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Archive · August 22, 2026

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Story 01

Walmart Rolls Out Contactless Payments Nationwide, Forcing Retailers to Modernize Checkout

Walmart has begun deploying contactless payment options across its US stores, finally matching competitors like Target and Costco. Walmart’s move eliminates a key friction point for shoppers and pressures other major retailers such as Kroger and Walgreens to upgrade their checkout experiences or risk losing customers seeking faster, more convenient payments. As Walmart’s scale normalizes tap-to-pay, cash usage is likely to decline further and in-store payment expectations will shift.

Source: Finextra
Also Worth Knowing
№02

Standard Chartered and HSBC Complete First Swift Blockchain Interbank Payment

Standard Chartered and HSBC executed the first interbank transaction using Swift’s blockchain-based ledger, moving real funds between their institutions. This milestone signals that global banks such as Citi, JPMorgan, and Deutsche Bank now face a decision: invest in blockchain settlement infrastructure to keep pace with faster, lower-cost cross-border payments, or risk falling behind as early adopters set new benchmarks for efficiency.

Source: PYMNTS
№03

Apollo Global Management Data Breach Exposes Cloud Security Gaps in Finance

Apollo Global Management reported a data breach after a social engineering attack compromised personal data stored on its cloud platforms. The incident highlights ongoing cybersecurity vulnerabilities at major asset managers and private equity firms, prompting rivals like Blackstone and KKR to accelerate reviews of their own cloud security protocols as regulators scrutinize data protection practices across the sector.

Source: PYMNTS
№04

Fifth Third Invests in Payload to Scale Embedded Payments Platform

Fifth Third’s investment gives Payload capital to expand its embedded payments platform, which processed nearly $500 million in May. This partnership positions Payload to challenge incumbents like Stripe and Adyen in embedded finance, and signals that more regional banks may directly back fintech infrastructure providers as B2B and SaaS platforms demand integrated payment solutions.

Source: PYMNTS
№05

Grayscale Nears SEC Approval for First US Zcash ETF, Expanding Crypto Asset Access

Grayscale has filed an amended application with the SEC to launch the first Zcash ETF in the US, moving closer to regulatory approval. SEC approval would immediately expand investor access to privacy-focused crypto assets and reinforce Grayscale’s leadership in the crypto ETF market, prompting asset managers like Fidelity and VanEck to accelerate their own digital asset ETF offerings.

Source: The Block
The Long Memory
“Stanford Federal Credit Union’s 1971 online banking system paved the way for today’s digital banking, inspiring features like remote account access and secure electronic transfers.

Filed under: Payments History · The Long Memory

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