Core Insights - International Money Express, Inc. (Intermex) has expanded its Payroll Card Program in partnership with Central Payments, allowing U.S. employers to digitize payroll disbursement at no additional cost, thus eliminating the need for paper checks or cash handling [1][2] - The initiative aims to provide employees with fast and secure access to their wages, promoting financial inclusion and reducing costs associated with cashing checks [2][3] - A new feature allows Intermex Payroll cardholders to send international wires with no transfer fee directly from the Intermex mobile app and web platform, enhancing the convenience of payroll and remittance services [3][4] Company Overview - Intermex, founded in 1994, facilitates money transfers from the U.S., Canada, Spain, Italy, the U.K., and Germany to over 60 countries, utilizing various platforms including agent retailers and mobile apps [5] - The company is headquartered in Miami, Florida, with international offices in Puebla, Mexico; Guatemala City, Guatemala; London, England; and Madrid, Spain [5] Partnership Details - The collaboration between Intermex and Central Payments aims to integrate payroll, payments, and remittances into a seamless digital experience, empowering employees and their families [3] - Central Payments specializes in payment programs for various financial services, enhancing the capabilities of Intermex's offerings [6]

Core Insights - In the first half of 2025, Malaysia's cross-border QR code payment transaction volume exceeded 11.8 million, with a total value of 967 million MYR, showing significant growth compared to 11.7 million transactions and 860 million MYR in the previous year [1] - The growth is driven by the dual payment demand from foreign tourists and Malaysians traveling abroad, establishing itself as an important bridge for cross-border economic interaction [1] - Bank Negara Malaysia is actively promoting the Nexus project and collaborating with three ASEAN countries and the Reserve Bank of India to create a multilateral cross-border payment network, with the first direct cross-border transaction expected to be completed by 2027 [1]

Thunes, a global payments network, has announced the rollout of real-time cross-border payments into Saudi Arabia. The company noted that using its Direct Global Network, Thunes’ members can now facilitate instant payouts directly to bank accounts and wallets in the Kingdom in Saudi Riyals (SAR), enhancing transaction efficiency for both individuals and businesses. This development aligns with Saudi Arabia's financial sector transformation under Vision 2030, responding to the increasing demand for rapid ...

🚨JUST IN: MOONPAY ACQUIRES PAYMENTS STARTUP MESO TO EXPAND ITS CRYPTO PAYMENTS INFRASTRUCTURE ...

Core Insights - Marqeta, Inc. released its sixth annual State of Payments Report, highlighting the demand for more intelligent and integrated payment solutions among consumers and businesses [1] Consumer Insights - The report is based on a survey of 3,000 consumers in the US and UK, indicating a shift in consumer preferences towards advanced payment solutions [1] Business Insights - The survey also included 1,000 small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), revealing that these businesses are looking for payment solutions that drive engagement and growth [1]

Core Insights - The Marqeta's sixth annual State of Payments Report indicates a growing demand for smarter payment platforms among UK consumers and SMBs, driven by economic pressures and the need for integrated financial solutions [1][13] - The report highlights a significant shift in consumer behavior, with 34% of UK consumers expressing interest in AI-powered wallets that optimize payment choices based on spending habits [2][3] Consumer Trends - UK consumers are increasingly seeking intelligent payment tools that integrate seamlessly with existing methods, with 49% wanting recommendations on payment methods for purchases [2][3] - The adoption of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solutions is notable, with 54% of UK consumers having used BNPL, compared to 38% in the US, indicating a shift towards using BNPL for everyday expenses [3][5] SMB Insights - UK SMBs are actively searching for innovative payment solutions to enhance growth, with 42% relying on personal cards for business expenses due to limited access to capital [4][6] - The report reveals that 90% of UK SMBs are willing to invest in new payment solutions with higher upfront costs for long-term savings and efficiency [7] Market Dynamics - The average order value for transactions has decreased by 9% year-over-year, reflecting a trend towards smaller, non-discretionary purchases such as groceries [5] - More than half (52%) of SMBs view payments as a strategic lever to streamline expenses and improve operational efficiencies [7] Future Outlook - Marqeta's report also touches on the rise of social commerce and new approaches to rewards and loyalty programs, indicating evolving trends in the financial ecosystem [8]

Transaction fees are no longer a blocker for the mainstream adoption of blockchain-based applications, with @solana's fees at $0.005.Blockchain-based applications can start to move beyond high-value financial use cases to payments, consumer social applications, etc. https://t.co/SY4CphYeRb ...

Core Insights - PayPal has launched a new peer-to-peer payment service called PayPal links, allowing users to send and receive funds via personalized, one-time links that can be shared in various communication channels [2][3][4] Company Developments - The new service enables users to create unique links after entering payment details in the PayPal app, which can be shared through texts, emails, or chat [3][4] - Each link is designed for one-time use and expires after 10 days if unclaimed, with funds being immediately accessible [4] - The service is currently available for PayPal users in the U.S., with plans for expansion into the U.K., Italy, and other markets [4] Industry Trends - Peer-to-peer payment platforms are increasingly popular, especially among younger consumers who favor quick and seamless transactions [5][6] - Research indicates that 53% of consumers aged 18-25 and 50% of those aged 26-41 use P2P apps more frequently due to economic pressures like inflation, contributing to a 27% growth in platforms like Zelle [6] - The rise of P2P payments has led to the emergence of the super app trend, with companies integrating these payment services into their offerings, as 70% of consumers, particularly higher-income individuals, show interest in using super apps [7]

Core Insights - PayPal is expanding its peer-to-peer service to include cryptocurrency transfers, allowing users in the U.S. to send various digital assets including bitcoin, ether, and its own stablecoin PYUSD across its platforms [1][3] - The introduction of "PayPal links" enables users to create personalized links for sending or requesting money, facilitating easier transactions in everyday communications [2] - The company emphasizes that personal transfers among friends and family will not be subject to IRS 1099-K tax reporting, even when involving cryptocurrency [2] - This initiative is part of PayPal's "PayPal World" interoperability project, which aims to connect major digital wallets and payment systems, with peer-to-peer payments being a significant growth driver [3] Financial Performance - Consumer payment volume increased by 10% year-over-year in the second quarter, highlighting the growth potential in peer-to-peer payments [3] Strategic Initiatives - PayPal is also expanding its crypto payment capabilities for U.S. merchants, aiming to reduce cross-border fees and enhance its global digital currency payment strategy [4]

Core Points - UnionPay International has launched a pilot cross-border QR payment system between China and Indonesia, supervised by the central banks of both countries [1][3] - The pilot allows selected users to complete transactions using UnionPay and Alipay apps at over 40 million QRIS merchants in Indonesia [2][3] - The project is part of a government-to-government initiative, with full operationalization expected by 2025 [3][4] Group 1 - The pilot was initiated with a transaction demonstration in Beijing using an Indonesian mobile payment application [1] - In Jakarta, users successfully completed transactions by scanning Indonesia's standardized QR code (QRIS) [2] - The current phase is limited to pre-approved participants and merchants, with plans for expansion after the trial [3] Group 2 - UnionPay has signed cooperation agreements with Indonesian financial entities and switch networks to facilitate the project [4] - QR payment transactions will be settled in local currencies as per the bilateral agreement [4] - UnionPay is also expanding its QR payment linkage to 19 other countries and regions outside of mainland China [4]