The hottest Payments Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Finance Topics

SITREP - 12/26/23

THREE SEVEN MAFIA • 904 implied HN points • 26 Dec 23
💰 Finance Payments Budget Loans
  1. Stripe Capital is causing issues by not processing payments, leading to a need to migrate elsewhere.
  2. The author experienced financial troubles, including fraudulent charges and a drained checking account.
  3. Despite challenges, the author plans to continue creating content and maintaining a positive outlook.

January 2024: What if ACH had attachments?

Kunle.app • 314 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Payments Messaging Innovation Data
  1. Payments innovation has focused on optimizing speed and cost over the past two decades.
  2. The messaging layers in payment systems have a bandwidth constraint that limits the communication of metadata and important contextual information.
  3. Increasing the bandwidth in the messaging layer of payments could allow for self-reconciling payments and eliminate the need for parallel systems for information exchange.

Long Take: How Wise disrupted $150T of Cross-Border Payments and earns $1B in revenue

The Fintech Blueprint • 511 implied HN points • 18 Oct 23
💰 Finance Payments Valuations Stablecoins DeFi Investments
  1. Wise disrupted the costly traditional cross-border payment system by using a peer-to-peer platform and offering transparent, low fees.
  2. The company earned $1.2B in revenue in 2021 with a significant portion coming from its margin on FX transfers.
  3. Wise's growth and profitability are driven by its innovative approach to simplifying and optimizing cross-border transactions.

Long Take: Visa, Worldpay, and Nuvei settling transactions using stablecoin USDC on Solana

The Fintech Blueprint • 511 implied HN points • 06 Sep 23
💼 Business Finance Technology Payments Networks Blockchain
  1. Visa, Worldpay, and Nuvei are settling transactions using the USDC stablecoin on Solana blockchain.
  2. Financial networks must adapt to new technologies for efficient cross-border transactions.
  3. Creating payment networks involves connecting commercial demands with financial capabilities.
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Dark software: a new model for SaaS and fintech; Income statement: Visa, Mastercard, and American Express; Why the interest in Payfacs?;

Fintech Wrap Up • 58 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
💰 Finance SaaS Payments GenAI
  1. Dark software is a new model for SaaS and fintech with a focus on hyper-specialized ICP, full stack product offering, and outsourcing products to minimize costs.
  2. Interest in Payfacs is driven by the need for embedded payments, ease of setting up payment capabilities, risk management, compliance support, and access to reporting tools.
  3. Income statements from Visa, Mastercard, and American Express show patterns of growth in consumer spending, new payment flows, digital innovations, and value-added services.

Chinese banks scrutinize trade payments from Russia: report

Pekingnology • 37 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics China Russia Banks Payments Sanctions
  1. Chinese banks are closely reviewing trade payments from Russia, causing disruptions for Chinese companies involved in business transactions.
  2. Major Chinese banks, including state-owned ones, are halting payments from sanctioned Russian financial institutions, leading to challenges for traders in various regions of China.
  3. The heightened scrutiny on remittances related to Russia by Chinese banks reflects the changing regulatory environment post third quarter of last year, impacting cross-border transactions and requiring stricter due diligence.

Blue Ridge "Explores Options" For Capital Raise As It Reduces BaaS, Fintech Exposure

Fintech Business Weekly • 126 implied HN points • 19 Nov 23
💰 Finance Banking Regulation Lending Payments Compliance
  1. Blue Ridge Bank is looking to raise capital and reduce its exposure to banking-as-a-service and fintech.
  2. States like California and Wisconsin are regulating earned wage access, which is positive but adds compliance challenges.
  3. Plaid has launched a subsidiary as a consumer reporting agency, moving towards offering cash flow underwriting services.

Going cashless in Nigeria: How startups are digitizing payments in the country's trickiest verticals

Afridigest • 15 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
💼 Business Payments Fintech Economics Startups
  1. Nigeria is a leading fintech hub in Africa, receiving a significant amount of funding in the sector since 2022.
  2. Despite fintech activity, cash remains prevalent in Nigeria, especially in everyday transactions like public transportation, informal economy vendors, and fuel purchases.
  3. Startups in Nigeria are innovating to overcome challenges in digitizing payments in tricky sectors, offering solutions like digital payment systems for transportation, mobile money for informal vendors, and e-wallets for fuel payments.

LinkedIn Posts from 2022 and 2023

In Depth on Africa Fintech • 39 implied HN points • 02 Jan 24
💼 Business Payments Regulation Innovation Leadership Ecommerce
  1. LinkedIn can be a useful tool for clarifying thinking by writing publicly.
  2. The topics covered include banking, payments, fintech, regulation, innovation, leadership, ecommerce, emerging markets analysis, electric vehicles, venture capital, and general business/startups.
  3. Content includes insights on leadership, customer acquisition, startup success, failure reasons, investing in Africa, and disrupting industries.

