Visa

Visa, Mastercard, PayPal are among the firms moving the cryptocurrency option closer to the point of sale.

The next generation of artificial intelligence can be a digitized always-on personal shopper, researcher and financial assistant, taking even the buzz of ChatGPT to another level. It's early in the game, but developers are looking for ways to gain an edge.

AI agents have the power to automate a number of once-manual tasks: They can conduct background research, generate content, write code and analyze data. In their latest evolution, driven by Visa, Mastercard and other fintechs, payments are now on the menu of services.

The card processor came up short on expected profits but hit analysts' estimates on revenue in the second quarter of its fiscal 2025. CEO Ryan McInerney said growth in payments volume, cross-border volume and processed transactions were strong even in the face of shaky economic conditions.

Supply-chain woes, inflation and skittish travelers are just a few of the tariff-driven factors pressuring PayPal, Visa and Mastercard during upcoming earnings calls.

With swipe payments heading toward the exit in a few years, issuers have an opportunity now to prepare.

Visa and American Express are both reportedly trying to lure Apple's lucrative credit businesses away from Mastercard. But the battle over processing rights is just as much about accessing the technology company's digital wallet as it is about boosting transactions.

The card network said it saved would-be victims $350 million in the first year after it combined several crime-fighting units.

By enabling consumers to link multiple payment options together, the card network can counter similar moves by rival Visa and fintechs such as Curve.

Regulators are investigating the technology giants over concerns their financial apps are violating competition rules. That and expanding tech in emerging markets highlight this week's American Banker global payments roundup.