Square, the acquiring arm of Block Inc., is the latest to launch a dedicated kiosk for quick-service restaurants. Announced Tuesday, Square Kiosk combines hardware and software to enable self-ordering and payment. Available later this summer for all Square for Restaurants merchants, Square Kiosk accepts multiple payment methods including contactless and …
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Shrugging off Volatility, Crypto Enthusiasts Hike First Quarter Spending by 20%
When cryptocurrency prices rise, spending may dip, but only for a short time before users accelerate their purchases with Bitcoin and other digital coins, according to a report released Thursday by BitPay Inc., an Atlanta-based payments-service provider for crypto users and crypto-accepting merchants. The ”2024 BitPay Spending Report,” which covers …
Read More »Sezzle Launches a BNPL Loyalty Program to Encourage Timely Payments
Buy now, pay later platform Sezzle Inc. has launched a loyalty program that rewards users for paying on time. The new offering, called Payment Streaks, is part of Sezzle’s free Loyalty Tiers program. The idea is that, with each on-time payment, Sezzle users begin a payment streak that moves them …
Read More »Mastercard Revenue up 10% and other Digital Transactions News briefs from 5/1/24
Mastercard Inc. reported $6.3 billion in first-quarter revenue, a 10.5% increase from $5.7 billion in the 2023 first quarter. It posted a quarterly net income of $3 billion, up 25% from $2.4 billion a year prior. Executives noted strong consumer spending, cross-border payments volume growth, and new deals across its regions …
Read More »Behind a Card Industry Group’s Strategy to Stop the CCCA
A trade group representing card networks and issuers is taking aim at restaurant surcharges and price increases by large grocers as part of its efforts to defeat the Credit Card Competition Act. The Electronic Payments Coalition earlier this spring fired its first salvo in its new campaign against the CCCA. …
Read More »Super Apps, Embedded Finance, And the Future of Payments
For Payfacs and ISVs, the all-in-one platform is becoming essential for survival. You don’t need me to tell you the world is changing rapidly. The expectations held by consumers and businesses are skyrocketing, and the race to meet those expectations will bring us to a whole new level of service …
Read More »Security Notes: AI, Privacy, and the End of Credit Cards—Again
The initial penetration was slow. The original Diner’s Club credit card of 1949 was too different to quickly catch on. But it had a compelling message, as the historic burden of trusting the customer was shifted away from the merchant, a service for which the merchant was willing to pay. …
Read More »16th Annual Field Guide to Innovative Payments
It’s May, and that means it’s time for our annual exercise to seek out and describe the payments players, apart from the big networks, that are rewriting the rules for the digital exchange of value. Capital One Financial Corp.’s bombshell announcement in February that it is offering to acquire Discover …
Read More »Is Generative AI More Friend Than Foe?
GenAI carries risks, some not yet well-known. But its potential to transform payments is too compelling to ignore. Generative AI has been described as a Gold Rush for businesses looking to cash in on the better user experiences and operating efficiencies it is said to create. It has also been …
Read More »Next, Please
Long enchanted with retail and restaurants, acquirers are ready for the next point-of-sale markets. The independent sales agent and acquirer model is successful because of its ability to competitively sell merchant services. The saturation of point-of-sale and online payment services within the retail and restaurant industries is a prime example …
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