News

Security & Fraud
Cybersecurity Industry Workers Plead Guilty to Ransomware Attacks
December 30, 2025

Three men who worked in the cybersecurity industry pleaded guilty to charges related to ransomware attacks they launched with the help of ALPHV BlackCat in 2023. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS...

B2B Payments
CFOs Bet on Real-Time Settlements for Stability
December 30, 2025

Payments are no longer defined by when money is expected to arrive, but by when it actually does arrive. 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...

Regulation
Three State Privacy Laws Impact Payment Processors Starting Jan. 1
December 30, 2025

New consumer privacy laws go into effect Thursday (Jan. 1) in Kentucky, Indiana and Rhode Island, each holding implications for banks, FinTechs and merchants. Together, they add to the growing patchwork of state-level privacy regimes payment processors must navigate, imposing new burdens on compliance departments....

Artificial Intelligence
VC Firms Expect Enterprises to Concentrate AI Spending on Proven Solutions
December 30, 2025

Venture capital firms reportedly expect enterprises to spend more on artificial intelligence in 2026 while also concentrating that spending on fewer contracts. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional...

Retail
JCPenney Private Equity Deal Leaves 117 Stores in Limbo
December 30, 2025

Earlier this year, private equity firm Onyx Partners announced plans to buy 117 JCPenney stores. 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,...

Artificial Intelligence
SoftBank Makes Good on $40 Billion OpenAI Investment
December 30, 2025

SoftBank completed its promised $40 billion investment commitment to OpenAI, CNBC reported Tuesday (Dec. 30), citing unnamed sources. 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...

IPO
Chinese AI Startup MiniMax to Seek $600 Million in Hong Kong IPO
December 30, 2025

Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) startup MiniMax reportedly aims to raise over $600 million in an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional...

Banking
Banking Deals Catch Eye of Activist Investors Amid Deregulation
December 30, 2025

Relaxed rules in the U.S. around banking mergers have reportedly caught the eye of activist investors. 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...

Artificial Intelligence
2025: The Year AI Agents Entered Payments and Changed Who’s in Control
December 30, 2025

This year, artificial intelligence shifted from assisting to acting. 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 form,...