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Archive · March 29, 2026

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The Lead

Story 01

Square Expands Lending With AI-Driven Models for Irregular Business Revenues

Square has upgraded its underwriting to serve businesses with non-standard revenue patterns, broadening its lending reach beyond traditional merchant profiles. This enables Square to capture segments underserved by conventional lenders, leveraging transaction data and AI to assess risk. For operators, this raises the bar on credit innovation and could force rivals to rethink their own risk models. Expect increased competition for SMB lending as data-driven approaches become table stakes.

Source: PYMNTS
Also Worth Knowing
№02

Morgan Stanley Undercuts Rivals With 0.14% Fee on Spot Bitcoin ETF

Morgan Stanley has set its spot bitcoin ETF fee at just 0.14%, reported as the lowest in the market. This aggressive pricing is designed to attract institutional and retail flows, intensifying competition among ETF providers. For payments and fintech operators, lower ETF fees could accelerate mainstream crypto adoption and drive demand for integrated crypto rails. Incumbents relying on higher-fee models will need to adapt quickly or risk losing share.

Source: The Block
№03

Ripple Posts Record Q1, Warns of Regulatory Weaponization Risks

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse reported a record-breaking Q1 but cautioned that regulatory policy could be weaponized to stifle innovation. Ripple’s strong quarter reinforces its resilience, but the warning highlights ongoing uncertainty for crypto operators navigating shifting policy landscapes. Teams scaling in regulated markets should expect more scrutiny and prepare for abrupt compliance pivots. Those with robust policy engagement and adaptive compliance will be best positioned.

Source: The Block
№04

Nexi Partners With Danish Banks to Expand SEPA Direct Debit Across Europe

Nexi has joined forces with Danish banks to extend SEPA Direct Debit services, boosting cross-border payment efficiency in Europe. This partnership strengthens Nexi’s European footprint and signals growing demand for interoperable, pan-European payment solutions. Operators relying on fragmented local rails will face mounting pressure to integrate SEPA and similar standards. Expect further consolidation and collaboration as cross-border flows become a core battleground.

Source: Finextra
№05

GoCardless Executes First Recurring Pay by Bank Transaction for Jellyfish Energy

GoCardless has completed its first recurring Pay by Bank transaction for Jellyfish Energy, marking a milestone for open banking payments in the utility sector. This operational proof point could accelerate Pay by Bank adoption among merchants seeking lower costs and faster settlement. PSPs and banks that lag on open banking integration risk losing relevance as recurring use cases scale. Watch for increased merchant demand and competitive pressure on legacy direct debit providers.

Source: Finextra
The Long Memory
“Here’s a twist: SEPA Direct Debit, now a backbone for cross-border payments in Europe, was initially met with skepticism by many local banks who feared losing control over their domestic payment systems. Today, as seen with Nexi’s expansion, those same banks are partnering to accelerate SEPA adoption—proof that yesterday’s disruptor can become tomorrow’s standard.

Filed under: Payments History · The Long Memory

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