Klearly raises €12M from PayPal Ventures to fix restaurant payments chao

Sofia Chesnokova / techfundingnews - Restaurants, bars, and clubs face a persistent challenge: legacy systems that stutter during peak service hours, disrupting operations…

7 wks / sifted

Apple Services Hit Record Highs in 2025 as App Store Commerce Tops $1.3 Trillion

iclarified - Apple's Services division closed out a record-setting 2025, posting strong engagement across its platforms and facilitating $1.3 trillion in commerce through the App Store ecosystem. In a year-end performance update released today, the company highlighted…

#fintech #ecommerce #digitaltransformation #apple #earnings #business #apps #payments #economy #technology

Apple paid developers $550B via App Store since 2008

7 wks / dataconomy / Kerem Gülen

App Store has generated over half a trillion dollars for developers

7 wks / techzine / Erik van Klinken

Eddy Cue on Apple’s 2025 Year in Services

7 wks / apple / John Gruber

2025 Becomes Apple’s Biggest Year for Services

7 wks / idropnews / Jesse Hollington

Here's How 2025 Was a 'Record-Breaking Year' Across Apple's Services

7 wks / macrumors / Joe Rossignol

Apple Services Hit Record Highs in 2025 as App Store Commerce Tops $1.3 Trillion

7 wks / iclarified

Apple Just Revealed How Big Its Services Empire Has Become

7 wks / iphoneincanada / Austin Blake

VelaFi Raises $20M in Series B Funding

FinSMEs / finsmes - VelaFi, a Dallas, TX-based provider of a stablecoin-powered financial infrastructure platform under Galactic Holdings, raised $20M in Series B funding. The round was led by XVC and Ikuyo, with participation from Alibaba Investment, Planetree, existing sha…

#startups #blockchain #fintech #crypto #banking #business #payments #economy

VelaFi Raises $20M in Series B Funding

7 wks / finsmes / FinSMEs

VelaFi Raises $20 Million To Expand Global Stablecoin Infrastructure

7 wks / ventureburn / Clinton

VelaFi raises $20 million in Series B to expand stablecoin payments infrastructure

7 wks / coindesk / Will Canny

Walmart and Google bet on AI agents to reshape how people shop online

Siamak Masnavi / coindesk - The retail giant said a new Gemini integration reflects a broader shift from search-based shopping to AI systems that can act on a customer’s behalf.

#ai #ecommerce #google #genai #business #walmart #payments #assistant #api #gemini

Google UCP & Protocol Announcements (14)
Other Developments (1)
Product & Interface Innovations (8)
Retailer Partnerships & Collaborations (8)
All Other Stories

Google UCP & Protocol Announcements

Google Enables Agentic Shopping in AI Mode in Search and the Gemini App

7 wks / thurrott / Laurent Giret

What is UCP? Google’s open standard for agentic commerce

7 wks / techzine / Berry Zwets

Google Embraces Agentic Commerce With Universal Protocol Release

7 wks / eweek / eWEEK Staff

Agentic Commerce: What SEOs Need To Consider (ACP & UCP) via @sejournal, @alexmoss

7 wks / searchenginejournal / Alex Moss

Google launches Universal Commerce Protocol to let AI shop for you

7 wks / dataconomy / Kerem Gülen

Ant International teams up with Google on use of Universal Commerce Protocol

7 wks / scmp

Google Debuts ‘Universal’ Protocol for Agentic Commerce

7 wks / pymnts / PYMNTS

Google debuts Universal Commerce Protocol to streamline agentic shopping automation

7 wks / siliconangle / Mike Wheatley

Google's new commerce framework cranks up the heat on 'agentic shopping'

7 wks / engadget / Jackson Chen

The Protocol That Wants to Own Your Shopping Cart

7 wks / implicator / Maria Garcia

AI Shopping: Google Launches Universal Commerce Protocol and Direct Offers, Betting on Open Standards to Win Agentic Shopping Race

7 wks / winbuzzer / Markus Kasanmascheff

Google Announces AI Mode Checkout Protocol, Business Agent via @sejournal, @MattGSouthern

7 wks / searchenginejournal / Matt G. Southern

Google bolsters bet on AI-powered commerce with new platform for shopping agents

7 wks / cnbc

Google announces a new protocol to facilitate commerce using AI agents

7 wks / techcrunch / Ivan Mehta

Other Developments

Meta Makes Nuclear History

7 wks / theresanaiforthat / There's An AI For That

Product & Interface Innovations

Google brings buy buttons to Gemini and AI search

7 wks / theverge / Robert Hart

Googles new tech will let you buy stuff directly from an AI chatbot

7 wks / mashable

Google Cloud launches Gemini Enterprise shopping agents

7 wks / dataconomy / Kerem Gülen

Google’s Gemini AI will go shopping for you without hopping between sites and apps

