Citing little enthusiasm by either consumers or merchants for contactless card payments, JPMorgan Chase & Co. has quietly begun informing cardholders that it is discontinuing its blink contactless program. While at first glance blink’s demise seems like a setback for chip-based card payments in the United States, it is unlikely …

The private operator of Chicago’s 36,000 parking meters announced Tuesday that drivers will be able to pay with mobile phones at all of the city’s metered street spaces later this summer. The expansion reportedly makes Chicago the biggest market for mobile parking payments in the country and comes just three …

Kevin Woodward Online gambling, now legal in only three states, could produce a big payoff for payments companies. Payment companies hoping to hit the jackpot by providing services for online gambling in the United States will want some patience, education, and a bit of luck. Just three states—Delaware, New Jersey, …

Our Guide spotlights how mobile payments and digital currency drive payments innovation. by John Stewart, Jim Daly, and Kevin Woodward Alternative payment schemes are becoming almost too numerous to count. A few months back, one payments-industry veteran listed all the mobile wallets he knew of and came up with about …

  Selling merchants solely on the price and availability of a diverse set of payment processing methods won’t be enough in the next year or so as merchants increasingly turn to those who can help them grow their businesses. That’s the message proponents of mobile marketing and advertising services are …

Online Alternatives Go Mainstream With millions of people now using PayPal, Amazon Payments, Google Wallet, and other so-called online alternative payments, observers are starting to say that the term is rapidly becoming outmoded. In a February report, Javelin Strategy & Research says eight in 10 online shoppers used an online …

Jim Daly Despite the growing acceptance of pot in some states, the legal marijuana industry has a tough time getting payment-card processing and other banking services. When, if ever, will the smoke clear? Could a multibillion-dollar new merchant market be going up in smoke because of a conflict between state …

Kevin Woodward Small-business owners want new technology that helps them grow their businesses. But they also want a sympathetic ear and a ready smile. How merchant sales has changed—and hasn’t changed. The small-business owner has been the bread-and-butter client for many independent sales organizations and acquirers, but in the midst …

Lon A. Berk Counting on cyber-insurance to cover fraud loss could be a big mistake if the policy excludes man-in-the-middle attacks or other common scenarios. You are in charge of finances for a small business and are on vacation at the beach. Suddenly, you remember you have forgotten to pay …

Though it has attracted fervent enthusiasts, Bitcoin in the end offers less than meets the eye, says Eric Grover. For an electronic-payment system, the lack of central accountability is a flaw, not a feature. Eric Grover is principal at Intrepid Ventures, Minden, Nev. Reach him at eric.grover@intrepidventures.com. Bitcoin mania is …