News

Partnerships / Acquisitions
InComm Payments and SKUx Launch Blockchain Aid Payments Platform
February 27, 2026

InComm Payments and SKUx announced Friday morning (Feb. 27) a strategic partnership to improve how digital payments are distributed for humanitarian aid and other applications for emerging markets. The announcement lands as disaster recovery funding faces tighter scrutiny, shifting more responsibility to state and local...

Retail
Grocery Battle Shifts to Loyalty as Walmart Dominates and Amazon Expands Digital
February 27, 2026

When it comes to the Amazon-Walmart competition, grocery has become a key battleground. Why? It’s the closest thing U.S. retail has to a weekly subscription. Win the cart, and you earn repeat trips and durable customer habits. That’s why recent consumer-tracking data showing Walmart’s grocery...

Retail
The RealReal Expands AI Push as Luxury Buyers Spend More
February 26, 2026

The RealReal’s latest earnings message is less about a single quarter’s sales tally and more about how the luxury reseller thinks artificial intelligence can rewire the work behind every listing, from deciding which sellers to pursue to getting more items authenticated, described and priced fast...

Banking
OCC May Give Senators Warren and Scott Access to Trump Bank Application
February 26, 2026

Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould said Thursday (Feb. 26) that he will consider sharing the unredacted bank charter application of World Liberty Financial, the decentralized finance company co-founded by members of the Trump family, with the chairman and the ranking member of the Senate...

Fintech Investments
Plaid’s Valuation Hits $8 Billion in New Funding Round
February 26, 2026

Plaid’s latest round of funding has reportedly valued the FinTech at $8 billion. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required. yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today....

Regulation
Embedded Finance Firms Brace for Tighter US Regulations
February 26, 2026

From Amazon to dentist offices to Uber, companies that aren’t banks are the new face of financial services. Embedded finance offers credit, buy now, pay later, card installment plans, payments and insurance for everything from Prada handbags and veneers to Uber driver wages. With three...

Artificial Intelligence
AI Agents Start Shopping and Payments Firms Adapt
February 26, 2026

Watch more: What’s Next in Payments With FIS’ Mladen Vladic Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required. yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today. By completing this...

eCommerce
Online Retail Jumps 13% Year Over Year as Shoppers Hunt for Value
February 26, 2026

Financial stress is no longer just shaping what Americans buy. It is reshaping how they pay. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required. yesSubscribe to our daily...

Regulation
CFTC Vows Clean Prediction Markets as Kalshi Flags Insider Trading
February 25, 2026

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) said Wednesday (Feb. 25) that it has full authority to police illegal trading practices on designated contract markets (DCMs). Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content...