7 wks / digitaltrends

Google joins the AI shopping race with exclusive discounts

7 wks / mumbrella / Eleanor Dickinson

Google Just Added a ‘Buy’ Button to AI Search: Here’s How it Works

7 wks / iphoneincanada / John Quintet

Google introduces personalised shopping ads to Gemini chatbot

7 wks / ft

Google Bets on AI-Based Shopping With New AI Agents for Retailers

7 wks / wsj / Belle Lin

Retailer Partnerships & Collaborations

Gemini now lets you shop Walmart and Sam’s Club products without leaving the chat

7 wks / digitaltrends

Walmart Teams With Google to Promote ‘Agent-Led Commerce’

7 wks / pymnts / PYMNTS

Walmart Partners with Google to Enable AI-Powered Shopping Through Gemini

7 wks / techstrong / Jon Swartz

Google teams with Walmart and other retailers to enable shopping within Gemini AI chatbot

7 wks / x / @MarketWatch

Walmart Announces Drone Delivery, Integration with Google's AI Chatbot Gemini

7 wks / slashdot / EditorDavid

Google teams up with Walmart and other retailers to enable shopping within Gemini AI chatbot

7 wks / techxplore

Walmart and Google bet on AI agents to reshape how people shop online

7 wks / coindesk / Siamak Masnavi

Walmart teams up with Google's Gemini to make it easier for shoppers to find and buy products

7 wks / cnbc

All Other Stories

Google’s UCP Checkout Brings New Tradeoffs For Retailers via @sejournal, @MattGSouthern

7 wks / searchenginejournal / Matt G. Southern

Google Launches Universal Commerce Protocol for AI-Powered Shopping

7 wks / techstrong / Jon Swartz

Google is expanding Gemini AI chatbot’s shopping capabilities, enabling users in the U.S. to browse and purchase products from major retailers like Walmart and Shopify directly within the app.

7 wks / bsky / @sciencex.bsky.social / sciencex.bsky.social

Google is introducing new personalized ads in AI mode, powered by Gemini, which allow advertisers to offer exclusives for users preparing to buy a product (Cristina Criddle/Financial Times) Main Link | Mediagazer Permalink

7 wks / bsky / @mediagazer.com / mediagazer.com

Google said that merchants can now offer discounts to users directly in AI mode results

7 wks / bsky / @techcrunch.com / techcrunch.com

World's largest custodial bank BNY to offer tokenized deposits for institutional investors

Aoyon Ashraf / coindesk - The initiative mirrors deposit balances on a private blockchain to speed up settlement and unlock liquidity.

#blockchain #innovation #fintech #crypto #digitaltransformation #banking #finance #payments #wallet

BNY Enables Tokenized Deposits for Financial Institutions and Digital-Native Companies

1 month / pymnts / PYMNTS

World's largest custodial bank BNY to offer tokenized deposits for institutional investors

1 month / coindesk / Aoyon Ashraf

BNY Debuts Tokenized Deposits for Institutions and 'Digital Natives'

1 month / decrypt / André Beganski

BNY activates tokenized deposit service for payments and collateral

1 month / theblock / Brian Danga

Ripple Secures FCA Authorization, Boosting UK Expansion

Ekemini / ventureburn - Ripple just got the green light from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which is a big deal for its push into Europe. With this approval, Ripple can now expandThe post Ripple Secures FCA Authorization, Boosting UK Expansion appeared first on Vent…

#blockchain #fintech #crypto #business #uk #payments #law #wallet #regulation

U.Today Crypto Digest: Ripple Gets Major EU License Approval, Shiba Inu (SHIB) Price Teases 22% Golden Cross Breakout, Bitwise Launches Chainlink (LINK) ETF - U.Today

7 wks / u

Ripple dips on Thursday as European licensing gains momentum - FXStreet

7 wks / fxstreet

Ripple secures EU EMI license in Luxembourg after UK FCA nod — what it means for XRP utility and price - MSN

7 wks / msn

Ripple Secures Initial EMI Approval in Luxembourg, Eyes EU Expansion - The Crypto Times

7 wks / cryptotimes

Ripple Turbocharges Cross-Border Payments in Europe After Luxembourg Nod - Coinpaper

7 wks / coinpaper

XRP ETFs hit record weekly volume as bitcoin, ether funds face $750 million in combined outflows

7 wks / theblock / Zack Abrams

Ripple Secures Electronic Money Institution License and Crypto Asset Registration in UK

