Boku reported revenue of $63.3 million for the first half of 2025, up 34% from the same period last year, as the London-listed payments company extends beyond its traditional carrier billing business into faster-growing digital wallet connections. The company said adjusted EBITDA reached $21.8 million with margins of 34.3%, up from 30.1% a year earlier. Operating profit swung to $11.9 million from a loss of $396,000 in the first half of 2024. Revenue from digital wallets and account-to-account payment schemes climbed 89% to $22.5 million, now representing 36% of total revenue compared with 25% in the prior year. The company cautioned that roughly $3 million of first-half revenue came from launch-phase pricing arrangements that won’t repeat in the second half. The company added 60 new connections between merchants and payment methods during the half, and brought on new clients including what it described as a leading digital design platform and a global entertainment company. Monthly active users in June reached 95.5 million, up 20% from a year earlier, while total payment volumes processed through the network increased 28% to $7.4 billion. Boku’s take rate, the percentage of payment volume it captures as revenue, edged up to 0.85% from 0.81%, largely reflecting the launch-phase pricing. Stripping that out, underlying take rates held steady.
LemFi launches Send Now, Pay Later for 2 million+ UK customers using Ensemble AI model combining credit bureaus, open banking data and remittance patterns to offer £300-£1,000 credit lines for immigrant communities
LemFi, the AI-powered international payments platform has launched Send Now, Pay Later (SNPL), a credit-powered remittance product that allows its 2 million+ global customers to use their LemFi credit line to send money home to their families when they need it most. Powering SNPL is LemFi’s Ensemble AI model, which combines multiple data sources to inform credit decisions, including national credit bureaus, open banking data, and the company’s own remittance data, to help determine credit limits and repayment structures. This intelligent system also automatically adjusts depending on the individual customer’s journey and available data points, determining the required data points based on the customer’s circumstances and then offering risk-adjusted credit based on the available data. To access SNPL, LemFi customers are onboarded to LemFi Credit, which gives users access to credit lines ranging from £300 to £1,000, depending on their credit profile and assessment, which is enabled by leveraging open banking technology to evaluate eligibility. This makes it accessible even to recent immigrants who often lack extensive UK credit histories and are excluded from traditional finance services. In addition, LemFi’s platform can recognise international credit histories and employs alternative credit assessment methods that look beyond traditional UK financial records. This allows users to start with smaller credit limits and build their UK credit profile over time while accessing essential financial services. By training models across these diverse datasets, LemFi can predict affordability and repayment likelihood with greater accuracy than traditional scoring approaches while reducing bias that often excludes immigrants from mainstream credit, helping to solve the issue of “credit invisibility” through the application of AI. SNPL will tackle friction points around timing and bank transfers. Its real-time / same-day transfers reduce the time taken by traditional banks by a third and provide a means for its users to support their community despite their cash flow.
Federal Reserve Board announces expanded operating days of two large-value payments services, Fedwire Funds Service and the National Settlement Service (NSS), to include Sundays and weekday holidays
The Federal Reserve Board announced expanded operating days of two large-value payments services, Fedwire® Funds Service and the National Settlement Service (NSS), to include Sundays and weekday holidays. The Reserve Banks will implement this expansion in several years, no earlier than 2028 to ensure operational and industry readiness. Currently, both the Fedwire Funds Service and NSS operate Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Once the expansion announced today is implemented, the Reserve Banks will operate both services Sunday through Friday, including weekday holidays. The operating hours each day will remain the same, with the Fedwire Funds Service open 22 hours per day, and NSS open 21.5 hours per day. Moving forward, the Board will monitor demand for a potential further expansion of operating hours to seven days per week. If the Board decides in the future to propose such an expansion, it will seek public comment in a new proposal.
Temenos integrates AI copilots to enhance banking efficiency, offering automated fraud detection and real-time payment repairs in a unified domestic and cross-border payments solution
Temenos, the banking technology firm, has unveiled an AI-powered, pre-integrated platform named Temenos Money Movement & Management, designed to enhance the efficiency of payments and account services for financial institutions. This innovative solution enables faster, more reliable, and cost-effective money transfers while incorporating AI for automated payments repair, fraud detection, and copilot tools that improve real-time screening and minimize false positives. Mick Fennell, Temenos’ director for payments, emphasized the platform’s ability to simplify access to necessary assets for companies in the money movement business. The platform facilitates swift market entry for new players in the payments sector, expediting the onboarding process for digital wallets and alternative payment networks. For example, FINCI, a Lithuanian electronic money institution, successfully launched in four months, greatly improving onboarding times compared to traditional services. This launch aligns with the broader trend of AI integration into the payments landscape, which is transcending mere fraud detection to influence various elements of payment processing. Furthermore, Temenos has collaborated with Microsoft’s Copilot to integrate copilots within banking systems, aiming to boost user efficiency. The comprehensive platform supports both domestic and cross-border payments, with immediate availability. Fennell illustrated the integration of AI into Temenos’ solutions by comparing AI to fruit in a fruitcake, asserting that it enhances but does not dominate the overall offering. “No matter how good [banks] are, at some stage, there needs to be repairs to a payment because something was missing, for example,” he explained. “Now, we’ve got an [AI] technology that automatically repairs them.” New entrants in the payments sphere will be able to access markets quickly through the platform, which is expected to speed up the onboarding and servicing of digital wallets and alternative payment networks.
