Skip to content
Archive · June 2, 2026

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

UK Banks Launch Payments Initiative to Challenge Visa and Mastercard’s Market Hold

Major UK banks have launched the UK Payments Initiative to reduce reliance on Visa and Mastercard by developing alternative payment rails for merchants and consumers. By offering a domestic network, banks aim to give merchants more negotiating power on fees and encourage a shift away from international card schemes, which could result in lower costs for merchants and potentially more competitive pricing for consumers. The initiative may prompt changes in consumer payment habits and intensify scrutiny from regulators and established card networks.

Source: Finextra
Also Worth Knowing
№02

MoneyGram Debuts MGUSD Stablecoin on Stellar to Expand Blockchain Remittances

MoneyGram has launched MGUSD, a stablecoin on the Stellar blockchain, to streamline global remittances for users without traditional bank access. This move positions MoneyGram as an early adopter among legacy remittance providers using blockchain for settlement. As blockchain-based transfers reduce fees and settlement times, traditional remittance services may see increased competition and margin pressure. MoneyGram’s next steps include integrating MGUSD with retail partners and expanding into new remittance corridors.

Source: PYMNTS
№03

Affirm and Stripe Bring BNPL to UK Merchants, Escalating Competition With Local Providers

Affirm has partnered with Stripe to offer its Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) products to Stripe’s UK merchant base, expanding Affirm’s reach beyond direct integrations. Stripe merchants can now add Affirm’s installment options at checkout, increasing competition for local BNPL providers such as Klarna and Clearpay. UK consumers may benefit from more flexible payment terms and promotional offers as providers compete for market share, while the partnership will test how Affirm’s US model adapts to UK regulations and consumer preferences.

Source: PYMNTS
№04

Mastercard Pilots Instant Cross-Currency Payments With Danish and Swedish Central Banks on TIPS

Mastercard is collaborating with Danmarks Nationalbank and Sveriges Riksbank, the central banks of Denmark and Sweden, to pilot instant cross-currency payments on the TIPS platform. The pilot aims to enable real-time settlement between Nordic currencies and the euro, offering an alternative to traditional correspondent banking. If successful, banks and fintechs could access faster and potentially lower-cost cross-border payments, and other central banks may consider joining the scheme.

Source: Finextra
№05

Robinhood Acquires WonderFi, Marking Aggressive Entry Into Canadian Crypto Market

Robinhood has finalized its acquisition of WonderFi, gaining immediate access to Canada’s regulated crypto sector and WonderFi’s user base. This positions Robinhood to compete with local exchanges like Bitbuy and Wealthsimple, offering Canadian crypto users a new low-fee trading option. The acquisition could accelerate product innovation and increase competition, while incumbents may face margin pressure and customer churn as Robinhood integrates WonderFi’s platform.

Source: The Block
The Long Memory
“In 2022, the European Union’s MiCA regulation became the first comprehensive crypto framework by a major economy, requiring stablecoin issuers to hold full reserves and meet strict transparency standards.

Filed under: Payments History · The Long Memory

What's Hot