There’s a lot of buzz about generative AI, but real traction is happening in places like customer support and dispute resolution in areas that have long been time-consuming and expensive for FinTechs and acquirers.

The payments industry has never stood still.  And nowhere is that more evident than in how we underwrite merchants. For decades, underwriting relied on static snapshots: a credit report, a business profile, a few bank statements. But static risk models are no match for today’s fast-moving commerce and evolving fraud tactics.

Key trend to watch: Bank-native tokens are emerging, but for them to scale, we’ll need stronger interoperability standards and clearer guardrails across institutions. Still, it’s encouraging to see real traction from players who once sat on the sidelines.

Stablecoins are no longer the domain of crypto-native startups. The big guys are stepping in. And that could reshape how value moves in the not-so-distant future.

RPY Innovations, a leading payments consulting firm, is pleased to announce the promotion of Joseph Arthur to Managing Partner. In his new role, Mr. Arthur will take on expanded leadership responsibilities, guiding the firm's strategic direction and overseeing the delivery of its world-class consulting services to a global clientele.

Google announced that PayPal can no longer be a funding source for U.S. Google Wallet users. Existing PayPal tokens will be auto deleted; new links were blocked back in April.

New York just became the first state to fold an entire “Buy-Now-Pay-Later Act” into its FY 2026 budget, requiring providers to obtain a lending license, cap finance charges at 16 percent, and meet credit-card-style disclosure and dispute-resolution rules.

Nevada may soon give retailers a new weapon in the swipe-fee wars. Assembly Bill 500 now moving through Carson City would create a special “payment bank” charter for non-lending institutions that plug directly into FedNow, Fedwire and ACH, bypassing the card-network tollgates that add 2 – 3 % to every sale.

At RPY Innovations, we’ve spent 15 years architecting and scaling embedded-payments solutions across SaaS, fintech, and marketplace models. That experience has taught us a simple truth: profitability, compliance, and interchange never stay still. To keep margins strong, you need constant, specialist vigilance without piling on project hours.

Friendly fraud thrives in gray zones. Brighten the lines, share the signals, and remind customers—and regulators—that somebody always pays. Preserving trust in digital commerce demands it.