The Race to Real-Time
by Patti Murphy on July 31, 2025 at 3:21 PM
RTP and FedNow both saw major gains in Q2. Payment volumes, values, and participation are up as the real-time rails race to modernize U.S. payments.
Big Moves in Payments
by Patti Murphy on July 24, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Lawmakers passed the GENIUS Act during “Crypto Week,” marking the first-ever U.S. regulatory framework for stablecoins. Meanwhile, Brazil’s popular Pix payment system is under scrutiny after the U.S. launched an investigation into potential bias against legacy card networks. PayPal de …
The Great Payments Shake-Up
by Patti Murphy on July 17, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Australia is proposing major reforms to card payments, including banning debit surcharges, lowering credit card interchange fees, and increasing fee transparency—all aimed at reducing costs for merchants. In the U.S., the Merchant Payments Coalition is pushing back against large bank …
Digital Dollars and Legal Drama
by Patti Murphy on July 11, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Next week is Crypto Week in Congress, with votes expected on stablecoin legislation and a bill to block CBDCs. Meanwhile, Apple, Visa, and Mastercard win in court, and the Treasury gets flooded with advice on how to finally ditch paper checks.
Swipe, Tap, or Token: The Changing Face of Payments
by Patti Murphy on July 3, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Visa and Mastercard are back in the spotlight as the U.K. Competition Appeal Tribunal rules their interchange fees violate competition law, adding fuel to a long-running legal saga. In the U.S., efforts to regulate credit card competition fell short—for now. Meanwhile, stablecoins are …
Fiserv Goes Crypto, POS Goes Cloud
by Patti Murphy on June 26, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Fiserv made several major announcements, including a partnership with Early Warning Services to offer the Paze digital wallet, the launch of a new stablecoin (FIUSD) in collaboration with Paxos and Circle, and new integrations with PayPal and Mastercard. Meanwhile, regulators like the …
From Crypto to Checkout
by Patti Murphy on June 19, 2025 at 4:44 PM
The Senate sets stablecoin rules with the GENIUS Act, Fiserv builds crypto rails, and Block brings bitcoin to the register—while the FTC cracks down on cross-border payment abuse.
Delay the Law and Hold the Fees
by Patti Murphy on June 12, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Illinois hits pause on a controversial interchange law. The Senate shelves the CCCA—for now. PayPal doubles down on physical cards. Mastercard launches a game-changing credential. Worldpay and Exodus unlock crypto-native checkouts. And how many merchants really accept Bitcoin? Depends …
The Price of Staying the Same
by Patti Murphy on May 29, 2025 at 5:07 PM
The European Commission is once again scrutinizing Visa and Mastercard’s fee structures, citing concerns over transparency and retailer choice. Meanwhile, U.S. banks are struggling to meet surging demand for instant payments, with legacy systems and existing apps like Zelle slowing pr …
Merchants Want Choice and Congress Is Listening
by Patti Murphy on May 22, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Lawmakers are moving to regulate credit card interchange by attaching the Credit Card Competition Act to a stablecoin bill, gaining strong bipartisan and industry support. Visa launches a new embedded payments program aimed at fintechs and commercial partners, starting with vehicle-ba …