The Bank of Lithuania contends the U.S. fintech broke anti-money-laundering rules; while British contactless payments hit a record. That and more in the American Banker global payments roundup.

The proposed $35 billion merger between Capital One and Discover cleared a major regulatory hurdle as the Justice Department told financial regulators in a confidential memo that it didn't have sufficient evidence to block the transaction.

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.

A group of states are pursuing similar efforts to cap credit card interchange fees, endangering rewards programs that customers value and raising concerns about an illegal interstate compact.

Jack Dorsey's payments company cut 931 jobs. Also: Western Union looks to artificial intelligence; Marqeta adds an e-marketplace; Westpac takes on scams; and more news in the global payments and fintech roundup.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said it is "optimistic" that a lawsuit challenging the $8 credit card late fee rule can be resolved. The late fee rule is expected to be rescinded by the Trump administration.

Following a media report that Department of Justice staffers have expressed concern about how Capital One's purchase of Discover would affect competition in the subprime credit market, analysts said the portfolio would be tough to sell. But they remain optimistic that the deal will get over the finish line.

Credit cards offer consumers three things stablecoins currently cannot: interest-free short-term loans, rewards programs and transaction reversibility. Your Visa card is going to remain in your wallet for a long time.

Bank technology firm Fiserv agreed to buy the Netherlands-based company, which sells multichannel processing systems. Also: the FCA looks to lighten contactless checkout limits; Ripple's Garlinghouse said the SEC has dropped a suit against his firm; and more news in the global payments and fintech roundup.