Tensec has secured $12 million in seed funding to provide real-time, seamless payments and financial services for global companies operating in the $190 trillion cross-border payments market. Tensec leverages AI, real-time payments and a global fintech infrastructure to create a no-integration platform that enables global trading companies to offer foreign exchange (FX) services, cross-border payments, treasury and other financial services to their SMB clients. With global cross-border payments projected to reach $250 trillion by 2030, there has been significant fintech innovation in consumer and enterprise payments. However, SMB cross-border payments remain largely untouched by innovation, despite representing over 40% of the $25 trillion annual physical goods trade. Tensec is bridging this critical gap. Tensec’s platform consolidates payment, hedging, and trade finance capabilities into a single, user-friendly interface that requires no integration work, making it simpler for trading companies to offer clients services previously only available from banks. Banking services in the United States are provided by Stearns Bank, Member FDIC. “Legacy banks built their cross-border infrastructure when fax machines were cutting-edge,” said Helcio Nobre, CEO and co-founder of Tensec. “We’re skipping that entire stack. Our services let the companies already engaged in global trade to offer their own financial services innovations. It fills a real need – and their clients thrive.” The benefits for Tensec customers include: No-API or coding required–just a simple login to access all services, eliminating months of engineering work; Unified FX transactions, cross-border payments and banking services tools in one platform, removing the need for multiple systems; Client onboarding in minutes, instead of weeks with intelligent KYB/KYC verification that improves with each onboarding; Real-time global payments that cut traditional waiting periods of four days; Revenue management optimization through the use of real-time exchange rate information, instead of fixed rates; Built-in risk assessment and AI-powered compliance checks with real-time regulatory updates; USD FX hedging services to capitalize on exchange rate fluctuations; and Support for transactions in 150+ countries, 100+ real-time payment markets, and 70+ currencies.
Spreedly integrates Just-In-Time Card Updates for Visa Cards to provide merchants with up-to-date and real-time access to refreshed card credentials at the point of transaction using Open Payments Platform
Spreedly announced a strategic enhancement to its platform through the integration of Just-In-Time Card Updates for Visa Cards powered by Visa Account Updater (VAU). Spreedly’s Just-In-Time Card Updates integration provides merchants with up-to-date card credentials precisely when they’re needed. Unlike traditional card update strategies, which operate on a scheduled batch basis, Just-In-Time Card Updates enable real-time access to refreshed card credentials at the point of transaction to give merchants greater control and responsiveness. Built on the Advanced Vault capabilities of the Open Payments Platform, Spreedly leverages Visa’s powerful network to give merchants control to fetch card updates at the right place and right time. This ability to leverage tools on demand allows businesses to better manage their operational costs and prevent disruption to the customer experience for card-on-file and subscription payments. In addition to integrating with VAU to enable Just-In-Time Card Updates, Spreedly is integrating Visa Acceptance across key gateways—including CyberSource and Authorize.Net—to provide merchants with greater reach and reliability. Key Business Benefits: Improved Authorization Rates: Reduce declines caused by outdated card credentials and recover revenue from failed transactions. Operational Efficiency: On-demand updates eliminate the need for constant background refreshes; this streamlines payment workflows and reduces costs. Customer Retention: Prevent service interruptions and improve customer loyalty by ensuring seamless, uninterrupted transactions. Strategic Flexibility: Merchants control the timing and use of card updates, aligning payment operations with business needs.
Payment platform Bluefin’s integration with Authvia’s conversational commerce tech to enable businesses to request and receive PCI-compliant, tokenized payments directly within SMS, RCS or email thread in seconds by clicking on a payment link
Bluefin announced a strategic partnership with Authvia, a pioneer in conversational commerce technology. Through the partnership, Authvia’s flagship product, TXT2PAY®, is now available via Bluefin’s PayConex™ payment platform, bringing fast, secure, app-free payments to messaging channels including SMS, RCS, and email. Authvia’s TXT2PAY® enables businesses to request and receive PCI-compliant, tokenized payments directly within a message thread. Customers simply receive a payment link by text, click, and complete their payment securely in seconds. This frictionless process reduces barriers to payment, improves cash flow, and enhances the customer experience with real-time engagement and conversion. The solution leverages Bluefin’s PCI-validated security framework, including vaultless tokenization and encryption, ensuring that payment card data never touches the merchant’s systems. “This partnership bridges secure commerce and consumer behavior in the most seamless way possible,” said Chris Brunner, CEO of Authvia. “People text constantly, and now with TXT2PAY® through PayConex™, they can complete payments, approvals, and even tips within the same thread. It’s a powerful way to drive engagement, satisfaction, and revenue.”
