD stablecoin initiatives by a Japanese company and is being facilitated through a partnership with digital assets firm Bastion. The U.S.-based firm […]
Agentic AI Turned a Corner on Black Friday
A record-setting Black Friday was fueled by a sharp rise in consumers using agentic AI, which steered shoppers toward both sale items and higher-end products. According to Adobe Analytics, which tracks more than one trillion visits to U.S. retail websites, consumers spent $11.8 billion online on Black Friday, up from $10.8 billion in 2024. Between […]
How Nonprofits Can Leverage Digital Gift Cards to Help Those in Need
Too often, those most in need of assistance are the last to receive it—delays compounded by manual processes and outdated payment methods that many nonprofits still rely on. To modernize and speed up the delivery of aid, many organizations are turning to a simple yet powerful solution: gift cards. In particular, digital gift cards offer […]
FBI Warning Highlights New Account Takeover Scams
The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center has received more than 5,000 consumer complaints about account takeover (ATO) fraud already this year, totaling more than $250 million. The news came in an FBI warning about several new ATO scams consumers should be vigilant about. In ATO fraud, criminals usually gain unauthorized access to a targeted online […]
How Stored-Value Accounts Are the Next Iteration of Prepaid Payments
Consumers are loading account balances, whether to buy a cup of coffee or to purchase a toll pass. Although a gift card may be the traditional form factor of prepaid products, these stored-value accounts are essentially a gift card purchased for self-use. This concept is revolutionizing the prepaid industry. As Jordan Hirschfield, Director of Prepaid […]
What Generation Uses AI for Work-Related Tasks?
Artificial intelligence is changing how people work, but its adoption is not the same across every age group. Some generations are already folding AI and agentic tools into their daily routines, while others are only beginning to explore what these systems can do. Don’t miss another episode of Truth In Data! Click on the red […]
Once a Crypto Skeptic, Klarna Announces Its Own Stablecoin
As the race to compete in cross-border payments increasingly shifts toward stablecoins, Klarna has announced its own version, the KlarnaUSD. Despite Klarna’s CEO previously saying the company would be the last major fintech to enter crypto, it appears Klarna felt it had little choice if it wanted to keep pace with competitors in the cross-border […]