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A leading payments industry news source for more than 17 years. Glenbrook curates the news and keeps you abreast of the important daily headlines in payments.
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July 21, 2026
On the web
Adyen Index 2026: Australian Retailers Race Ahead on AI, but Consumer Trust Lags at Checkout
Adyen
"The Adyen Index 2026 Australia Retail Report reveals retailers are increasingly focused on automation and AI-enabled shopping experiences, with 95% of retailers now familiar with agentic commerce. However, consumer trust has not kept pace: nearly two‑thirds (64%) of Australians say they feel uncomfortable allowing AI to complete a purchase on their behalf."
European Central Bank Moves Digital Euro Project Into Next Legislative Phase
Digital Watch Observatory
"Speaking in Rome, ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone said the digital euro could be introduced in 2029 if the legislative process is completed by the end of 2026. He said the project is intended to complement cash, strengthen Europe’s payments infrastructure and preserve the role of banks in the digital payments ecosystem."
Brazil and US Clash Over Future of Payments as Popular Pix System Stirs Global Interest
MarketScreener
"Brazil's Pix, one of the world's most successful instant-payment systems, has become a flashpoint between Brasília and Washington as the Trump administration aims to protect U.S. firms from the model's growing appeal in dozens of countries. Mastercard and Visa have both warned investors in their securities filings that networks such as Pix could challenge their business"
Expensify Expands Collaboration with Marqeta to Bring its Card Offering into Europe
Marqeta, Inc.
"Building on their long-term relationship in the US, Expensify has leveraged Marqeta’s card issuing platform to bring its expense management card offering to the UK and EU. Expensify customers in Europe can now access the same spend management capabilities that have allowed for the rapid growth of its card offering in the US. Marqeta’s comprehensive platform provides the multinational card issuing capabilities that enable customers to scale their card programs with a single integration."
On the wires
Ant International Raises Approx. US $1.2 Billion in Series a Equity Financing to Boost Cross-Border Payments, Agentic Commerce Solutions for Global Businesses
Business Wire
"Ant International announced the successful closing of its Series A equity financing of approximately US$1.2 billion. Existing investors including Ant Group and Alibaba Group participated in this round, as well as other renowned international investment institutions. The proceeds will be used to accelerate Ant International’s global expansion and innovation in merchant payment, account management and other inclusive financial services for SMEs and enterprises across the world."
July 20, 2026
On the web
Amazon Japan Supplier AZ-Com Maruwa to Adopt Yen Stablecoin JPYC for Payments
CoinDesk
"The Japanese logistics firm plans to pay 2,300 partners, including truck drivers, using JPYC in Japan’s first large-scale corporate stablecoin rollout. Maruwa's aims to facilitate faster cash flow to drivers and small carriers amid Japan's labor shortages, an aging workforce and stricter overtime regulations, Nikkei Asia said. The company hopes that near-instant and free conversions to yen via stablecoins will make contracting work more attractive."
India, Spain Advance UPI-Bizum Payment Talks
GK Today
"India and Spain agreed to advance technical discussions on interoperability between the Unified Payments Interface and Bizum. The proposed UPI-Bizum linkage is intended to support cross-border digital transactions for travellers and businesses and to improve financial connectivity between India and Spain."
How PayPal Went from Wall Street Favorite to Unwilling Merger Target
Forth
"Five years ago PayPal was a Wall Street favorite and a leader in digital payments. Owen Lau, an analyst at financial services firm Clear Street, said PayPal prioritized winning market share by pricing aggressively, but failed to charge enough to generate attractive returns. Lau added that growth has slowed across key parts of the business, including Venmo, while newer products such as buy now, pay later have not panned out. PayPal’s user base has plateaued, he said, making growth a secondary concern to boosting profits from existing customers."
The Target Is Pix: Why the US Is Imposing Unprecedented Tariffs Over Brazil’s Free Payment System
Bitcoin News
"The U.S. imposed a 25% tariff on over $11 billion in Brazilian exports to counter unfair trade practices. The USTR claimed Brazil’s fee-free Pix system unfairly disadvantages American credit card operators. This unprecedented tariff marks the first penalty against a sovereign payment network to defend the dollar."
Visa Stablecoin Platform Adds OUSD for Institutional Clients
Crypto Daily
"Visa just put more weight behind stablecoins — and it’s not a minor tweak. The company rolled out a Stablecoin Platform built for institutions and said it’s starting with Open USD, or OUSD. It’s early. The platform is in beta with selected clients, and OUSD itself is slated to launch later in 2026. But the direction of travel is obvious: bring stablecoin plumbing up to the standard of card networks and treasury systems, then invite traditional players to try real payment flows without stepping into DeFi unassisted."
