Digital versions are steadily increasing their share of the gift card market. Could they breathe new life into mobile wallets? If the standard knock on gift cards is that they’re too easy, too quick, too thoughtless with respect to the recipient, then the same could go double for digital cards. …

Experts are just about unanimous in arguing the password must be replaced for digital authentication. But with what? Here are some considerations payments executives might ponder. Commerce and banking are increasingly digital. E-commerce is growing 10% to as much as 40% in many markets, while brick-and-mortar growth is in the …

It’s been a busy year on the M&A front for merchant acquirers. What’s driving the deals, and what’s ahead in 2018? The year is coming to a close with nearly $14 billion in mergers and acquisitions either announced or completed in the merchant-acquiring industry. The number of deals could easily …

PayPal Holdings Inc. has restored some service in its TIO Networks bill-pay operation but pressing questions remain about the security vulnerability that spurred PayPal to shut down the service and about how TIO’s problems will affect PayPal chief executive Dan Schulman’s strategy to serve the underbanked population. The incident also …

Much as cryptocurrency skeptics would like to set aside Bitcoin, the currency keeps intruding into the payments world. On Wednesday, Bitcoin began trading above $11,000, only a day after it sailed past the $10,000 mark and just three days after pushing past $9,000. But Bitcoin bullishness isn’t helping Square Inc. …

Processor Jack Henry & Associates Inc. announced late Tuesday that it has a deal to acquire Ensenta Corp., a Redwood Shores, Calif.-based provider of remote deposit capture and payment and risk-control services. Founded in 2001, Ensenta provides more than 1,100 financial institutions and government agencies with software-as-a-service products distributed via …

The consumer shift to online shopping on Thanksgiving and the following Friday, known as Black Friday, continues to increase, now accounting for 29% of shopping on these two days compared with 25% a year ago, finds research from First Data Corp. Based on data from transactions at 1.1 million brick-and-mortar …

As 2017 heads toward a close, merger-and-acquisition activity in the merchant-acquiring space is on track to equal or exceed 2016’s number of deals, and buyers are paying more as the pool of quality acquisition targets shrinks. Annapolis, Md.-based First Annapolis Consulting Inc. tells Digital Transactions magazine for its upcoming December issue …

Despite all the talk about mobile payments, online payments, cryptocurrencies, and EMV chip cards, the alternatives to cash still haven’t killed their sworn enemy. In fact, between 2006 and 2016, the growth of currency in circulation matched or exceeded growth in gross domestic product in 40 of 42 nations examined …

Bitcoin keeps rising to new heights, though in fits and starts. The world’s leading cryptocurrency leapt to yet another record high on Sunday to breach the $8,000 level for the first time, sank several hundred dollars on Monday, then sprang back overnight. By Tuesday morning, it was trading above $8,300, …