Congress mulls a different digital dollar

While talk of a digital dollar has mainly focused on creation of a central bank digital currency through the Federal Reserve, a group of House Democrats on Monday proposed legislation that pivots in a different direction, creating an electronic dollar through a new program administered by the Treasury Department.

By Lynne Marek • March 29, 2022

OnPay Solutions acquired by Medius

The acquisition of Jacksonville-based OnPay Solutions is the latest in a string of business-to-business deals over the past year. For Medius, it provides entry into the U.S. market following other recent expansion moves.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • March 29, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Cross-border payments targeted for upgrades

When it comes to cross-border payments, businesses, non-profits and governments alike are determined to increase the speed of transactions and cut the cost.

By Payments Dive staff

PayPal's Happy Returns to add service in Ulta stores

PayPal's Happy Returns services will now be available at the beauty products store chain. PayPal has integrated its returns services into multiple retailers’ brick-and-mortar locations over the past few years.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • March 28, 2022

Sightline taps JPMorgan Chase for gaming expansion

Sightline is hiring the big bank after raising significant equity capital last year. Payments processors have unveiled new services as online gambling has increased over the past few years.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • March 25, 2022

Fed's Powell lists 4 qualifications for a US CBDC

A digital dollar must ensure user privacy, be "identity verifiable," be "intermediated" and be widely accepted as a means of payment, the central bank chief said Wednesday during a panel discussion hosted by the Bank for International Settlements.

By Dan Ennis • March 24, 2022

PayPal nabs Intel exec for CIO role

The newly appointed Archana Deskus was most recently CIO and EVP at Intel. She will oversee global IT at the electronic payments pioneer, reporting to its CEO Dan Schulman.

By Roberto Torres • March 23, 2022

Affirm CFO leans in for CFPB inquiry

A top executive at Affirm, the biggest independent U.S. buy now-pay later company, says he understands the way in which the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is trying to get a handle on the new industry.

By Jonathan Berr • March 23, 2022

Payments firms battle for talent

Hiring and retention are a top challenge for payments companies right now. Here’s what they’re doing to stand out from the crowd and win talent.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 23, 2022

Fiserv, MX team up on open-banking effort

A partnership between Brookfield, Wisconsin-based payments giant Fiserv and fintech MX Technologies aims to expand their offerings for consumers eager to share data across service providers.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 22, 2022

ChargeAfter raises $44M as competition grows

The New York-based company is stockpiling dollars as new and old payments players arrive in the buy now-pay later arena. Consumers are predicted to increase their BNPL spending, but the service also faces regulatory scrutiny.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • March 22, 2022

Stripe snags a new crypto customer

Payments software juggernaut Stripe said it has landed crypto company Blockchain.com as a new customer and that it's aiming to aid the digital currency client in international expansion.

By Lynne Marek • March 21, 2022

Fewer taxpayers plan to pay the IRS by check

The share of consumers planning to use mobile phones to pay their taxes increased over last year, while the portion preferring to pay by check declined, according to a survey from payments firm ACI Worldwide.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 17, 2022

Moving big money is about to get faster

In the next few weeks, the two U.S. automated payments systems are set to increase the speed with which $1 million can be sent between two parties.

By Lynne Marek • March 16, 2022

PopID aims to expand demand for its face-pay tech

As payments technology evolves, the use of biometrics is poised to take off. Software firm PopID is seeking to raise about $50 million in capital to scale its face verification services for payments applications in the U.S. and abroad.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 15, 2022

EBay creates digital wallet, plans storage vault for collectibles

The company expects its new vault service to open next quarter, and to eventually secure up to $3 billion in assets over the next few years.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • March 14, 2022

Frictionless checkout tech startup AiFi raises $65M

The frictionless checkout technology provider plans to use the funds, which it raised from investors including Aldi South Group, to expand its technical staff and more quickly put its gear into grocery stores, sports venues and universities.

By Sam Silverstein • March 14, 2022

Biden's digital asset order may prompt legislation

Comprehensive cryptocurrency legislation may follow the executive order released this week, which called for a multi-agency response to exploring and regulating digital assets. 

By Caitlin Mullen • March 11, 2022

Walgreens joins PayNearMe bill pay network

Consumers seeking another nearby location to make bill payments in cash can now turn to about 9,000 Walgreens store locations as a result of the new tie-up.

By Lynne Marek • March 10, 2022

White House lays out digital asset priorities

The White House said Pres. Biden will deliver an executive order today explaining how the U.S. government will approach digital assets, laying out priorities for protecting U.S. consumers and businesses; ensuring a stable global financial system; and promoting American leadership in the use of the emerging technology. 

By Lynne Marek • March 9, 2022

Cash App to offer Bitcoin rewards at Shake Shack

The promotion comes as the payment app seeks to acquire new users and faces regulatory scrutiny.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • March 8, 2022

Inside the Store: The first Whole Foods with Just Walk Out is beautiful. Just don't look up.

Grocery Dive’s Catherine Douglas Moran visited the chain's Washington, D.C., store in Glover Park to see how its specialty soul meshed with Amazon’s checkout-free technology.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • March 8, 2022

Shift4 targets more acquisitions

With corporate valuations on the decline, the Allentown, Pennsylvania-based payment processor is targeting more growth this year in new sectors and additional regions. "We’re going into a climate now where we might find some opportunities that are great strategic fits," CEO Jared Isaacman said.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 7, 2022

Will new suitors come calling for MoneyGram?

The money transfer company is set to be sold to a private equity firm, but rival bidders have until March 16 to make a competing offer. In any case, the Dallas-based company is under pressure to compete with digital rivals.

By Lynne Marek • March 4, 2022

Shift4 to buy 2 companies for $579M

The Allentown, Pennsylvania-based payments provider said it has agreed to acquire the cross-border player Finaro and cryptocurrency donations firm The Giving Block in a bid to expand its global reach.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 2, 2022

Affirm, Klarna meet CFPB deadline, others mum

There’s plenty at stake in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proceedings. The buy now-pay later companies were asked for voluminous amounts of data that could lead to additional scrutiny in the future.

By Jonathan Berr • March 1, 2022