Chainlink partners Mastercard to create a unified, compliant and intuitive UX to enable cardholders worldwide to purchase crypto assets directly on-chain through a secure and interoperable fiat-to-crypto conversion
Chainlink announced a new partnership with Mastercard to securely enable payment cardholders worldwide to easily purchase crypto assets directly onchain through a secure fiat-to-crypto conversion. This breakthrough is powered by Chainlink’s secure interoperability infrastructure and Mastercard’s trusted global payments network, removing long-standing barriers that have kept mainstream users from accessing the onchain economy. zerohash provides the onchain service and liquidity needed to convert fiat into crypto with seamless smart contract execution. Additional integration support comes from Shift4 Payments, Swapper Finance, and XSwap to deliver a next generation app experience, which utilizes the Uniswap protocol. Swapper Finance leverages XSwap, the leading DEX built out of the Chainlink ecosystem that uses the Chainlink standard for data and interoperability, via an integration between zerohash and Shift4 Payments. zerohash provides the core compliance, custody, and transaction infrastructure, making it possible to convert fiat into crypto for smart contract consumption in a regulated manner. Shift4 enables seamless card processing, while XSwap sources liquidity from decentralized exchanges like the Uniswap protocol, enabling the final execution of swaps onchain. Together, these technologies create a unified, compliant, and intuitive user experience that brings crypto access directly to mainstream payment cardholders. Bringing zerohash, Shift4 Payments, Swapper Finance, and XSwap technologies together with the Chainlink standard and the power of the Mastercard network allows large amounts of previously hard to access value to now be leveraged for executing transactions onchain.
Paycode taps Algorand’s blockchain to migrate its digital payment infrastructure on-chain for offering secure, inclusive payments at scale to underserved and remote communities through offline-first payment systems
The Algorand Foundation announced a new strategic partnership with Paycode to advance inclusive financial infrastructure across underserved and remote communities. Through this collaboration, Paycode and Algorand will explore integrating public blockchain technology to strengthen digital identity systems, improve transparency, and unlock new models for delivering secure, inclusive payments at scale. As part of the partnership, Paycode has selected Algorand as the blockchain to migrate its digital payment infrastructure on-chain, leveraging Algorand’s high speed, security, and energy efficiency to power future offline-first payment systems. Paycode’s technology is currently used by more than 6 million individuals across 8 countries, many of whom live in offline, remote, and underserved regions. To date, Paycode has facilitated the secure disbursement of $250m in aid and social payments, helping drive financial inclusion through biometric identity, offline digital wallets, and real-time payments. The two organisations will work together to host elements of Paycode’s digital payment infrastructure on the Algorand blockchain, with a focus on supporting transparent disbursement of aid, integrating stablecoin-based settlement mechanisms, and building resilient, offline-first financial tools. The partnership reflects a shared mission to deliver systems that are scalable, interoperable, and secure, even in regions with little or no connectivity.
Taco Bell accepting PayPal, Venmo for online and mobile payment, promoted with a limited-time deal to receive 20% cash back on any purchase over $5 with a $10 cash back maximum per purchase.
Taco Bell now allows customers to pay via PayPal or Venmo. In addition, Taco Bell is offering customers who check out with PayPal in its app or website a limited-time deal to receive 20% cash back on any purchase over $5 with a $10 cash back maximum per purchase. Customers can tap to save the exclusive offer, available until Thursday, July 31, 2025, in the PayPal app, and the cash back will apply with weekly redemption when they pay with PayPal for their order. To take advantage of this promotion, customers can download the PayPal app and save the Taco Bell offer in the Deals tab. They then place their order in the Taco Bell app or website and use PayPal to check out. Once the purchase is complete, cash back will be added to the customer’s PayPal account. Whether for credit, debit or balance, customers can select PayPal or Venmo as their default payment option in the Taco Bell app for ease of use every time they place a Taco Bell order. In addition, PayPal Debit Mastercard customers can earn an additional 5% cash back on top if they choose restaurants as their monthly PayPal Debit Mastercard cash back category.
Mastercard sandbox to offer banks access to its ISO 20022-compliant fifth generation account-to-account (A2A) real-time payments infrastructure for testing payment use cases across retail, peer-to-peer (P2P), and B2B transactions
Mastercard has developed a sandbox where financial institutions can experiment with the latest instant payments technology. The sandbox gives banks access to Mastercard’s fifth generation account-to-account (A2A) real-time payments infrastructure. Within this environment, UK financial institutions can test payment use cases across retail, peer-to-peer (P2P), and B2B transactions. For example, the sandbox will enable institutions to implement a “5-leg credit transfer,” allowing a consumer to make a real-time payment at a merchant with the retailer receiving instant confirmation. According to Mastercard, the merchant and their financial institution would also receive richer data from these transactions, as the sandbox will adhere to the ISO 20022 format. While there are benefits to ISO 20022 adoption, many financial institutions—especially small- to mid-tier banks—have yet to achieve compliance. Beyond the costs associated with upgrading, a key reason for hesitation is concern around risk and fraud. This is where the sandbox model can provide value for highly regulated financial institutions looking to adopt emerging technologies. For example, artificial intelligence has become one of the most transformative technologies in recent years. Yet, many financial institutions worry it could make errors or jeopardize sensitive customer data. In response, Nvidia launched its own sandbox, allowing UK banks to experiment with AI and uncover use cases in a controlled setting. This approach helps financial institutions stay competitive while minimizing exposure to risk.
