John Adams

Business payments are notoriously resistant to automation and innovation, though there are some signs of digital processing showing up in the education and science market.

The information you need to start your day, from PaymentsSource and around the Web. Today: Apple Pay reaches new markets; Alipay finds new partners; Google launches new payment service; Contactless charity payments expand; Shopkick restructures.

The biggest innovators in payments aren't necessarily banks, and that's a problem for JPMorgan Chase, which has such a large client base that every startup sees it as a target.

Online sales and software development are two of the most dynamic categories in the payments processing market, and First Data's acquisition of BluePay will give it inroads into both.

In recent years, there's been a lot of activity in payments M&A, but a few deals stand out — some for their size, and others for their ability to transform both parties in a fundamental way.

The information you need to start your day, from PaymentsSource and around the Web. Today: Australia cuts taxes for bitcoin; PayKey raises funds; U.K. tech firms lobby for London; U.S. inspector general says virtual currency may impact on traditional currency.

Square has been adding myriad services as it seeks to become a full-service merchant gateway.

First Data posts an acquisition release in error, though it may eventually buy the company.

The information you need to start your day, from PaymentsSource and around the Web. Today: Fed will study payment crime next year; ATM thieves get a starter kit; Mobile coupons at the arena; Cryptocurrency for the point of sale.

As incidents such as the Equifax breach create more urgency to move beyond static identifiers and authentication methods, Visa is getting aggressive about pushing dynamic tools to vet and shield identity.