PYUSD

Confronting the Future • 137 implied HN points • 07 Aug 23
💰 Finance Blockchain Stablecoins Payments Regulation Crypto
  1. Stablecoins like PYUSD are becoming inevitable in the global financial landscape.
  2. Public blockchains erode monopolies and offer new options for value exchange.
  3. Introduction of PYUSD by PayPal will lead to legislative action, regulatory scrutiny, and talent demand in the stablecoin space.

The Biden Money Laundering Operation

The Reactionary • 212 implied HN points • 10 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Investigation Corruption Foreign influence Payments Evidence
  1. The House Oversight Committee discovered a complex money laundering scheme involving the Biden family and foreign companies.
  2. Payments over $10 million were made to Biden family members, with funds structured to conceal their origins.
  3. The investigation also revealed significant financial involvement with foreign entities, particularly from China, and highlighted the need for further scrutiny.

Open Banking +

Fintech Across the Pond • 19 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
💰 Finance Fintech Payments APIs
  1. Open banking lacks a scalable commercial model, hindering broader adoption.
  2. SPAA aims to address the commercial gap in open banking by introducing premium APIs.
  3. SPAA enables new payment features and access to enhanced data assets for better functionality.

Issue #95: X Is Getting Into P2P Payments, Circle Files For An IPO, And Revolut Gains Interest In Its HR Tech Offering

Fintech Radar • 18 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
💰 Finance Fintech Payments IPO
  1. Twitter (X) plans to introduce peer-to-peer payments, a logical starting point given its large user base and commerce opportunities
  2. Revolut's HR platform, Revolut People, attracts over 300 companies to its waitlist, surprising with strong interest in the offering
  3. Mastercard is developing an AI tool for small businesses, showing a cautious approach amid a potential trend towards more AI-focused innovations in the market

Tokenization, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Vault

Money in Transit • 19 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Security Payments Data Management Startups Tokenization
  1. Tokenization is a powerful way to reduce costs and secure card payments by isolating parts of payment applications for PCI compliance.
  2. Tokens are non-exploitable and require a vault to store the actual data, providing security in case of a breach.
  3. Using Tokenization as a Service providers can strengthen a startup's position by avoiding vendor lock-in and enhancing pricing power.

Issue #100 🎉 🥳 : Revolut Expands Into Offering eSIMs, FIS Partners To Offer A2A Payments, And Temenos Gets Hindenburged

Fintech Radar • 6 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
💰 Finance Fintech Payments Banking Startups Investment
  1. Revolut ventures into telecom by introducing phone plans in the UK with eSIMs, aligning with its all-encompassing super app vision.
  2. FIS partners with Banked to offer pay-by-bank solutions, a move towards A2A payments that could challenge traditional card schemes.
  3. Temenos faces allegations from Hindenburg Research, highlighting the challenges in large corporate tech transformations and the need to address accusations.

Retrospective on a Kenyan Payments Workflow

Vivid Leaves • 2 HN points • 14 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Payments Infrastructure Ecommerce APIs
  1. Ecommerce players in emerging markets often face challenges with cash management due to low card adoption and customer trust issues, leading to a need for innovative solutions like payment upon delivery.
  2. M-Pesa in Kenya revolutionized cashless payments with its mobile money network, which played a crucial role in enabling online commerce and providing a solution for payment workflows in the region.
  3. Creating unique solutions, like using M-Pesa for cash remittance and optimizing delivery routes, can help businesses navigate operational challenges and improve efficiency in regions with specific infrastructural characteristics.

Issue #97: PayPal Fails To Excite The Market With Its New Features, TikTok Wants Every Post To Be Shoppable, And Klarna Drops A Subscription Product

Fintech Radar • 6 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
💰 Finance Fintech Payments Subscription Mergers & Acquisitions Investments
  1. PayPal failed to impress the market with its new features, losing momentum after an initial spike in stock value.
  2. TikTok is testing a feature to make every post shoppable, aiming to boost its e-commerce business with enhanced shopping experiences.
  3. Klarna introduced a $7.99 subscription plan 'Klarna Plus' to generate recurring revenue as it gears up for its IPO, reflecting mixed opinions on the BNPL industry.

The Googlisation of Payments; B2B fintech pricing: Pricing model definitions; Embedded fintech revenue model;

Fintech Wrap Up • 39 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
💼 Business Fintech Payments Generative AI
  1. Payments platforms can be attractive for advertisers to invest in due to access to data and trust
  2. Embedded finance is changing how customers and businesses interact with financial services
  3. Financial institutions can generate revenue by offering bundled fintech services through subscription tiers

#60 - André Neves, LNM parabolic growth & Lightning friends

LN Markets’ Newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 21 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Bitcoin Gaming Payments User Experience Blockchain
  1. André Neves is deeply involved in the Bitcoin ecosystem through ZEBEDEE, NBD, and Vinteum.
  2. Bitcoin and Lightning Network are transforming the gaming industry with instant, low-fee transactions.
  3. Improving UX around self-custody and simplifying interactions with Lightning Network are key for broader Bitcoin adoption.

Issue #90: The ASX Turns To Tata For Help With CHESS Replacement, The FCA Gives Go Head To Klarna For Payment And Credit Services, And The Definitive Podcast On Visa

Fintech Radar • 8 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
💰 Finance Regulation Funding Insurtech Payments Blockchain
  1. Governments are tightening regulations on BNPL services, impacting fintech firms.
  2. Consumer-facing fintech startups face challenges in a crowded market, leading to pivots.
  3. Nubank's innovative offering of transferring credit card limits for personal and business use showcases opportunities in fintech.

Payment of the Seas

Money in Transit • 19 implied HN points • 14 Aug 23
💰 Finance Payments Credit Cards
  1. Credit cards offer flexibility in payment not provided by cash or checks.
  2. Card transactions go through initialization, authorization, and capture stages for security and efficiency.
  3. Companies like Visa and Mastercard simplify transactions by connecting merchants with various banks.

Issue #86: Musk Wants X To Replace Your Bank, JPM Coin Is Now Handling $1b In Daily Transactions Volume And Catch Relaunches

Fintech Radar • 8 implied HN points • 31 Oct 23
💰 Finance Fintech Investment Banking Payments Insurtech
  1. Elon Musk plans to turn Twitter into a financial app called X by 2024.
  2. Monzo is in talks to sell a stake in the company worth over £300m to prepare for an IPO.
  3. JPMorgan's JPM Coin handles $1 billion in daily transactions, showing slow but significant growth in blockchain-based financial infrastructure.

Issue #82: Apple Explores Open Banking In The UK, Ant Group Launches A Pan-Asian Mobile Wallet, And Nova Credit & HSBC Collaborate on Cross-Border Credit Sharing

Fintech Radar • 6 implied HN points • 02 Oct 23
💰 Finance Fintech Banking Payments Investments Regulation
  1. Apple introduces feature allowing UK users to view bank account balance via Apple Wallet using Open Banking APIs.
  2. Ant Group expands payment ecosystem for Asian e-wallets through Alipay+ Program, enabling seamless mobile payments.
  3. Nova Credit partners with HSBC UK to offer credit card for immigrants, leveraging international credit history for new customers.

Issue #78: X Gets Licenses in Multiple U.S. States, Open Banking Payments Are On The Up And A Partnership Between Hallmark And Venmo Brings New Meaning to 'Embedded Finance'

Fintech Radar • 6 implied HN points • 04 Sep 23
💼 Business Fintech Payments Financial regulation Venture Capital
  1. Elon Musk's X obtaining licenses in multiple U.S. states to process payments, entering into the fintech space.
  2. UK experiencing a surge in open banking payments, with significant growth in single domestic payments.
  3. Hallmark and Venmo partnering to allow sending money in physical greeting cards, showcasing embedded finance innovation.

Issue #79: Visa Gets In On Stablecoin Summer, Monzo Takes On Scam Callers, And ThetaRay Secures $57M To Fight Money Laundering

Fintech Radar • 4 implied HN points • 11 Sep 23
💰 Finance Fintech AI Compliance Investment Payments
  1. Visa expands stablecoin settlement capabilities by partnering with merchant acquirers, facilitating instant payment authorizations.
  2. Temenos introduces a generative AI tool to automatically classify customer banking transactions, potentially revolutionizing banking processes.
  3. ThetaRay raises $57M for AI tools to fight money laundering, showcasing the increasing importance of compliance-focused startups in fintech.

Apple’s fintech strategy; FedNow is under the "radar" of Stripe; 2023 Business payments barometer;

Fintech Wrap Up • 0 implied HN points • 21 Jun 23
💼 Business Fintech Payments Acquisitions Regulations
  1. Apple has experienced significant growth in its fintech offerings through partnerships and products like Apple Pay and Apple Card.
  2. FIS acquired the BaaS startup Bond, showcasing continued consolidation in the fintech industry.
  3. Venmo and Cash App are facing pressure from Senate Democrats to improve security measures due to concerns about fraud and consumer protection policies.

Revolut’s US payment flaws allowed thieves to steal $20mn; China wraps up fintech crackdown with big fines on Tencent, Alibaba;

Fintech Wrap Up • 0 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
💰 Finance Fintech Payments Regulation Consumer behavior
  1. Revolut had flaws in their US payment system that allowed thieves to steal $20mn
  2. China imposed big fines on Tencent and Alibaba as part of a fintech crackdown
  3. AI in financial services is evolving with the rise of generative AI, complementing traditional AI