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Archive · June 3, 2026

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Story 01

Mastercard Adds USDC, PYUSD, RLUSD for Intraday and Weekend Card Settlement

Mastercard has expanded its settlement network to support stablecoins USDC, PYUSD, and RLUSD, enabling card settlements outside traditional banking hours. Payment processors, banks, and merchants can now settle transactions and access funds in near real-time, even on weekends, improving liquidity management and customer payout speed. Visa and other networks must enhance their digital currency settlement capabilities to remain competitive in high-velocity corridors where instant access to funds is critical.

Source: The Block
Also Worth Knowing
№02

LendingClub Rebrands as Happen Bank, Shifts Listing to Nasdaq for Full-Service Push

LendingClub has rebranded to Happen Bank and is moving its stock listing from NYSE to Nasdaq, signaling its evolution into a full-service bank. By repositioning itself, Happen Bank aims to attract new investors and compete more directly with both fintechs and traditional banks, while offering a broader suite of financial products. This rebrand may prompt other fintechs to pursue banking licenses or rebranding strategies to expand their product lines and appeal to a wider customer base.

Source: PYMNTS
№03

MoneyGram Launches Stripe-Issued Stablecoin on Stellar for Blockchain Remittances

MoneyGram has introduced a US dollar stablecoin on the Stellar blockchain, issued by Stripe-owned Bridge, to facilitate cross-border remittances. This move allows MoneyGram to offer faster and potentially lower-cost transfers, leveraging blockchain rails to challenge legacy remittance providers. Stripe and Stellar gain institutional validation, while traditional remittance services must adapt to new competition from crypto-enabled solutions.

Source: Finextra
№04

ING Expands Wero Payments Scheme to 10 Million German Online Shoppers

ING is rolling out its Wero payments scheme for online transactions to 10 million customers in Germany, aiming to boost e-commerce and digital wallet adoption. Competing banks and online retailers now face a strengthened digital payment option that could accelerate wallet-based checkouts and reduce reliance on card networks. This expansion may drive rivals to upgrade their payment technologies to retain digital-savvy customers.

Source: Finextra
№05

Apple Wallet Adds Bill-Splitting via Receipt Scanning, Raising Stakes for Digital Wallets

Apple is introducing a bill-splitting feature to its Wallet app, letting users split expenses by photographing receipts. This enhancement targets Apple Wallet users and merchants, offering a streamlined way to manage group payments and expenses. Competing digital wallets may need to accelerate feature development to keep pace with Apple’s expanding user-centric capabilities.

Source: Finextra
The Long Memory
“The first online purchase using a secure encrypted transaction was a Sting CD sold by NetMarket in 1994, paving the way for modern e-commerce payments.

Filed under: Payments History · The Long Memory

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