🌎Ben Soppitt

MoonPay has just announced the strategic acquisition of Meso, a pioneer in bridging traditional finance and crypto, to help us build crypto's largest global payments network. Meso’s co-founders Ali Aghareza and Ben Mills will join MoonPay as new CTO and SVP of Product, bringing unmatched experience in scaling payments systems used worldwide!

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Great discussion with Visa's Pankaj Sharma on the evolving mobile and digital wallets ecosystem and how data can help unlock further opportunities in the market. More and more are companies looking specifically at mobile wallet connectivity as a specific need, very much a core Visa Direct capability. In our latest report released this week with Money20/20, digital wallets will be one of the key technologies driving change in cross-border payments in Asia, alongside real time payments and QR codes highlighting how rich and complex the Asia payments ecosystem is. #payments #mobilewallets #digitalwallets #fintech #money2020 Chris Newkirk Luba Goldberg Ben Ellis Lucy Ingham Richard Meszaros, MBA

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All quiet on the VAMP front? There was a lot of noise last year (guilty!) about Visa’s new Acquiring Monitoring Program (VAMP). From 1st October, when the enforcement penalties came into effect, many expected a wave of stories about acquirers, and subsequently merchants, receiving large fines and many merchants having their accounts terminated. Yet, something seems to be missing. Talking to industry insiders, the thresholds are real, monitoring continues, and fines can be imposed once these thresholds are exceeded. However, what’s surprisingly difficult to find is public, merchant-level evidence of fines being passed down as expected, or of acquirers shutting down the largest offenders. I still get the sense that many acquirers are not adequately able to assign fines to specific merchants, and that the quality of the data overall is limited. This raises some interesting questions: Firstly, are fines actually being passed from Visa to the acquirers at this stage, and on what scale? And if they are, are they being absorbed by the acquirers/PSPs; delayed until sustained non-compliance; disguised as something else in acquirer reporting; or quietly handled through commercial negotiations rather than formal penalties? None of this means VAMP doesn’t matter, or that it will disappear. Monitoring is real, the thresholds are set, and if there are data/reporting delays, they will likely be addressed eventually. But the gap between the narrative (VAMP will lead to significant fines and merchant closures) and actual observable outcomes (stories of large merchant terminations) is worth noting. If merchants aren’t seeing fines yet, they might be underestimating the long-term impact, especially when enforcement occurs indirectly rather than as a clear, visible, and accountable penalty. Interested to hear what others are observing and whether VAMP has started affecting their business? At Repayd, we’re having these conversations daily with travel merchants dealing with fraud and scheme monitoring. Get in touch today to see how we can assist your travel business. #travel #travelpayments #cardfraud #creditcards #visa #vamp #repayd #TheTravelMerchantAccount

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VAMP Still Evolving As we move past May 1st, Visa continues to refine its Visa Acquirer Monitoring Program (VAMP), reflecting its commitment to adapting the payment ecosystem to emerging challenges. Recent updates suggest further changes that could impact merchants, partners, and the broader payments community. I’d like to share these developments with you, offering a glimpse into what’s ahead and how we might approach this evolving “enigma wrapped in a conundrum.” Key Updates to VAMP Visa is reportedly planning to re-enable Rapid Dispute Resolution (RDR), Cardholder Dispute Resolution Network (CDRN), and now also Ethoca Alerts as tools to exempt TC40 fraud disputes from VAMP ratio calculations when resolved with a refund. This is a welcome step, recognizing the value these programs bring to pre-dispute resolution. However, a new twist has emerged: It sounds like TC40 disputes may now be counted twice in the VAMP ratio—once for the initial fraud filing and again if an RDR, CDRN, or Ethoca Alert is triggered. If a merchant issues a refund in response to the alert, the second case will be exempted, but the initial TC40 filing will still contribute to the ratio. It sounds like the VAMP ratio thresholds is also under evaluation and may be raised to account for this higher case volume, though no specific figures have been mentioned. What This Means for Merchants This dual-counting approach seems complex, but it underscores Visa’s effort to balance fraud monitoring with dispute resolution efficiency. For merchants already leveraging RDR, CDRN, or Ethoca, the ability to exempt the second case with a refund offers a pathway to manage their VAMP ratio. However, the inclusion of the initial TC40 filing highlights the importance of proactive fraud prevention to minimize the baseline number of disputes. The anticipated threshold adjustments could provide breathing room, but without confirmed numbers, planning remains a challenge. A Collaborative Opportunity This evolving framework reminds us of the need for flexibility and partnership. Visa’s willingness to revisit RDR, CDRN, and now Ethoca exemptions indicates an openness to feedback, and the potential threshold increase reflects an intent to support merchants navigating these changes. As a community, we can engage with Visa and our Acquirers to ensure these adjustments align with real-world practices. Looking Ahead We expect to see an official update released around May 15th. Monitor updates, collaborate with your payment providers, and consider leveraging dispute resolution tools to mitigate VAMP impacts. We’ll keep you posted as more information emerges—perhaps the “enigma” will soon unravel into a clearer path forward!

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Some people ask why we need a “Tap to Pay” feature when ApplePay has existed for years. The answer is “to allow EVERYONE enjoys ApplePay-like experience” 1) Device accessibility Apple Pay offers an excellent user experience, but it only works on iPhones. In Malaysia, however, more than 80% of smartphones run on Android. Our bluetap solution works on all NFC-enabled phones, regardless of operating system. 2) Card and bank coverage Only a limited number of credit and debit cards are supported by Apple Pay. Many banks and wallets choose not to participate due to high fees. In contrast, bluetap supports all debit and credit cards, with no additional charges to card issuers. Users simply link their cards and enable the Quick Payment feature. Democratizing technology and lowering entry barriers so everyone can benefit is central to our financial inclusion agenda. This is just one more example of how we put that belief into action. https://lnkd.in/gE-iktey

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Yellow Card, one of the largest licensed #stablecoin-based infrastructures with capabilities spanning 34 countries, with a network spanning Africa, and other key global markets, has appointed Maria Oldham as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO). https://lnkd.in/dEiT8ryf

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Great to see Uphold and Concordium formalise an ecosystem partnership focused on network operations and market access. For Concordium, this brings broader distribution for a compliance-first Layer 1 and its CCD token. For Uphold, it reinforces our role as a gateway for digital asset networks that need regulated access, operational support, and real infrastructure, not just a listing. Partnerships like this are about supporting customers end to end. From liquidity and treasury tools to institutional trading and market reach, the aim is to make it easier for networks to operate, scale, and engage users globally on solid foundations. https://lnkd.in/e-8x6FnA

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Today marks a pivotal step in our mission to power the future of payments. Finastra has partnered with Circle to bring USDC stablecoin settlement to cross-border payments. By connecting Finastra's payment platforms, including Global PAYplus, we will provide banks with faster, more innovative settlement options—combining the trust of banking with the speed of blockchain. This is not just about technology—it’s about creating opportunities for banks worldwide to innovate. Proud to join forces with the Circle team as we help reimagine the cross-border money movement. Read more about our collaboration here: https://okt.to/ZjvACX

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Stripe's move to obtain a Merchant Acquirer Limited Purpose Bank charter in Georgia is more than a procedural step, it's a calculated advance into the heart of U.S. payment infrastructure. Stripe already holds direct card network memberships in markets like the UK, so this pivot seems designed to streamline its American acquiring capabilities without taking on traditional banking tasks. A rhetorical thought arises: does Stripe's carefully measured approach indicate a future where 'tech-first' players reshape payment rails from within, or is it simply broadening an already robust ecosystem? By reducing dependence on sponsor banks, Stripe might be positioned to offer merchants faster settlements, greater platform stability, and deeper integration with Visa and Mastercard. That synergy could spark new payment flows, like advanced tokenization or real-time data analytics, especially useful for retailers battling fierce competition on thin margins. Observing Stripe's global trajectory, it's likely we'll see more direct memberships across large markets, potentially fueling cross-border expansions. Its deliberate strategy of not delving into deposits or classic banking lines suggests a laser focus: scale merchant acquiring with minimal regulatory overhead. If executed well, this step might catalyze fresh payment innovations that ripple through both digital-native merchants and traditional brick-and-mortar businesses transitioning online. Omar Eissa Katy Scully Chris Latchford Imi Lidhar Paul Worthington Sam Hinton-Smith Greg Goldstein Tushar Kharbanda Paul Tarrant Celine Plante Marc Fryer Laura Shesgreen David Ferri Ioana Kardos Hayley Duke-Smith Mengfei Gao Dan Wilson William Gaybrick Cillian McCabe Keelan McGowan Joost van der Mersch Tomas Kogan Maximilian Hagn Sam Bowman

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PSSLAI taps Traxion Tech to launch new digital platform The Public Safety Savings and Loan Association, Inc. (PSSLAI), a financial institution serving over 350,000 uniformed public safety personnel, has tapped Traxion Tech to launch its new digital platform. In a news release, Traxion Tech said it signed a memorandum of agreement with PSSLAI on May 7 to launch the PSSLAI Bilis Online, making the latter the first savings and loan association (SLA) in the Philippines to launch a mobile banking application powered by an electronic wallet solution. PSSLAI's partnership with Traxion Tech underscores the former’s commitment “to providing fast, secure, and convenient financial services to its members from the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, and other affiliated organizations,” according to the financial technology company. Traxion Tech said the new PSSLAI Bilis Online platform will be powered by e-wallet technology —designed to offer members real-time access to their account balances, detailed loan information, and the ability to perform transactions such as fund transfers and loan applications through a user-friendly mobile app. "This partnership with Traxion Tech is a significant step in our digital transformation journey," said retired Police Major General Atty. Lucas Managuelod, chairman and CEO of PSSLAI. #psslai #digitalbanking #phygital #financialinstitutions #financialinclusion #ruralbanking #cooperative #fintech #digitalpilipinas #atm #cashtech #openbanking #openfinance #QRPH https://lnkd.in/gmTDpdjs

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