Instant payments to exceed $110 trillion by 2029, represents 84% growth from 2025; EU mandates payee verification from 2025
Instant payments are set for a meteoric rise, with transaction values expected to surpass $110 trillion by 2029, according to new research from Juniper Research. This growth represents a staggering 84% increase in just four years, up from an estimated $60 trillion in 2025. The surge will be underpinned by two pivotal forces reshaping global payments: Europe’s regulatory push to mainstream instant payments and the adoption of FedNow in the United States, which is redefining the country’s payments landscape. In Europe, regulation is playing a catalytic role in driving instant payments into the mainstream. Policymakers across the EU have been firm about expanding financial inclusion, improving cross-border interoperability, and ensuring that banks and PSPs (payment service providers) meet new compliance standards. By mandating instant payment availability and tackling long-standing inefficiencies, regulators are accelerating the shift away from traditional batch-based transactions. The effect is twofold: not only are consumers gaining faster and more reliable ways to pay, but businesses are also benefiting from improved liquidity and cash-flow management. This regulatory momentum positions Europe as a global leader in instant payment adoption. Across the Atlantic, FedNow, the Federal Reserve’s instant payment system launched in 2023, is being hailed as a transformative force in the U.S. market. While instant payment options like RTP (Real-Time Payments) have existed, FedNow promises broader reach and access across financial institutions of all sizes. “While instant payments have been in the US for a while, FedNow promises to take instant payments to a new level of scale; providing broad access and reach,” explained Nick Maynard, VP of FinTech Market Research at Juniper Research. “Achieving this transformation will require stakeholders throughout the payments ecosystem to reimagine their processes, with slow-to-move vendors being left behind.” This broad-based access could help fix one of the most fragmented payments ecosystems globally, setting the stage for faster adoption by both businesses and consumers. The findings highlight both the immense opportunities and urgent responsibilities facing banks, regulators, and technology providers. As instant payments become a backbone of modern finance, the ability to integrate speed with security will determine how sustainable this growth trajectory is. For businesses, the shift signals better cash management, faster settlement, and improved customer experiences. For regulators and financial institutions, it underscores the need to balance innovation with protection. By 2029, instant payments may not just be an option but the default mode of global transactions—reshaping how money moves across borders, industries, and everyday lives.
Verifone’s integration of next-gen OS-agnostic Victa devices with Deluxe Payments Platform to enable ISVs to deliver touchless, secure and friction-free in-store payments experiences to merchants through seamless integration into their existing POS environments
Verifone is expanding its partnership with Deluxe, a trusted payments and data company. As part of this collaboration, Verifone’s next-gen Victa devices will integrate seamlessly with the Deluxe Payments Platform, empowering Deluxe and their independent software vendors (ISVs) to deliver fast, secure and modern in-store payments experiences to merchants: Touchless, flexible and friction-free in-store payments experiences: The seamless integration of Verifone’s durable, high-performance devices with the Deluxe Payments Platform enables fast, flexible in-store payments wherever business happens. From Verifone’s biometric face and palm authentication to mobile and countertop solutions, merchants can deliver frictionless, touchless checkout experiences tailored to in-store shoppers. A scalable device suite that fits seamlessly into your current tech stack: Merchants can meet demands with rugged, mobile, and OS-agnostic Verifone devices that integrate effortlessly into existing POS environments. With flexible options like SoftPOS and payment puck add-ons, providers can scale quickly and cost-effectively to bring modern payment experiences to market without replacing core infrastructure. Payment solutions that prioritize security and sustainability: Verifone Victa devices meet the highest security standards — PCI PTS 6.x approved and engineered for future PCI 7.x compliance — combining industry-leading protection with remote anti-skimming detection to help prevent fraud. But the Verifone Victa line is not just built for security protection – it’s also built responsibly. Designed with sustainability at the core, Victa devices are on track to use 60% recycled plastic by 2026 and already ship in packaging free of single-use plastics.