1 month / pymnts / PYMNTS

Ripple Secures FCA Authorization, Boosting UK Expansion

1 month / ventureburn / Ekemini

The Daily: Cathie Wood says US government may soon start buying bitcoin, Ripple secures FCA authorization, and more

1 month / theblock / James Hunt

Ripple secures FCA authorization, clearing path for UK expansion

1 month / theblock / Sarah Wynn

Ripple wins UK regulatory approval from Financial Conduct Authority

1 month / coindesk / Jamie Crawley

Rain Raises $250 Million to Scale Platform for Launching Stablecoin Cards

PYMNTS / pymnts - Rain raised $250 million in a Series C funding round to scale its infrastructure for stablecoin payments and add new capabilities and products. The round boosted Rain’s valuation to $1.95 billion, which is 17 times higher than its valuation 10 months ago,…

#startups #vc #blockchain #fintech #crypto #banking #business #payments #wallet

Stablecoin payment card startup Rain reels in $250M

1 month / siliconangle / Maria Deutscher

Rain Raises $250 Million to Scale Its Global Stablecoin Infrastructure

1 month / ventureburn / Clinton

Rain Raises $250 Million to Scale Platform for Launching Stablecoin Cards

1 month / pymnts / PYMNTS

Rain valuation nears $2 billion after $250 million Series C raise for stablecoin payments firm

1 month / theblock / Brian Danga

Rain Raises $250M in Series C Funding

1 month / finsmes / FinSMEs

Apple Inks A Deal With JPMorgan To Power Its Apple Card As Goldman Sachs Surrenders The Business At A $1 Billion Discount

Rohail Saleem / wccftech - The inevitable seems to have come to pass. Apple has reportedly inked a deal with JPMorgan to take over its Apple Card business, which is now being surrendered by Goldman Sachs at a rare $1 billion discount. Apple Card will soon be powered by JPMorgan's f…

#fintech #apple #banking #business #us #payments #technology #wallet

Deal Details and Negotiation Saga (7)
Official Transition Announcements (8)
Saga Finale & Regional Impact (2)
All Other Stories

Deal Details and Negotiation Saga

Apple swaps card to JPMorgan

1 month / paymentsdive / Justin Bachman

JPMorgan Chase to Become New Issuer of Apple Credit Card

1 month / pymnts / PYMNTS

JPMorgan Chase Reaches a Deal To Take Over the Apple Credit Card

1 month / slashdot / BeauHD

Apple Inks A Deal With JPMorgan To Power Its Apple Card As Goldman Sachs Surrenders The Business At A $1 Billion Discount

1 month / wccftech / Rohail Saleem

JPMorgan to take over Apple’s $20bn credit card portfolio from Goldman Sachs

1 month / ft

JPMorgan Chase reaches deal to take over Apple Card

1 month / appleinsider

Apple Card Will Move From Goldman Sachs to JPMorgan Chase

1 month / macrumors / Eric Slivka

Ledger confirms leak of customer data from third-party Global-e hack

Kyt Dotson / siliconangle - Crypto wallet company Ledger SAS confirmed today a data breach to a third-party leaked customer data, including names and contact information. Customers received an email from Global-e Online Ltd., an end-to-end e-commerce platform used by Ledger to sell …

#blockchain #cybersecurity #ecommerce #crypto #dataprivacy #business #cybercrime #payments #wallet

Ledger is informing some customers that their personal data has been exposed after hackers breached the systems of third-party payment processor Global-e.

2 months / bsky / @bleepingcomputer.com / bleepingcomputer.com

Ledger customers impacted by third-party Global-e data breach

2 months / bsky / @infosec.skyfleet.blue / infosec.skyfleet.blue

Crypto Wallet Maker Ledger Confirms Data Breach on Global-e Platform

2 months / decrypt / Stacy Elliott

Ledger Suffers Data Breach Tied to 3rd-Party Payment Processor

2 months / pymnts / PYMNTS

Ledger confirms leak of customer data from third-party Global-e hack

2 months / siliconangle / Kyt Dotson

Ledger customers impacted by third-party Global-e data breach

2 months / bleepingcomputer / Bill Toulas

Ledger customers alerted to fresh data leak tied to payment processor

2 months / theblock / Naga Avan-Nomayo

PwC deepens crypto push as U.S. rules shift and stablecoins go mainstream: Report

Shaurya Malwa / coindesk - PwC aims to enhance its audit and consulting services by exploring the use of stablecoins to improve payment efficiency.

