Skip to content
Archive · November 21, 2025

Five critical payments insights.
Zero noise.
Daily.

The 5-minute briefing for payments professionals who need to know what happened, what it means, and what to do about it — before their 9am.

Trusted by payments operators

Joined by 60+ product, risk, and partnerships leads at networks, issuers, acquirers, and fintechs.

The Lead

Story 01

New Hampshire Set to Issue First Bitcoin-Backed Municipal Bond

New Hampshire is on the brink of launching a groundbreaking municipal bond backed by Bitcoin. This initiative, approved by the state's Business Finance Authority, could revolutionize municipal financing by integrating digital assets. It's a significant step that might inspire other states to explore similar financial innovations.

Also Worth Knowing
02

European Central Bank Enhances Global Payments with UPI and Nexus Integration

The European Central Bank is spearheading a project to link its Target Instant Payment Settlement system with India's UPI and other Asian real-time payment systems. This move aims to streamline global payments, ensuring faster, more secure cross-border transactions. It's a pivotal development for financial institutions eyeing a more interconnected payment environment.

Source:
03

EMVCo to Set Global Standards for AI-Driven Agentic Payments

EMVCo is exploring global specifications for agentic payments, where transactions are executed by AI agents. This initiative could lead to more seamless, integrated payment processes, significantly impacting how digital and automated services handle transactions.

Source:
04

Ecommpay Broadens Merchant Options with Apple Pay QR Integration

Ecommpay has integrated a feature enabling merchants to accept Apple Pay via QR codes, enhancing payment versatility across devices. This development not only broadens the accessibility of Apple Pay but also caters to a wider range of merchant scenarios, potentially boosting mobile payment adoption.

Source:
05

SBS Integrates Wero Digital Wallet to Boost Open Banking Platform

SBS has upgraded its open banking platform by integrating the Wero digital wallet, aligning with the European Payments Initiative. This enhancement is set to streamline digital transactions and improve user experiences, marking a significant step in evolving the open banking ecosystem.

Source:
The Long Memory
Did you know that the first Bitcoin transaction was for two pizzas in 2010, costing 10,000 Bitcoins, which would be worth millions today?

Source: