Daniel Wolfe

Even before PayPal and eBay split, their relationship wasn't perfect. PayPal may have seemed like a service that was destined to fuel sales for eBay in the early days of e-commerce, but even after the companies merged they found occasional reasons for conflict.

The Olympics draw together fans from around the globe to cheer on their fellow citizens, and having such a diverse group of people in one spot can inspire companies to experiment with cutting-edge technologies.

Even today, as mobile and e-commerce payment options flood the market, few companies are willing to do away with cash acceptance. But a handful of brands have launched cashless locations, taking a bold step into a future where cash is no longer king.

Retailers used to be able to hold onto their physical presence as a differentiator against Amazon. In the past year, Amazon has taken even that advantage away.

Sometimes an idea is ahead of its time. Many of the most ambitious products in fintech were dismissed as absurd or overambitious at the time — only to feel perfectly normal years later as culture and consumer habits evolved.

Sometimes an idea is ahead of its time. Many of the most ambitious products in payments and fintech were dismissed as absurd or over-ambitious at the time — only to feel perfectly normal years later as culture and consumer habits evolved.

Mobile wallets blend together, going so far as to share the same branding pattern — Apple Pay, Android Pay, Samsung Pay, Walmart Pay, etc. — but a few companies are going against conventional wisdom with their own products.

Most retailers still don't want to accept bitcoin, but that doesn't mean they want to be left out of the cryptocurrency craze.

The information you need to start your day, from PaymentsSource and around the Web. Today: Forever 21 suffers a breach; Bitcoin for ransom; IRS gets a tech upgrade; NCR tests outdoor gas station EMV.

With so much uncertainty, the only thing that's clear is how different the sector may look a year from now. Here's an overview of the leading trends in technology that will impact payments and banking in 2018.