Paysecure, the payment orchestration platform in iGaming, roll-out customisable surcharge fee solution, built to enhance their dynamic cashier functionality. This powerful new enhancement provides payment orchestration platform users with complete flexibility to configure and apply fees based on a wide range of parameters, creating tailored payment workflows that meet both regulatory requirements and operational needs. With this enhanced functionality at Paysecure, operators can define fees according to card details, location, market, currency, payment method, customer segment and more. This flexibility means fees can be adapted precisely to business needs, whether that’s addressing regional regulations, aligning with commercial goals, or shaping the player payment experience. Operators can choose how fees are surfaced at the point of payment, either via a pass-on fee or by absorption. Pass-On Fee – The surcharge is added to the transaction, with the player clearly seeing the additional cost and what it has been applied for e.g. taxes. Absorption – The fee is deducted from the transaction value amount, creating a seamless experience without changing the displayed price. Both options are designed to maximise transparency and control, allowing you to decide which approach works best for your business model and customer base. Paysecure’s surcharge fee solution available directly in the cashier has multiple use cases, including: Passing on credit card surcharges in markets where they apply; Meeting specific in-market requirements, such as applying fees only to certain payment methods; Creating differentiated strategies across customer segments, ensuring VIP or high-value customers receive a tailored experience. By embedding this functionality directly into the cashier, operators can manage fee surcharges dynamically and without heavy development overhead.
Entrust and Mastercard embed Ekata‑powered identity analytics to move beyond reactive detection toward proactive, personalized fraud defense across account opening.
Entrust has integrated Mastercard Identity insights powered by Ekata into the Entrust Identity Verification Security Platform. This combination delivers intelligent pre-screening that identifies threats early to strengthen fraud prevention and automates remote onboarding for customers to streamline their onboarding experience. During the application process, Mastercard Identity uses machine learning-powered data analytics based on user information to surface inconsistencies and suspicious patterns, which helps organizations detect and block threats. By adapting to each user’s risk profile, Entrust Identity Verification applies additional checks to low-risk individuals only when needed, which helps to reduce drop-off rates. This solution also saves organizations’ resources by minimizing the need for manual reviews. Dennis Gamiello, executive vice president, global head of identity at Mastercard, said that the combination of Mastercard Identity’s insights and the Entrust Identity Platform helps enterprises “move beyond reactive fraud detection. This partnership expansion enables a proactive, personalized approach that strengthens security while keeping the user experience seamless.”
Revolut launches Pay by Bank; fast and cheap A2A checkout via banking apps or desktop QR, lower fraud and chargebacks and real-time funds with no card entry
Revolut has launched Pay by Bank as an option on the Revolut Gateway. This new feature enables businesses to accept fast and secure payments directly from a customer’s bank account, providing a seamless experience for consumers and significant benefits for merchants. Pay by Bank payments offer a more secure solution for merchants. Because transactions require direct customer authorisation from their chosen banking app, the risk of fraud and chargebacks is drastically reduced. This ensures funds are received in real-time, improving cash flow and customer satisfaction. For customers, the process is quick and convenient. They can pay directly from their bank account without the need to manually enter card details. Mobile users are simply directed to their app for authorisation, while desktop users can authorise payments by scanning a QR code. By adding Pay by Bank to its payment gateway, Revolut is giving businesses another powerful tool to meet evolving consumer demands and improve conversion rates. The move reinforces Revolut’s commitment to providing a comprehensive and innovative suite of tools for businesses of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises.
Coinbase launches x402 Bazaar to let AI agents pay APIs with USDC over HTTP‑402; enabling per‑request micropayments without accounts or API keys
Coinbase has launched x402 Bazaar, a catalog for USDC micropayments integrated with API services. The system serves as a discovery layer for artificial intelligence agents and developers, enabling instant settlements. The project revives the old HTTP 402 status code, “Payment Required,” and applies it to API calls. The client sends a request accompanied by a signed payment payload in USDC, which is verified and settled by Coinbase’s hosted facilitator. The company does not charge additional fees for USDC transactions processed through the Base network. Initial support covers USDC on the Base mainnet and Sepolia Base, with expansion planned. The catalog returns structured JSON data, specifying the accepted asset, network, destination address, and maximum payment limits. Coinbase’s Flashblocks feature reduces perceived latency, delivering pre-confirmations in 200 ms. With the demand for dollar-backed stablecoins on the rise, x402 Bazaar is a strategic tool for bridging human consumption and machine interactions, creating a more efficient and scalable micropayments ecosystem.
