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Smartcomply joins Mastercard Engage with fraud tool
Software-as-a-Service

Smartcomply joins Mastercard Engage with fraud tool

Financial institutions using Mastercard can now tap an AI fraud system built in Africa as digital payments face rising scam and compliance risks.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 3 min read • 2 days ago
Silent Push appoints Thomas Bain as Chief Marketing Officer
Security Operations Centres

Silent Push appoints Thomas Bain as Chief Marketing Officer

As cyber security vendors battle for buyers, Silent Push has tapped an experienced marketer to sharpen its global brand and go-to-market push.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • This month
Confirmo names leaders as it expands in Europe & US
Fintech

Confirmo names leaders as it expands in Europe & US

Licences and local leadership will underpin growth as crypto payments provider Confirmo targets a narrower, regulated field in Europe and the US.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • This month
Ondo, Morgan, Mastercard & Ripple test tokenised Treasury
Fintech

Ondo, Morgan, Mastercard & Ripple test tokenised Treasury

The pilot suggests tokenised Treasury redemptions could settle across borders in seconds, bypassing traditional banking cut-off windows.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • This month
ICBA names six firms to ThinkTECH accelerator cohort
Data Analytics

ICBA names six firms to ThinkTECH accelerator cohort

Community banks will test tools for fraud, payments and compliance as ICBA brings six firms into its eleventh ThinkTECH accelerator class.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 3 min read • This month
The 70% problem: Why checkout is still where eCommerce goes to die
Digital Transformation

The 70% problem: Why checkout is still where eCommerce goes to die

Merchants could win back lost sales as tokenised checkout trims friction, reduces card-not-present fraud and keeps payment data in bank rails.

By Suzana Kordumova • 3 min read • This month
Ant International launches mobile AI payment protocol
Wearables

Ant International launches mobile AI payment protocol

The open-source framework targets wallet-based payments as digital wallet use and agentic commerce expand rapidly worldwide.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last month
AI shopping agents reshape retail buying & checkout
Digital Transformation

AI shopping agents reshape retail buying & checkout

Retailers face a new fight for visibility as AI agents increasingly decide which products get bought and checked out for customers.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last month
Click to Pay lifts Ecommpay approval rates to 75.18%
Data Analytics

Click to Pay lifts Ecommpay approval rates to 75.18%

The payment option is generating more completed sales, with approval rates for online guest checkouts rising to 75.18% in April 2026.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 3 min read • Last month

Stories from Other Regions

Mastercard stories

Starling & Adyen launch tap-to-pay for SME customers
Fintech

Starling & Adyen launch tap-to-pay for SME customers

UK SMEs can now take contactless card payments on smartphones, with settlement into Starling accounts arriving the next day.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last week
Mastercard & JD.com team up on cross-border payments
Fintech

Mastercard & JD.com team up on cross-border payments

The tie-up could widen card acceptance and lower fraud risks for overseas shoppers and Chinese merchants as JD.com expands abroad.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 3 min read • Last week
TACEO launches confidential payments for x402 on Base Sepolia
Fintech

TACEO launches confidential payments for x402 on Base Sepolia

Businesses using x402 could keep payment amounts and balances private, as TACEO's new Merces-based system targets confidential transactions on Base.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • This month
UK consumers turn to real-world leisure over screens
Artificial Intelligence

UK consumers turn to real-world leisure over screens

Britons are favouring live events and other real-world outings, with Mastercard research showing many will cut back on gadgets and streaming.

By Mark Tarre • 5 min read • This month
Indonesia, China launch cross-border QR payments link
Crypto

Indonesia, China launch cross-border QR payments link

Travellers and small merchants in Indonesia and China can now use domestic e-wallets across both markets, widening QR payment acceptance.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • This month
UK consumers claim GBP £3.5bn in friendly fraud refunds
Fintech

UK consumers claim GBP £3.5bn in friendly fraud refunds

Retailers are bearing the cost as millions of valid card payments are challenged, leaving banks to refund GBP £3.5 billion in a year.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • This month
KYA is the new KYC: The payment identity problem AI commerce cannot afford to ignore
Biometrics

KYA is the new KYC: The payment identity problem AI commerce cannot afford to ignore

High decline rates and chargeback risk are already hitting merchants as AI agents struggle to pass payment checks built for human shoppers.

By Alpesh Patel • 5 min read • This month
CFIT wins GBP £1 million from Treasury & NatWest deal
Data Analytics

CFIT wins GBP £1 million from Treasury & NatWest deal

Backed through to 2027, the fintech body can expand work on SME finance and digital verification with new government and bank support.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last month