#fintech #crypto #techpolicy #banking #business #treasury #us #payments #law #sec

PwC to Deepen Crypto Engagement Amid US Regulatory Shift

2 months / ventureburn / Ekemini

PwC deepens crypto push as U.S. rules shift and stablecoins go mainstream: Report

2 months / coindesk / Shaurya Malwa

PwC to deepen crypto engagement citing US regulatory shift: FT

2 months / theblock / Danny Park

(LEAD) Gov't says poor security of femtocells led to major payment breach at KT

Kang Yoon-seung / co - SEOUL, Dec. 29 (Yonhap) -- The science ministry said Monday the security breach ...

#cybersecurity #dataprivacy #infosec #government #security #asia #payments #hack #telecommunications

Korean telco failed at femtocell security, exposed customers to snooping and fraud

2 months / theregister / Simon Sharwood

Ministry confirms KT, Uplus data breaches

2 months / co / Ha Neul-bit

(LEAD) Gov't says poor security of femtocells led to major payment breach at KT

2 months / co / Kang Yoon-seung

Gov't says poor security of femtocells led to major payment breach at KT

2 months / co / Kang Yoon-seung

Apple Agrees to Allow Alternative App Stores and Payments in Brazil

iclarified - Brazil's Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) has approved a settlement agreement with Apple that requires the company to allow alternative app marketplaces and third-party payment processing on iOS devices in the country. The decision resol…

#techpolicy #mobile #apple #antitrust #ios #apps #brazil #payments #technology #regulation

UK $2 billion App Store ruling appealed -- again

2 months / appleinsider

Apple will allow third-party app stores and payment processing in Brazil

2 months / engadget / Andre Revilla

Apple Opens Brazil App Store to Rivals but Adds New Fees in Antitrust Settlement

2 months / winbuzzer / Markus Kasanmascheff

Apple Settles Brazilian Antitrust Case, Must Allow Third-Party App Stores and External Payment Links

2 months / slashdot / msmash

Apple To Allow Alternative App Stores For iOS Users In Brazil

2 months / slashdot / BeauHD

Apple Agrees to Allow Alternative App Stores and Payments in Brazil

2 months / iclarified

Apple Revises App Store Fee Structure in Brazil

2 months / iphoneincanada / Usman Qureshi

Apple to Allow Alternative App Stores for iOS Users in Brazil

2 months / thurrott / Laurent Giret

Apple to Introduce New App Store Fee Structure in Brazil Following Antitrust Settlement

2 months / macrumors / Hartley Charlton

Want to link from Google’s app store to your app? That’ll be $2–4 per install

Sean Hollister / theverge - Today was the deadline for Google to reveal how it's complying with Judge James Donato's order to crack open Android for third-party app stores, stop illegally tying its Google Play Billing system to its app store, and let developers link to ways to downl…

#techpolicy #mobile #google #android #alphabet #apps #pricing #payments #law #regulation

Through gritted teeth, Apple and Google allow alternative app stores in Japan

2 months / theregister / Simon Sharwood

Android introduces $2-4 install fee and 10–20% cut for US external content links

2 months / ycombinator

Want to link from Google’s app store to your app? That’ll be $2–4 per install

2 months / theverge / Sean Hollister

Apple opens up iOS in Japan in response to new regulations

Will Shanklin / engadget - You can add Japan to the list of regions where Apple has been forced to do something it would rather not: open up the App Store. On Thursday, the company announced changes to iOS in Japan to comply with the nation's Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA).…

#techpolicy #apple #antitrust #ios #apps #asia #payments #regulation #japan

Big in Japan: Apple Finally Opens the Walled Garden

2 months / idropnews / Jesse Hollington

Fortnite Not Coming to iOS in Japan as Epic Games CEO Accuses Apple of 'Obstruction and Lawbreaking'

2 months / macrumors / Juli Clover

AltStore Available in Japan One Day After Apple Enables Alternative App Marketplaces

2 months / bsky / @macrumors.bsky.social / macrumors.bsky.social

Fortnite Won't Return to iOS in Japan as Epic CEO Blasts Apple's New 'Junk Fees'

2 months / iclarified

AltStore Available in Japan One Day After Apple Enables Alternative App Marketplaces

2 months / macrumors / Juli Clover

Apple opens up iOS in Japan in response to new regulations

2 months / engadget / Will Shanklin

Apple Now Allows Alternative App Stores and Payment Systems on iOS in Japan

2 months / thurrott / Laurent Giret

Japan’s smartphone law sees Apple, Google unveil new updates

2 months / globalcompetitionreview / Bethan John

Apple opens up its App Store to competition in Japan

2 months / techcrunch / Sarah Perez

Imprint becomes latest Irish-founded unicorn with $150m Series D raise

Ann O’Dea / siliconrepublic - New York-based fintech Imprint, co-founded by Irishman Daragh Murphy, has hit a $1.2bn valuation with its latest $150m Series D raise.Read more: Imprint becomes latest Irish-founded unicorn with $150m Series D raise

