Payments

Highlights: Chainalysis projects digital dollar transactions could reach $719 trillion by 2035 through organic growth. A $100 trillion wealth shift and merchant payment integration could expand transaction activity. Stripe and Mastercard investments show institutions are building infrastructure to support stablecoin […]

Highlights: Bitrefill said a March 1 cyberattack hit hot wallets and 18,500 records. The company linked the breach to Lazarus-style tactics and a compromised employee device. Bitrefill restored services and said attackers mainly targeted funds, not full data. Crypto payments […]

Highlights: Stablecoins reduce cross-border payment costs in emerging markets where fees can reach up to 8%. Most transfer costs come from banking infrastructure rather than currency conversion in global payment systems. Stablecoins enable faster dollar transfers with near-zero fees compared […]

Highlights: Mastercard has launched a new crypto partner program to connect payments with global financial infrastructure. The program will explore business payments and global payouts using blockchain tools. More than 85 companies joined the program to test digital asset payments […]

Highlights: Binance expands prepaid Mastercard crypto card to CIS countries for instant crypto payments. The card supports store and online payments with up to 2% cashback monthly limit. Binance also launches Valentine’s promo with $20,000 rewards for referrals and top-ups. […]

Highlights: Stripe launched x402 on Base so AI agents can pay with USDC stablecoin easily. Businesses can now charge AI agents for API calls and other requests automatically.  CoinGecko also launches x402 API, which allows AI agents access data for […]

Highlights: More U.S. merchants are embracing crypto payments in response to customer demand. Larger businesses, especially in hospitality and digital goods, lead crypto payment adoption. Over 80% of merchants predict crypto payments will be commonplace soon. Cryptocurrency payments in U.S. […]

Highlights: Steak ’n Shake boosts its Bitcoin reserve with a new $5 million purchase. All customer Bitcoin payments feed directly into the company’s growing reserve. Steak ’n Shake earns Bitcoin bonuses, and the chain highlights Bitcoin in marketing, too. Steak […]

Highlights: ASIC flags regulatory gaps in fast-growing fintech sectors, especially digital assets. The regulator warns consumers face risks from unlicensed crypto, payments, and artificial intelligence firms. ASIC urges the government to bring new services under existing regulatory frameworks. Australia’s main […]

Highlights: Pierre Rochard emphasizes U.S. tax rules remain the main barrier to daily Bitcoin payments. He argues that low‑tax regions show faster Bitcoin growth compared to high‑tax markets. Lawmakers continue debating crypto tax relief, shaping future rules for digital asset […]

Highlights: Russia strictly prohibits cryptocurrency payments, insisting all domestic settlements use only the ruble. Digital currencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum are allowed only for trading and investment. Senior lawmakers, including Aksakov, continue to back the central bank’s strict rules […]

Highlights: Visa pilots stablecoin payouts to offer instant access to funds for global creators and freelancers. The pilot enables fiat-funded payments to USDC wallets through Visa Direct. A wider rollout is expected in 2026 as regulatory clarity improves. During the […]