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Archive · July 30, 2026

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The Lead

Story 01

Freehand Raises $75M to Expand AI-Driven Procurement and Payments Automation

Freehand secured $75 million to scale its AI agents for automating procurement, supplier management, invoicing, and payments across global enterprises. This capital injection positions Freehand to challenge established players in enterprise procurement and payments automation, promising lower operational costs and greater efficiency for large corporates. Incumbent procurement and payment software providers such as SAP Ariba and Coupa now face direct competition from AI-native platforms. Key signals to watch include pilot deployments at Fortune 500 companies and integration announcements with leading ERP vendors like Oracle and SAP.

Source: PYMNTS
Also Worth Knowing
№02

Binance.US Pursues CFTC License to Enter Regulated Prediction Markets

Binance.US will apply for a CFTC license in August to launch a regulated prediction market platform, expanding beyond its core crypto trading business. This move could intensify competition with established prediction market operators like Kalshi and Polymarket, potentially increasing liquidity and mainstream adoption in the US market. If successful, Binance.US may prompt other crypto exchanges to seek similar licenses, accelerating the convergence of crypto and regulated derivatives in the US.

Source: The Block
№03

Increase Acquires Community Bank to Bolster Fintech Infrastructure

Increase, founded by a former Stripe executive, has acquired a community bank to strengthen its banking infrastructure and regulatory footing. This acquisition gives Increase direct access to core banking capabilities, allowing it to compete more aggressively with both traditional banks and fintech infrastructure providers such as Synapse and Treasury Prime. The move highlights a growing trend of fintechs acquiring banks to accelerate product launches and navigate compliance hurdles.

Source: Finextra
№04

BNY Mellon Rolls Out Blockchain-Based Transfer Agency for Asset Servicing

BNY Mellon has launched a blockchain-powered transfer agency service, digitizing record-keeping and transaction processing for asset managers. This positions BNY Mellon to win fund administration mandates from asset managers seeking greater transparency and operational efficiency, directly challenging legacy transfer agents such as State Street and Northern Trust. Large asset managers may now consider blockchain alternatives for fund administration, with adoption rates and competitive responses from incumbents as key indicators to watch.

Source: Finextra
№05

Visa Launches Tap-to-Phone Payments for Micro-Merchants in Brazil

Visa has introduced tap-to-phone technology in Brazil, enabling micro-merchants to accept contactless payments directly on Android smartphones without additional hardware. This rollout aims to expand digital payment acceptance among small businesses and informal vendors, reducing barriers to entry and increasing transaction volumes for Visa. Competing card networks and local acquirers may accelerate similar initiatives to capture Brazil’s rapidly digitizing merchant base.

Source: Payments Dive
The Long Memory
“In 1979, the first automated clearing house (ACH) network in the U.S. was established, allowing electronic bank transfers to occur, which paved the way for direct deposit and recurring payment systems that are widely used today.

Filed under: Payments History · The Long Memory

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