Amazon Business Adds Affirm as Its First Buy Now, Pay Later Option at Checkout
Amazon News
"Amazon and Affirm announced an expanded partnership that makes Affirm the first pay-over-time option available at checkout on Amazon Business, a business-to-business (B2B) store that helps businesses of all sizes digitize and automate procurement with powerful management controls and analytic tools—all within the familiar experience of Amazon. Now, these Amazon Business customers can split the total cost of eligible purchases and pay over time with Affirm without late or hidden fees."
US Regulators Miss Genius Act’s One-Year Deadline for Final Stablecoin Rules
The Block
"The Treasury Department and the four primary federal stablecoin regulators reached the GENIUS Act’s July 18 rulemaking deadline without a final set of implementing regulations. Several proposals remain unfinished: comments on a joint customer identification rule are open until Aug. 21, an FDIC anti-money laundering proposal remains open until Aug. 4. The delay does not postpone the law’s Jan. 18, 2027 effective date, leaving regulators and prospective stablecoin issuers with a compressed implementation window."
July 17, 2026
On the web
BBVA, the First Spanish Bank to Launch Swift’s New Global Retail Payments Scheme
BBVA
"The new scheme marks a step forward in the modernisation of cross-border payments. For customers, this new model delivers an experience that is increasingly similar to that of an instant domestic payment. Funds can be credited to beneficiaries’ accounts in Spain for the full amount within approximately 25 seconds, at any time of the day, every day of the year. In addition, the payer knows in advance the cost of the transaction, the exchange rate and the estimated time for the funds to be credited."
Click to Cancel Law and What It Means in Connecticut [Video]
NBC Connecticut
Find it annoying trying to cancel subscriptions? A new law that went into effect in Connecticut is trying to help.
Fifth Conference on the International Roles of the U.S. Dollar: Stablecoins, Digital Payments, and the International Role of the U.S. Dollar
The Federal Reserve
"On June 22 and 23, 2026, the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York jointly hosted the fifth installment of the International Roles of the U.S. Dollar Conference. Building on previous conferences that examined the dollar's resilience amid geopolitical change, safe-asset demand, and evolving payment systems, this year's event centered on the implications of financial innovation, especially digital assets and stablecoins."
Delaware Enacts Banking, Money Transmission, and Stablecoin Modernization Package
Sheppard
"On July 6, 2026, Delaware Governor Matt Meyer signed three bills modernizing the state’s regulation of banks, money transmitters, virtual currency businesses, and payment stablecoin issuers. upon signing, although several provisions require implementing regulations. The legislation creates three complementary regulatory frameworks. Specifically, the package: Modernizes Delaware’s banking laws. Expands money transmission oversight. Regulates payment stablecoin issuers. Protects customer assets."
PhonePe, Paytm or Google Pay? Which Payment App Is Used Most in India? Data Will Shock You
News24
"India’s UPI market continues to expand at a rapid pace. This has made digital payments a part of everyday life from small tea stalls to large shopping malls. Latest data released by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) shows which UPI apps dominate the market by transaction volume. The figures reveal that PhonePe remains the market leader, followed by Google Pay and Paytm. At the same time, NPCI is also considering bringing back Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) for certain UPI transactions involving large businesses, although ordinary users and small merchants are unlikely to be affected."
FIS and Anthropic Extend Partnership on Trusted AI for Financial Services
FIS Global
"FIS® is using Mythos 5 through Project Glasswing, Anthropic’s controlled-access initiative that applies frontier AI to help strengthen the security of software supporting critical infrastructure, to secure its own systems. Through Project Glasswing, FIS is putting Mythos 5, Anthropic’s most advanced frontier model, to work as an additional layer within its security program."
Ant International’s Alipay+ Connects Argentina's National QR Payment Scheme via PVS, Enabling Cross-Border Payments at Millions of Merchants
Yahoo Finance
Alipay+ announced that it will enable global travellers to make QR code payments at millions of merchants across Argentina through integration with the country's national QR payment scheme Transferencias 3.0, in partnership with PVS, a fintech company specialized in developing customized payment solutions in Latin America.
Education: Automated Clearing House Payments
The Federal Reserve History
"Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments were first established in the 1970s by the Federal Reserve System and the banking industry. Up to that point, cash and checks had been the principal methods for retail payments in the United States. ACH payments, which are initiated electronically, were envisioned as a more-efficient payment method. At first, ACH payment volumes were relatively low, and the Fed processed far more ACH payments than private-sector ACH operators."