Mastercard’s open banking connectivity leverages Paytently’s orchestration layer to bring A2A checkout with secure bank authentication, payment initiation, and enhanced reconciliation within a single flow
Paytently, the specialist payments orchestration platform, has launched Paytently Open Banking powered by Mastercard Open Finance, an account-to-account payment option at checkout that lets customers pay directly from their bank and helps merchants increase conversion rates and improve cash flow. Leveraging Mastercard’s open banking connectivity and Paytently’s orchestration layer, Paytently Open Banking streamlines payments end-to-end, bringing secure bank authentication, payment initiation, and enhanced reconciliation within a single flow for greater operational efficiency. Paytently’s proprietary orchestration engine routes each transaction over the most effective rail for instant payment confirmation and faster settlement. Samuel Barrett, Co-Founder and CEO of Paytently, “By combining our orchestration expertise with Mastercard’s open banking technology, we’re enabling merchants to move money faster, reduce operational friction, and ultimately create a more seamless experience for their customers.” Valerie Nowak, EVP, Head of Open Finance APEMEA at Mastercard. “By combining Mastercard’s secure open finance infrastructure with Paytently’s expertise in complex payment environments, we’re enabling businesses to offer their customers another trusted and seamless way to pay.”
Volvo pilots in‑car toll payments in NC: VIN gets linked with Google infotainment to get charged automatically at toll gates, no transponder needed
N.C. Turnpike Authority is partnering with Volvo Car USA, Mastercard, Microsoft, RedHat and Cognizant to pilot an in-vehicle toll payment system in North Carolina. This pilot program will enable enrolled Volvo car owners to link their car’s vehicle identification number to a payment method, allowing automatic payments to be processed as soon as the customer’s car drives through a tolled section of roadway. This technology can be expanded to other vehicle original equipment manufacturers and other tolling agencies in the future. In-vehicle payment has the potential to change the way we experience several industries, such as fast food, car washes and parking. Together, Volvo Car USA, Mastercard and the NCTA are innovating the way drivers interact with vehicles and payment systems. This pilot will involve up to 100 participants that drive a Volvo with Google built-in infotainment systems and will begin in late 2025. This pilot is a crucial first step towards Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technology, allowing drivers’ vehicles to pay tolls automatically through its infotainment system. The pilot eliminates the need for traditional toll transponders and improves the ease of use of all N.C. Turnpike toll roads.
Remitly has launched Remitly One, a $9.99 monthly subscription that offers benefits such as instant access to Flex cash advances, cashback, rewards, and a digital debit card, alongside the release of new products like Remitly Flex, a “send now, pay later” interest-free cash advance designed for urgent cross-border transfers, and Remitly Wallet, a digital wallet available to all users that will support multicurrency holdings including fiat and USDC stablecoins through a partnership with Circle. The stablecoin integration will enable instant value transfers, reduce liquidity friction, and give customers the option to hold savings in U.S. dollars. The membership model targets different customer segments, with Flex appealing to paycheck-to-paycheck users and wallet services attracting globally mobile customers. The company may benefit from an upcoming 1% U.S. tax on physical remittances, which could accelerate digital adoption. Analysts from KeyBank and William Blair view the initiatives positively, citing new revenue streams from subscriptions, interchange, and customer balances, though the membership fee was slightly higher than expected; Remitly’s stock was rated Buy/Outperform. Unlike its shuttered “Passbook” digital bank initiative, the company is now focused on vertically integrating essential financial services closely aligned with its customers’ needs, aiming to boost engagement, retention, and acquisition while strengthening long-term growth.
NACHA automates request for proof of an ACH Rules compliance audit
For over a decade, Nacha has been contacting financial institutions to request proof of an ACH Rules compliance audit of the financial institution and, if applicable, its Third-Party Senders, in accordance with Article One, Subsection 1.2.2 (Audits of Rules Compliance). Until now, this has been a manual process, which has limited the number of participants contacted. Beginning in October 2025, automation of this process through Nacha’s Risk Management Portal (riskmanagementportal.nacha.org) will enable Nacha to contact more financial institutions. Automated outreach and response also aligns with Nacha’s recent Operations Bulletin #2-2025, “Encouraging the Use of Secure Electronic Channels for Resolving ACH Exceptions.” Use of the Portal to facilitate the delivery of proof-of-audit requests and attestations will provide greater security for the information being exchanged. By contacting more financial institutions each quarter, and by using a secure channel for requests and responses, the process is becoming more efficient, inclusive, and accountable. The rule requiring Participating Depository Financial Institutions (DFIs) and Third-Party Senders to perform an annual audit has long served as a critical tool for assuring compliance with the Nacha Operating Rules. Compliance contributes to operational soundness among financial institutions and Third-Party Senders.
