John Adams

Bank of America has joined the likes of Walmart and Mastercard in seeking patents for blockchain technology that could be used for a digital currency or mobile wallet.

Banks are under competitive and regulatory pressure to either compete or partner with fintechs that support services such as mobile payments, and credit unions are in the same boat — though with a very different challenge at the start.

The information you need to start your day, from PaymentsSource and around the Web. Today: How well do voice assistants understand commands?; Hy-Vee suffers a breach; Shared workspace adds biometric payments; London deploys more contactless payment points for donations.

The information you need to start your day, from PaymentsSource and around the Web. Today: Contactless payments jump in New York subways; Coinbase switches banks; Dovu's green crypto; Ant's impact on the fintech investment market;

Gregor Dobbie is taking on the role of CEO of Vocalink as the company looks to expand its B2B payments business in the U.K.

Square's working to boost its appeal to third-party developers, especially as a growing number of competitors and broader economic challenges loom on the horizon.

The information you need to start your day, from PaymentsSource and around the Web. Today: Shopify adds chat; New technology battles card skimming; Checkout-free stores advance in Brazil; South Korean blockchain adds streaming music payments.

Payment companies have made substantial investments into new identity rules in Europe, but the deadline has become a moving target with different agencies offering conflicting or unclear guidance.

The information you need to start your day, from PaymentsSource and around the Web. Today: Contactless at the university; LinkedIn co-founder helps launch smart contracts for subscriptions; Alipay and WeChat Pay's processor draws funds; Coincorner pays its staff in crypto; Domino's tries e-bike delivery.

Checkout-free technology is very limited in availability and very much a work in progress, but developers and investors are relying on its promise to accelerate payments' broader evolution from streamlining execution to determining intent.