Cryptocurrency platform Wirex has become the first such entity to obtain a principal membership in the Mastercard network. The move comes as Mastercard Inc. announced an expansion of its cryptocurrency program, which aims to make it easier for crypto card companies to market their products. Wirex also announced recently it has hired long-time …
Read More »COMMENTARY: How Their Open-Banking Buys Could Propel Mastercard And Visa
The global retail-payment networks Mastercard and Visa are on a tear, acquiring and investing in adjacent payment-opportunity space in networks that can leverage and reinforce their existing franchises. Their traditional payment schemes are dominant worldwide and near indestructible. While for the foreseeable future they could grow on autopilot, to their …
Read More »COMMENTARY: Covid-19 Changed Demand for Cashless Payments. Are Small Businesses Ready?
The month of June gave Google Pay an extended moment. Early in the month, the tech press started circulating rumors that Google planned to add merchant buttons inside the app. This feature would allow both digital and brick-and-mortar businesses to accept customer payments within Google Pay. But users in India …
Read More »U.S. Bancorp’s Merchant Revenues Plunge and other Digital Transactions News briefs from 7/15/20
U.S. Bancorp, owner of merchant acquirer Elavon Inc., saw merchant-processing revenues decline 34% year-over-year in the second quarter to $266 million thanks to reduced consumer and business volumes caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.Processor Shift4 Payments Inc. has been named the official credit card processing company for the Las Vegas Raiders National Football …
Read More »COMMENTARY: How 3-D Secure 2.0 Will Change the Payments Industry
With the massive increase in e-commerce this year, and new merchants moving to an online model out of necessity, combating card-not-present fraud is incredibly important. EMV 3-D Secure 1.0 (or 3DS1) has been continually upgraded as technology and consumer habits changed; however, from its first iteration it has always had …
Read More »Visa’s Installment-Payment Test and other Digital Transactions News briefs from 7/14/20
Visa Inc. announced it is working on U.S. pilots for a new installment-payment service. TSYS, part of Global Payments Inc., will be the first issuer technology partner, with Commerce Bank as the first U.S. bank partner. 42nd Street Photos, Tire Agent, and The Room Place are among the first merchants to offer …
Read More »Contactless Transactions at Small Businesses Have More Than Doubled Since March
New data from a point-of-sale services provider show just how much of a boost the Covid-19 pandemic has given to contactless payments. New York City-based CardFlight Inc., a technology company serving more than 60,000 small businesses through its SwipeSimple service, says in its latest weekly report on payment trends since …
Read More »Report: Apple Testing QR Codes With Apple Pay
Apple Inc., whose Apple Pay is the leading mobile-payment service based on near field communication technology, reportedly is testing Quick Response codes as an alternative technology with Apple Pay. That development was first reported Tuesday by the 9 to 5 Mac blog, which said a second beta version of the …
Read More »The Big Four Networks Start Prepping Click to Pay for a Global Expansion
With consumers shopping online in greater numbers, the four major card networks are preparing to take their new single-click checkout technology international. American Express Co., Discover Financial Services, Mastercard Inc., and Visa Inc. said in a joint announcement Wednesday they are “beginning technical preparations” to launch the technology, Click to …
Read More »Discover’s Saudi Deal and other Digital Transactions News briefs from 7/8/20
Discover Financial Services announced an agreement with the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority’s Saudi Payments unit that calls for acceptance of Discover, Diners Club International, and Pulse cards on Saudi Payments’ mada network. The deal includes acceptance on point-of-sale terminals, e-commerce platforms, and at ATMs.Fareportal, the technology platform for travel brands CheapOair …
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