#startups #vc #innovation #fintech #saas #digitalmarketing #investment #business #payments #technology

Khosla-led Imprint hits unicorn status with $150M for brand cards

2 months / techfundingnews / Abhinaya Prabhu

Imprint Raises $150M in Series D Funding

2 months / finsmes / FinSMEs

Imprint becomes latest Irish-founded unicorn with $150m Series D raise

2 months / siliconrepublic / Ann O’Dea

New third-party iOS App Stores in Japan preserve user privacy, child safety

appleinsider - Apple is introducing alternative app stores and payment options in Japan to comply with a new competition law, while maintaining that platform-level security and child safety controls remain in place.App StoreApple compares this approach with the EU's Dig…

#techpolicy #apple #antitrust #ios #apps #privacy #payments #digitalmarketsact #regulation #japan

Apple Is Letting iPhone Users in Japan Bypass the App Store

2 months / iphoneincanada / John Quintet

Apple opens iOS to third-party app stores in Japan

2 months / theverge / Dominic Preston

Apple Opens Up iPhone to Alternative App Stores and Browser Engines in Japan

2 months / iclarified

New third-party iOS App Stores in Japan preserve user privacy, child safety

2 months / appleinsider

Apple Makes Changes to iOS Software in Face of Stricter Japanese Rules

2 months / bloomberg / Samantha Kelly

Japan App Store Gets Alternative Marketplaces, Third-Party Payments and More

2 months / macrumors / Juli Clover

Locked out: How a gift card purchase destroyed an Apple account

appleinsider - The locking of an Apple Account and the difficulty one loyal Apple customer has experienced in regaining access is a stark reminder to be vigilant when buying gift cards for the holidays.A selection of Apple Gift Card designs - Image Credit: AppleWhile ho…

#infosec #apple #techsupport #security #scam #privacy #payments #digitalid #digitalprivacy #wallet

Wild story. Developer who has spent their whole career in the Apple ecosystem, writing multiple books on developing for apple, has their account permanently locked for unclear reasons, and Apple employees prove unhelpful.

2 months / bsky / @reuning.bsky.social / reuning.bsky.social

Locked out: How a gift card purchase destroyed an Apple account

2 months / appleinsider

Paris Buttfield-Addison’s Apple Account Is in Kafka Mode

2 months / hey / John Gruber

Switzerland opens antitrust probe over iPhone NFC access

appleinsider - Swiss regulators are examining what conditions Apple puts on third-party firms before it allows them to use the same NFC technology that enables Apple Pay.NFC payments are to be investigated by Switzerland's competition regulatorIn June 2024, the European…

#apple #antitrust #privacy #payments #technology #digitalmarketsact #eu #regulation

Swiss regulators are examining what conditions Apple puts on third-party firms before it allows them to use the same NFC technology that enables Apple Pay.

2 months / bsky / @appleinsider.com / appleinsider.com

Apple Pay Faces Swiss Antitrust Investigation Over NFC Access

2 months / bsky / @macrumors.bsky.social / macrumors.bsky.social

Switzerland opens antitrust probe over iPhone NFC access

2 months / appleinsider

Apple Pay Hit with New Antitrust Probe in Switzerland

2 months / iphoneincanada / Nehal Malik

Apple Pay Faces Swiss Antitrust Investigation Over NFC Access

2 months / macrumors / Tim Hardwick

Mollie buys GoCardless in €1.05B deal to serve 350,000+ businesses across Europe

Abhinaya Prabhu / techfundingnews - Dutch payments leader Mollie has struck a landmark agreement to acquire UK-based GoCardless in a deal valued at…

#startups #fintech #banking #privateequity #business #finance #uk #europe #payments #acquisitions

Dutch fintech Mollie acquires GoCardless in €1.05bn deal

2 months / siliconrepublic / Suhasini Srinivasaragavan

Mollie buys GoCardless in €1.05B deal to serve 350,000+ businesses across Europe

2 months / techfundingnews / Abhinaya Prabhu

Mollie Acquires GoCardless For €1.05 Billion Deal

2 months / startuprise / Kailee Rainse

Apple Wins Ability to Charge Fees on External Payment Links as Appeals Court Modifies Epic Injunction

Juli Clover / macrumors - Apple should be able to collect a reasonable commission on purchases made using external links included in iOS apps, the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled today (via Reuters). The U.S. Court of Appeals partially reversed sanctions imposed on Apple after Apple w…