July 16, 2026
Top Post
Ushering in a New Era of Digital Wallet Innovation [Mastercard Wallet Services]
Mastercard
"Apple's decision to open device access is now creating more room for mobile payment choice and innovation. Mastercard is introducing Mastercard Wallet Services, a set of software tools and services that simplifies the creation of wallet capabilities on both iOS and Android. Mastercard Wallet Services is a solution including a Secure Element applet and software developer kits that enable contactless payments for Android and iOS environments. Partners can build contactless capabilities across platforms without managing separate integrations."
Visa Introduces Platform for Stablecoin Minting, Movement and Management
VIsa
"Visa announced the Visa Stablecoin Platform (VSP), an enterprise platform designed to help financial institutions, fintechs, and crypto natives access stablecoin capabilities through a single Visa-managed environment. VSP gives FIs, fintechs and other payment providers a simple way to access, store, and redeem stablecoins, beginning with Open USD (OUSD), a stablecoin introduced by Open Standard. This includes onchain wallet infrastructure through a newly introduced Wallet-as-a-Service offering and connectivity for minting and burning Open USD."
On the web
Are U.S. Consumers Ready to Use Pay-by-Bank at the Point of Sale?
The Federal Reserve
"Pay-by-Bank, a direct transfer from individuals’ bank accounts to merchants’, is gaining popularity as a point-of-sale payment method in countries around the world. Although Pay-by-Bank has yet to become available at points of sale in the United States, data suggest that U.S. consumers are increasingly ready to use this method."
Volvo Group Tests Its Own Cryptocurrency for Supplier Payments
Crypto News
"Volvo Group tested a proprietary cryptocurrency to simplify supplier transactions inside a closed blockchain network. The project remains exploratory, with no timeline announced for full deployment across Volvo’s global operations. Blockchain could support supplier payments, product traceability and compliance records without relying on separate databases."
WOCCU Releases New White Paper on Stablecoins and the Future of Cooperative Finance
World Council of Credit Unions
"World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) has released a new white paper examining how stablecoins are reshaping the financial infrastructure that credit unions and other cooperative financial institutions rely on to serve their members. The white paper, How Digital Money Is Impacting Credit Unions, Part 1: Focus on Stablecoins, is the first in a planned three-part series exploring how emerging forms of digital money are affecting the global credit union movement."
EthSwitch and SWIFT Partner to Revolutionize Ethiopia’s Cross-Border Instant Payments
FF News
"EthSwitch and SWIFT are collaborating to advance cross-border instant payments in Ethiopia. This strategic dialogue aims to enhance international remittance speed and security, leveraging global financial connectivity to drive financial inclusion and modernize the digital payment infrastructure for Ethiopian businesses and consumers."
Inside Cash App Borrow: Expanding Access Through Responsible Lending
Block
"Borrow provides eligible customers with access to small-dollar loans directly within Cash App, offering a simple, transparent and fast way to access funds when they need them. Rather than relying on traditional credit scores, we consider signals from a customer's activity on Cash App when determining eligibility and make those factors transparent through Cash App Score, an in-app view that helps customers understand the behaviors that influence their Borrow eligibility."
Visa: Agentic Payments from the Ground Up
Visa
"Two open protocols went live over the past year to handle machine-native payments, and the report studies both. The first, x402, was incubated by Coinbase and Cloudflare, now stewarded by the Linux Foundation. Since launching in May 2025, it processed roughly $15.0 million in adjusted volume across 109.6 million transactions. The second, the Machine Payments Protocol (MPP), was built by Stripe and Tempo with contributions from Visa. In its first few weeks after launching in mid-March 2026, it settled about $25,000. The two tell very different stories."
Vought Calls for More CFPB Oversight, Says Open Banking Proposal Coming Soon
ABA Banking Journal
"The CFPB has been in legal fights over its implementation of Section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Act, the “open banking” rule that requires financial institutions to make a consumer’s financial information available to them or a third party at the consumer’s direction. Vought said the CFPB is “very close” to a proposed rule to replace its previous 1033 rule. The agency is timing the release of the proposal with possible Senate confirmation of [Brian] Johnson, he said."
On the wires
Visa Reimagines Visa Infinite for Asia Pacific's Modern Affluent
PR Newswire
"Visa unveiled a refreshed Visa Infinite in Asia Pacific, designed for the modern affluent and how they live, spend and travel today. The refresh introduces a more flexible and personalised offering, anchored in a three-tier card suite. Alongside Visa Infinite, the portfolio includes the two newly launched tiers of Visa Infinite Privilege and Visa Infinite Private, each tailored to distinct affluent segments within a unified premium offering."
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