David Heun

As cryptocurrency global payment options expand, Ripple wants to assure it stays at the forefront with its XRP token through the creation of a developer platform for third parties that will fuel new products using XRP.

Some bank customers would consider switching banks for the status of having a metal card in their wallet. Others are willing to compromise by converting their cards to metal on their own.

The use of data-rich messaging through the ISO 20022 standard has been at the core of nearly every Federal Reserve discussion about faster payments, as well as Swift's plans for its member banks.

Digital financial services provider Revolut is expanding a partnership with Visa that will allow it to nearly double its global footprint by adding 24 new markets, including the U.S.

Users of digital trading platform BitAsset in Asia will have the option to use Dash digital currency for near-instant transactions when trading crypto currencies or dealing with exchange-traded funds.

Emphasizing its expansion into multi-channel payments, Credorax is partnering with mobile point of sale developer BBPOS to provide mobile POS solutions for independent software vendors and sales organizations across Europe.

The race against high-tech fraudsters has always motivated the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council, but for too long the council's process for establishing new standards wasn't looking ahead to the next threat.

The Federal Reserve Banks put the brakes on their planned migration of the ISO 20022 messaging standard, delaying a three-phased migration established in 2017 that targeted November 2020 as the start of that process.

Two months after a successful test to connect banks using the Global Payments Innovation service to faster payments rails in Singapore, Swift is launching a new service to connect with other domestic real-time payments systems.

Boosted by companies like Klarna, Affirm and Splitit, payment installment plans have become a popular alternative to credit card debt for consumers — and business transactions are the next target.

Revel noticed its point-of-sale customers were similar to most consumers who don't take advantage of the vast capabilities of their computers or smartphones, or don't even realize what tools exist.

Selling to international markets is the name of the game for online merchants, which face a threat to their relevance if they can't match the distinct transaction preferences of individual markets.

Retailers have raised the bar in how they attract customers through rewards and loyalty programs, but not all are well-versed in how their technology also lures fraudsters.

To accommodate Asian tourists, Banco Santander has launched JCB merchant acquiring operations in Spain after obtaining a license with JCB International, the international operations unit of the Japanese global payment brand.

Even though security vendors and payments providers are telling merchants they are ready to provide compliance for PSD2 on Sept. 14, a significant challenge remains in the learning curve and technology needs for merchants.

Mastercard and blockchain software provider R3 plan to test a new blockchain-enabled cross-border payments service to connect global faster payments rails supported by a Mastercard-operated clearing and settlement network.

Brazilian payments provider Ebanx is working with Alibaba Group to test a retail store that combines physical and virtual showcases to allow consumers to obtain Chinese technology products.

The equation is no mystery to those in payments or financial services: Expand your digital footprint, and you expand the opportunities for hackers to damage your network.

Dwolla is quickly adding to its product line by arranging for clients to connect directly to the payment company's third party collaborators.

Many in the payments industry insist that cash is becoming less important — but that doesn't mean it will ever go away.