How AI Shopping Agents, Stablecoins and Smarter Checkout Drive Business Growth

Payments used to arrive at the end of a sale, take the money and leave. Now they have a much bigger job. They can help companies earn revenue, see cash, serve customers and make better decisions.

PYMNTS developed “Summer School 2026: The Payment Stack Strikes Back” with insights from leaders at IXOPAY, Solutions by Text, Worldpay, Nium, Bank of America and Fynapse.

This Summer School collection brings six executive essays into one practical guide. Each essay examines a different part of the payment experience. Together, they show why new tools can’t deliver strong results without trusted data, connected systems and a clear goal.

The report looks at the rise of artificial intelligence shopping agents and the controls they’ll require. It explores why a customer who wants to pay may still abandon the process. It also examines the growing role of payments inside business software. For finance teams, the essays explain how stablecoins and detailed transaction data could improve cash visibility.

Download the eBook The Payment Stack Strikes Back

In “Summer School 2026: The Payment Stack Strikes Back,” learn how:

Payment providers can prepare for purchases made by AI agents. A valid payment credential can confirm that funds are available. It can’t prove that an agent followed the customer’s instructions. IXOPAY explains how identity, authority and purchase intent could become part of the transaction record. This would help businesses review automated purchases and spot harmful activity before it causes a loss.

Stablecoins could give global companies a clearer view of their cash. Multinational businesses often hold funds across many bank accounts, currencies and legal entities. That can force treasury teams to move money early or keep extra cash on hand. Nium describes how stablecoins could support faster internal settlement while banks continue to provide deposits, trust and regulated services.

Better financial data can help AI produce useful answers. Summary records can hide fees, shrinking margins and lost revenue. They also give AI an incomplete view of the business. Bank of America and Fynapse explain why companies should improve data quality before they expand automation. Detailed records can help finance teams find problems sooner, forecast cash and make stronger decisions.

The collection also shows how software providers can turn payments into a core product. It explains why convenience tools can’t repair a long payment journey on their own. Each lesson connects technology to a business result that leaders can measure.

“Summer School 2026: The Payment Stack Strikes Back” is designed for payments executives, CFOs, treasury teams, software providers and business leaders planning their next investment. Download the report to see how six industry leaders are preparing payments for the next era of commerce.