Top News In Payments: R3 Works With Mastercard On Blockchain Tech; Uber Pushes Back On California Law

Today in the payments news roundup, R3, an enterprise software provider, is collaborating with Mastercard to establish a blockchain cross-border payments solution. Also, Uber will reportedly fight the recent passage of controversial labor legislation in California per reports. And Groupon is said to be mulling an acquisition.

Mastercard, R3 Team Up To Bring Blockchain To X-Border Payments

R3, an enterprise software provider, is teaming up with Mastercard to establish a blockchain cross-border payments solution. The new product, which is blockchain-enabled, aims to bridge international payments infrastructures, schemes and banks through a Mastercard clearing and settlement network.

Google Express To Shutter And Merge Into Google Shopping

Google Express is reportedly closing in a few weeks and its features are going to merge with a new version of Google Shopping. Google is also reportedly going to have new advertising options for sellers as well as brands and is adding a universal shopping cart that can traverse via all of its properties.

Groupon Said To Be Pondering Yelp Acquisition

Groupon is reportedly mulling acquiring another company — and some insiders reportedly think Yelp could be the target. Robert Chapman, founder of California investment firm Chapman Capital, said per reports, “It is reasonable to conclude that a relatively large acquisition by Groupon is forthcoming,”

California’s New Labor Bill Gets Pushback From Uber

Uber will reportedly fight the recent passage of controversial labor legislation in California. The landmark legislation AB5 passed the state senate this week. It is expected to be supported by the assembly and signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

How Merchants Can Brace For SCA’s Looming Deadline

Payment provider, banks and merchants in the European Union will finally hit the controversial deadline for compliance with Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) in just two days. With just a quarter of merchants being fully aware of this deadline, there are numerous outstanding questions about what exactly SCA means for the payment ecosystem in the bloc.

Neutralizing The Clash Of The B2B Buyer And Supplier Titans

As B2B payments and supply chains go global, complexity reigns – particularly when it comes to back-end functions and processes. Add omnichannel B2B offerings into the mix — online and brick-and-mortar — and things get even more complicated. It’s a significant problem, as PYMNTS found, and as detailed in the Trade Credit Dilemma Report.

To that end, Brandon Spear, president of MSTS, told Karen Webster there’s been a gradual awakening among firms that they need to address the friction that exists online and across channels. The key is standardizing payments, invoicing and money flows.