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Archive · July 17, 2026

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Story 01

Visa Launches Stablecoin Platform for Financial Institutions to Mint and Move Digital Dollars

Visa has introduced a platform that enables banks and fintechs to mint, transfer, and manage stablecoins, aiming to embed digital dollars into mainstream payment flows. Visa’s platform allows financial institutions to accelerate the use of stablecoins for settlement and cross-border payments, setting a new benchmark for programmable money. Competing card networks and payment processors may need to respond with their own stablecoin initiatives, while regulators are expected to increase scrutiny of these new rails.

Source: Finextra
Also Worth Knowing
№02

Citadel Securities Invests $400M in Crypto.com, Marking Major Institutional Entry Into Crypto Infrastructure

Crypto.com has secured a $400 million investment from Citadel Securities, its first major institutional funding round, raising its valuation to $20 billion. The investment strengthens Crypto.com’s position in tokenization and derivatives, and signals that large trading firms are moving into crypto-native payment and trading infrastructure. This move is likely to spur other institutional investors and trading firms to enter the sector, intensifying competition and driving new product development.

Source: PYMNTS
№03

Mastercard Releases Developer Tools to Speed Up Mobile Wallet Integration

Mastercard has launched a suite of software tools and services to help banks and app developers embed contactless payments into mobile apps. By reducing technical barriers, Mastercard aims to expand its reach in the digital wallet ecosystem and accelerate the shift away from cash and physical cards. Competing wallet providers and card networks will need to focus on user experience and merchant acceptance as digital wallet adoption grows.

Source: Finextra
№04

Inter Launches Contactless Payment Rings and Wristbands in the US

Brazilian digital bank Inter is introducing wearable payment devices—including rings and wristbands—to the US market, expanding its contactless payment offerings beyond Latin America. This launch challenges established US banks and technology firms to develop their own wearable payment solutions. If US consumers embrace these devices, payment networks and issuers may need to adapt their authentication and device strategies.

Source: Finextra
№05

Global Fintech Funding Rises 23% in H1 2026, Fueled by AI and Infrastructure Startups

Fintech startups attracted $28.6 billion in venture funding during the first half of 2026, a 23% increase year-over-year, with investors prioritizing AI and financial infrastructure. This funding surge is expected to drive more IPOs, acquisitions, and new product launches, increasing competition across the sector. Traditional banks and payment processors will face a new wave of well-capitalized challengers, while regulators may heighten oversight as investment accelerates.

Source: Finextra
The Long Memory
“In 2008, the Philippines’ Smart Money system enabled the first mobile phone-based money transfers, pioneering a model that influenced later mobile payment platforms worldwide.

Filed under: Payments History · The Long Memory

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