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

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

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

DoorDash buys Bbot to bolster in-store digital ordering

The deal may grow DoorDash's partner business footprint, since Bbot — a hospitality technology startup that simplifies digital orders and payment processes — services restaurants, hotels, bars, food halls, ghost kitchens and bowling alleys. 

By Alicia Kelso • March 1, 2022

Toast gears up for growth despite challenges

Toast CFO Elena Gomez says helping the company weather different markets is an opportunity for a CFO to demonstrate leadership, and she's focusing on what she can control, which is executing the growth plan.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • March 1, 2022

Zip to buy Sezzle in bid for US expansion

The Australian buy now-pay later company agreed to buy Minneapolis-based Sezzle as it seeks scale in the U.S. and positions itself to take on larger competitors such as Block's Afterpay. 

By Lynne Marek • Feb. 28, 2022

Block defends higher marketing spending

Having added products focused on taxes and families, Cash App’s rising profitability “is what we’re investing behind here," Block CFO Amrita Ahuja said during a company earnings call last week.

By Caitlin Mullen • Feb. 25, 2022

Consumers prefer physical gift cards, despite digital growth

Nearly half of consumers polled by payments processor Fiserv bought more digital gift cards than physical ones amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but a slight majority still favor the hard copy version.

By Caitlin Mullen • Feb. 23, 2022

Firms tackle ballooning BNPL fraud

In another sign of buy now-pay later’s skyrocketing popularity, companies that tackle fraud are rolling out tools to address risk related to the payment option.

By Caitlin Mullen • Feb. 22, 2022

Washington policymakers spout off on CBDC

With rising individual and institutional interest in digital assets, policymakers in Washington are cranking up their public discussion of the possibility of a digital dollar. Federal Reserve Gov. Lael Brainard weighed in last week and the Congressional Research Service did earlier this month.

By Lynne Marek • Feb. 22, 2022

Circle delays SPAC merger, doubles valuation to $9B

The firm behind USD Coin has renegotiated its transaction terms with Concord Acquisition, pushing back the termination date to as late as Jan. 31, 2023.

By Robin Bradley • Feb. 18, 2022

Klarna puts BNPL on a card

After a U.K. rollout last month, the Swedish buy now-pay later firm is bringing its physical Visa card to the U.S. – but not before making prospective cardholders wait.

By Caitlin Mullen • Feb. 17, 2022