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Archive · July 1, 2026

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Story 01

Amex and Apple Pay Integrate Points Redemption at Checkout, Targeting PayPal’s Wallet Lead

American Express U.S. cardholders can now redeem Membership Rewards points for purchases directly within Apple Pay’s checkout flow. By embedding rewards redemption at the point of sale, Apple Pay increases its appeal for Amex users and directly challenges PayPal’s dominance in digital wallet usage for online and in-store payments. Merchants may see a shift in wallet preference as card issuers pursue similar integrations.

Source: PYMNTS
Also Worth Knowing
№02

Visa, Stripe, and Coinbase Back Open USD Stablecoin With Fee-Free Minting

Visa, Stripe, and Coinbase are supporting Open USD, a new stablecoin designed to let businesses mint and redeem without fees or volume limits. This model undercuts the fee-based structures of current stablecoin leaders like USDC, introducing a zero-fee competitor backed by major payment networks. The move could shift stablecoin adoption patterns in B2B and cross-border payments as businesses seek lower-cost alternatives.

Source: The Block
№03

Morgan Stanley Wins OCC’s Conditional Trust Charter for Digital Asset Expansion

Morgan Stanley secured conditional approval from the OCC for a trust charter to manage digital assets, contingent on maintaining $50 million in tier 1 capital. This approval enables the bank to expand into digital asset custody and management, intensifying competition with fintechs and other banks in the crypto space. The move signals that large U.S. banks are now actively pursuing regulated digital asset services to meet institutional demand.

Source: Banking Dive
№04

Google Cloud and FactSet Partner to Build AI Agents for Financial Markets

Google Cloud and FactSet are collaborating to develop AI-powered agents for portfolio operations, deal advisory, and corporate finance. This partnership positions Google Cloud to challenge incumbents like Bloomberg and Thomson Reuters in AI-driven financial analytics. Financial institutions are likely to accelerate AI adoption to leverage new automation and data analysis capabilities that can improve decision-making and operational efficiency.

Source: PYMNTS
№05

Taiwan Enacts Crypto Licensing Law, Attracting Digital Asset Firms

Taiwan passed legislation requiring crypto platforms to obtain licenses from the Financial Supervisory Commission, reducing legal uncertainty for digital asset businesses. The new law positions Taiwan as a crypto-friendly jurisdiction and could draw more crypto investment and innovation to the region. Other countries may look to Taiwan’s framework as a model for digital asset regulation.

Source: The Block
The Long Memory
“DigiCash, developed by David Chaum in 1990, was the first virtual currency to enable anonymous online payments, foreshadowing today’s cryptocurrencies and digital wallets.

Filed under: Payments History · The Long Memory

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