DIGITAL PAYMENTS
Hong Kong Credit Card Numbers Surge 38% in 2025 as Digital Payments Boom
HKMA Q4 2025 data shows 28.99 million credit cards in circulation, up 38.4% year-over-year. Transaction values hit HK$311.6 billion amid strong retail spending.
HKMA Deploys AI in 2026 Anti-Fraud Push Targeting Digital Payments
Hong Kong's central bank launches AI-powered anti-fraud campaign with electronic lai-see warnings as CNY phishing scams surge via messaging apps.
Hong Kong Expands Electronic Property Payment System to Secondary Market
HKMA extends PAPT electronic payment system to secondary residential property sales from Feb 28, building on 15,000+ refinancing transactions since 2022 launch.
Reviving HTTP 402: A New Era for Internet Transactions
HTTP 402 is being reimagined to facilitate digital payments, marking a significant shift in how online transactions are managed, according to Pantera Capital.
Stablecoins: Transforming the Landscape of Global Payments
Stablecoins are revolutionizing payments by offering enhanced speed, cost-efficiency, and transparency, while the GENIUS Act provides a regulatory framework for stablecoin integration into the U.S. financial system.
Are Stablecoins the Future of Global Digital Payments?
Explore the potential of stablecoins in transforming global digital payments, as discussed by experts from Paxos and Chainalysis.
Ripple (XRP): Latin America Shifts Towards Crypto Amidst Cash Ditch
Latin America embraces digital payments, with a notable shift towards cryptocurrency due to post-COVID comfort with online experiences and unsettling inflationary issues.
Mercari Japan Embraces Bitcoin Payments
Mercari, Japan's e-commerce leader, announces Bitcoin payment integration by June 2024, leveraging its subsidiary Melcoin. This reflects Japan's advanced crypto regulatory environment, fostering digital currency adoption in commerce.
Visa Unveils Innovative Web3 Loyalty Program with SmartMedia Technologies
Visa teams up with SmartMedia Technologies to launch a pioneering Web3 Loyalty Engagement Solution, revolutionizing customer loyalty with gamified, immersive experiences and digital wallets.
CBDCs on the Rise: What the Decline of Physical Cash Means for Blockchain and Privacy
The decline in the use of physical cash raises important questions about the loss of personal freedom and privacy. As central banks explore the development of CBDCs, the design and implementation of these digital currencies will play a critical role in balancing convenience and personal liberties.
BRICS Alliance Considers Creating New Currency
The BRICS alliance, comprised of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is reportedly exploring the possibility of creating its own currency, according to a top Russian official. Alexander Babakov, State Duma Deputy Chairman, stated that the currency could be based on new monetary ties and could be secured by gold and other commodities. The move is seen as a way to distance the BRICS nations from US dollar hegemony and to promote their shared objectives.
Dock Plans to Use Cryptos for International Money Transfers: Reuters
Brazilian financial services platform Dock offers solutions for the entire ecosystem of digital payments and banking. It plans to utilise crypto for international remittances, expanding markets in the Latin American and European regions.
Mastercard Survey Suggests that Consumer Appetite for Cryptocurrency Payments Is Surging
Mastercard released a report on May 4 that revealed that there is a growing demand for digital payments.
CBDC Project will Help Enhance Japan's "Settlement System," Says Bank of Japan Executive
Bank of Japan's Kazushige Kamiyama has revealed that the country’s proposed central bank digital currency will enhance the country’s settlement system.
Square Stocks Soar After Bitcoin Purchase, Market Bulls Convinced PayPal Will Make a BTC Move of Its Own
Square’s $50 million-dollar move on Bitcoin has pushed the fintech payment company’s stocks higher, enabling it to outperform PayPal shares.