86% of workers prefer same‑day wages; Amazon, Walmart and Hilton roll out on‑demand pay to cut turnover and absenteeism versus payday‑loan dependence
For drivers, waiting for pay comes at a cost, as 65% of drive share staffers say they’ve had to borrow cash via payday loans, credit card advances, or from friends and/or family, according to a recent survey from Everee, a payroll staffing company. For financially rattled U.S. workers, cash flow is king — which is why more employees are asking, or demanding, to get their wages paid as speedily as possible. Instant Financial’s 2024 Wages and Wellbeing research underscores “fast pay” staff preferences, as 86% of employees said they wanted same-day payments. That’s up from 2022, when 70% of employees reported wanting same-day pay. Bigger corporations are also receiving the “pay faster” message from their staff — and some are accommodating them. Amazon enables warehouse associates to access their paycheck cash daily through a third-party payment platform. Walmart has linked up with payment provider Even to give its 1.4 million employees early access to paychecks. Hilton has aligned with payment provider DailyPay to deliver pay in real time. Leevers Supermarkets provides on-demand pay to its 500 staffers. Payment industry specialists say that consumer payments, in general, have accelerated in every facet of life. Burgeoning employee money management angst has accelerated the push for early pay. “With rising inflation and higher costs for necessities, individuals benefit from more choice and access to their wages and tips.” Otherwise, workers may turn to payday loans or other unfavorable options. “Those options lead to absenteeism and turnover for employers,” Tal Clark, CEO of Instant Financial, an employment pay benefits firm said.
Circle integrates Developer-Controlled Wallets with x402 protocol enabling AI agents to autonomously pay micro-amounts using USDC through Multi-Party Computation security without exposing private keys.
Circle Internet Financial has introduced an AI-driven USDC payment system, enabling autonomous, secure machine-to-machine transactions for seamless API access and real-time blockchain settlements. The system integrates with a new payment protocol called x402, which enables websites or APIs to ask for money before granting access to their data or service. This allows AI agents to pay a small USDC amount, such as processing fees or data charges, before receiving a response from an online service. This setup saves time and eliminates human involvement, allowing developers to create new ways to make money from APIs and data services. The system is also used for complex use cases, such as travel bookings, where AI agents can track flight prices, hotel availability, and loyalty rewards, book tickets, and pay the airline through USDC. Circle’s Secure MPC Wallets enable apps to create and manage crypto wallets securely, relying on Multi-Party Computation (MPC) and ensuring no exposure of private keys. The payment request is handled by the x402 protocol, which checks and settles the transaction on-chain before releasing the API to return the requested data. The combination of Circle Wallets and x402 allows automated, secure payments by AI agents, opening up the future where intelligent machines can purchase services, pay per use, and complete financial tasks on behalf of users. Developers can monetize APIs with accurate pricing, even at a price of less than one cent per API.
Thredd’s modular payment infrastructure powers white-label stablecoin card issuance with tokenization security, fraud protection, and B2B2C client programs across US and Latin American markets
Thredd announced the expansion of their partnership with Reap, a global fintech company that offers stablecoin-enabled card programs, white-label stablecoin card issuance, and a cross border payments platform offering fiat payouts at scale. Thredd will be providing the mission-critical infrastructure powering Reap’s physical and virtual card programmes, enabling the company’s expansion into the US and Latin America. Through Thredd’s dedicated solution and support teams, Reap now manages high transactions per second (TPS) volumes, integrates stablecoin-based repayment, and operates with 24/7 technical and account-level support, helping clients launch programmes with confidence. “This collaboration enables Reap to focus on product innovation while Thredd underpins their expansion, enabling corporate, B2B, and B2B2C clients, particularly in fast-evolving markets, to issue cards swiftly and securely.” said Jim McCarthy, CEO of Thredd. “From initial design, to tokenisation and fraud protection, our infrastructure is built to handle ambitious growth and complex needs.” The partnership between Thredd and Reap demonstrates how modular payment infrastructure, supported by deep technical expertise, empowers fintechs to scale operations across borders rapidly turning card programmes into everyday global infrastructure.