Runa Shop enables launching a fully-branded, modern gift card marketplace built to scale—no coding required with mobile-optimized storefronts for easy, on-the-go purchases
Runa has unveiled Runa Shop, a white-label commerce solution that makes launching gift card marketplaces fast and simple. In only 24 hours, businesses can leverage Runa Shop to launch a fully-branded, modern gift card marketplace built to scale—no coding required. Featuring more than 5,000 popular merchant options, Runa Shop offers multiple use cases spanning from building customer and employee engagement to boosting sales and revenue. For incentive, rewards and cashback programs building or refreshing their storefronts, Runa Shop drives conversions with real-time cashback and intelligent marketing capabilities. Businesses can also tap Runa Shop to transform and strengthen employee relationships through rewards that resonate and increase engagement. Runa Shop also creates a direct revenue stream for brands selling their own gift cards. Additional key features made possible through Runa Shop include: Mobile-optimized storefronts for easy, on-the-go purchases. Customers can shop anytime, anywhere, with zero friction. Purchases may include multiple cards and denominations in a single, smooth transaction. Hassle-free payments. Runa Shop offers this seamless checkout on a global scale via payment options such as credit, debit, PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Currency support is available in USD, GBP, EUR, CAD, and more. Personalized and expansive shopping experiences. Runa Shop puts the right gift in the right hands through intelligent, cart suggestions that inspire last minute add-ons. These tailored add-on suggestions turn passive browsing into action—driving basket value and higher revenue. Customizable product categories make it easy for each user to explore, discover and purchase gift cards that matter to them. Promotions that perform. Through data-informed retargeting at checkout, Runa Shop intelligently predicts customer behavior to boost conversions through targeted marketing campaigns. With access to real-time performance insights, businesses can ensure marketplaces are optimized and competitive.
Two’s embedded deferred payment capabilities tailored for B2B transactions offers real-time, AI-driven net terms credit at scale and automats behind-the-scenes tasks to deliver frictionless experience for both merchants and buyers
Two Funding has reached €13 million, bringing the total funding to over €40 million to date. The fintech company elps businesses offer flexible payment terms. The fresh investment will fuel Two’s expansion into the US and select Western European markets. Less than three months after its official launch in the US, the market already represents more than 20% of total revenue for the company. The funding will also support further development of Two’s fully productised B2B payments infrastructure, which includes its proprietary risk engines, Frida and Delphi, an end-to-end business onboarding solution and embedded deferred payment capabilities tailored specifically for business transactions, already deployed by over 200 of merchants across the Nordics and Europe. Two was created with a bold mission of making B2B transactions as seamless as consumer checkouts. Its platform offers instant upfront payments to sellers, flexible net terms for buyers, and AI-powered fraud prevention. With rapid adoption across both large enterprises and SMEs, Two’s infrastructure has already become the go-to standard for B2B commerce in Northern Europe. With this funding, Two wants to improve its credit decision engine, make integrations stronger, and work with more suppliers around the world.
Modernizing federal payments- for TANs to be effective, they must be interoperable and based on open standards to ensure seamless collaboration between institutions and platforms while preserving consumer control
In March, President Donald Trump ordered the government to shift away from paper checks toward digital channels. Amid the 248 responses, payment networks and several FinTechs weighed in on the ways and means by which the government might modernize its payment efforts. Visa responded by highlighting the capabilities of Visa Direct, which can move money in minutes to bank accounts and digital wallets, reach nearly any U.S. bank account efficiently, protect each transaction with tokenization and fraud prevention, and offer familiar experiences for cardholders. Visa also suggested using prepaid cards for the unbanked as a safer alternative to paper checks. Mastercard recommended leveraging and expanding existing mechanisms such as Direct Express, U.S. Debit, and Pay.gov to capture remaining check-based payments. Doing so will provide Treasury and its partner agencies with the clarity, certainty and security that are paramount to government payments. Forming public-private partnerships can help educate and move remaining users to digital forms of payment with trust and clarity. Trustly said that open banking removes cumbersome validation steps, reduces operational risks and errors, and enables more efficient pay-by-bank transactions with significant cost savings. Plaid said, “The government could take some cues from the private sector, wherein there can be a “default to digital” that would “offer digital payments as the norm, with opt-out options, rather than requiring citizens to opt in. It also advocated for the use of Tokenized Account Numbers (TANs), which replace sensitive data with revocable, app-specific tokens that protect users even if compromised. For TANs to be effective, they must be interoperable and based on open standards to ensure seamless collaboration between institutions and platforms while preserving consumer control.
Embedded payments APIs provider Diameter Pay to integrate Flagright’s no-code platform’s real-time transaction monitoring, automated risk scoring, and AI-powered forensics to enhance oversight of its payment flows
Diameter Pay, a provider of embedded payments APIs for banks and financial institutions, has partnered with Flagright, an AI-native, no-code platform for transaction monitoring and AML compliance to strengthen Diameter Pay’s compliance framework as it scales its payment solutions worldwide, with an increased focus on virtual currency-related payments. Flagright offers a no-code platform designed for transaction monitoring, AML screening, risk scoring, case management, and AI forensics. The solution helps financial institutions detect high-risk activity in real time, automate investigations, and meet regulatory obligations more efficiently. Through this partnership, Diameter Pay will implement Flagright’s real-time monitoring tools, automated risk scoring, and AI-powered forensics to enhance oversight of its payment flows. The single case management workspace will help the company investigate flagged transactions faster and complete regulatory reports more accurately. The partnership with Flagright is expected to help the company deliver secure services to its clients across diverse markets.