Visa and FIS target small FIs with value-added solutions such as a wallet link that pushes an issuer’s branded digital card to the customer’s digital wallet and stop payment services that enable cardholders to halt recurring payments to merchants
Visa and FIS expanded their partnership to offer new value-added payment capabilities to financial institutions of all sizes. The new offerings will include stop payment services that enable cardholders and call centers to halt recurring payments to merchants, a wallet link that pushes an issuer’s branded digital card to the customer’s digital wallet, and eCommerce fraud mitigation that gives issuers increased eCommerce transaction approval rates and helps eliminate the financial liability of chargebacks due to fraudulent purchases. Visa and FIS will also offer a digital campaign manager that facilitates the use of new marketing channels, such as augmented reality events and other digital experiences. The companies expect to make these new capabilities available to FIS client issuers by the end of the year. Chris Como, head of cards and money movement at FIS, said in the release that these offerings are meant to help small financial institutions compete with larger ones. “By integrating Visa’s advanced solutions into the FIS ecosystem, we are helping to level the technological playing field for those providers, illustrating our commitment to unlocking financial technology to the world,” Como said.
Universities athletic departments enter partnerships with PayPal to enable institutional payments for student-athletes in new revenue sharing model
PayPal announced multi-year agreements with the Big Ten and Big 12 Conferences that will modernize the distribution of institutional payments from universities to student-athletes in a new revenue-sharing model. The new institutional payments initiative enables athletic departments to seamlessly dispense payments through PayPal, ensuring a secure, efficient, and transparent way to distribute funds to payees. With the funds in their wallets, students will have the option to access all the benefits of PayPal’s commerce ecosystem, from seamlessly buying tickets to a sporting event or purchasing their books for the year at the university bookstore. The recent court decision, which allows colleges and universities to share revenue directly with student-athletes, stands to revolutionize college sports. This partnership helps make that real by distributing those funds to student-athletes in a fast, simple, and secure way. Venmo is doubling down in its focus on younger consumers by expanding its position as a cornerstone of campus life and commerce. Venmo will be the presenting partner of the first-ever Big Ten Rivalry Series, spanning football, men’s and women’s basketball, embedding the brand in some of the most iconic matchups in college sports. With the Big 12, Venmo will serve as the official partner of the Big 12 Conference across Big 12 football, basketball, and Olympic sports championships for both men and women. Venmo will also be seen across all 16 institutions’ athletic events. Venmo is accelerating the expansion of its commerce capabilities, introducing even more ways to use a Venmo balance beyond peer-to-peer, from everyday purchases on campus to earning rewards in-store and online 1 with the Venmo Debit Mastercard. Venmo will be working with the Big Ten and Big 12 to enable acceptance for real-world campus spending, including at bookstores, for ticketing, concessions, and merchandise, giving students more flexibility to shop and pay with the app they already use every day. Students who use the Venmo Debit Card can for a limited time unlock up to 15% cash back at select national brands with added features like tap-to-pay when added to a mobile wallet, automatic transfers to top up your balance, and the ability to shop internationally anywhere Mastercard is accepted with no foreign transaction fees.
Wirex launches institutional-grade stablecoin payments on Fireblocks digital asset platform- issuing fully stablecoin-backed Visa debit cards, opening stablecoin checking accounts, and managing high-volume treasury and payments
Wirex Pay Chain is now officially supported on Fireblocks, the leading digital asset and payments infrastructure platform. This integration enables Fireblocks’ institutional clients to easily access Wirex Pay’s self-custodial stablecoin payment infrastructure, offering a secure and scalable gateway to stablecoin innovation. Through this support, Fireblocks customers can now issue fully stablecoin-backed Visa debit cards, open stablecoin checking accounts, and manage high-volume treasury and payments — all while retaining complete control over their assets. Wirex Pay redefines enterprise-grade finance with a focus on control, flexibility, and regulatory alignment: Retail App – Stablecoin Checking Accounts: Open stablecoin-backed current accounts with a Visa debit card, enabling instant global payments and yield on balances. Business Banking – Corporate Stablecoin Accounts: Manage fiat and stablecoins with built-in treasury, corporate cards, and real-time settlement—all fully self-custodial. Stablecoin BaaS – Stablecoin Infrastructure APIsStablecoin Infrastructure APIs: Embed stablecoin accounts and card issuing into any fintech or wallet product using modular APIs and smart contracts. Pavel Matveev, Co-Founder of Wirex said, “This unlocks a powerful new chapter in institutional stablecoin adoption — bringing together security and programmable payments infrastructure to Fireblocks’ digital asset network. Now, institutions can launch stablecoin-backed card programs and checking accounts at speed, with full control and built-in compliance.”