The Green Sheet Online Edition
February 2, 2025 • 25:02:02
Industry Update
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Arteria AI launches new research arm
Arteria AI launched Arteria Café, a research arm dedicated to advancing AI in financial services documentation. The company said the initiative underscores its focus on generative and agentic AI for high-impact workflows. Leading this effort is Dr. Amir Hajian, chief science officer, who brings expertise from Princeton and Thomson Reuters. Arteria aims to develop Agentic Knowledge Systems that transform unstructured data into actionable insights. Recognized in major fintech and AI rankings, Arteria continues emphasizes innovation to streamline documentation processes for global financial institutions.
BlytzPay awarded new patent for platform
BlytzPay, a collections management platform for buy here, pay here car dealerships and lenders, secured a new patent for its latest payment solution. This milestone, the company stated, advances its cash-enabled multipay and promise-to-pay functionality, enhancing customer engagement and transaction flexibility. The patent builds on prior integrations of mobile technology to streamline payments and support cash transactions. BlytzPay CEO Robyn Burkinshaw called it a game changer that makes payments more inclusive and secure, helping businesses serve cash-reliant customers while benefiting from the speed and convenience of digital payments.
ETFbook raises a €4 M to develop next-gen ETF
ETFbook, an ETF data and analytics platform, secured €4 million ($4.17 million USD) in Series A funding led by BlackFin Capital Partners. Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Zurich, ETFbook serves more than 35 institutional clients across Europe. The ETF industry hit a record $15 trillion assets under management in 2024, driven by innovation such as Bitcoin ETFs and active managers embracing ETFs. ETFbook plans to enhance AI-driven insights, expand globally and enter the U.S. market. BlackFin praised the company's robust platform and execution, supporting EFTbook's vision to become the premier ETF data provider worldwide.
NCR Atleos given ATMIA Outstanding Service Award
NCR Atleos received the ATM Industry Association Outstanding Service Award, recognizing its leadership in financial technology innovation and service excellence. The award highlights Atleos' long-term industry impact, cutting-edge self-service banking solutions and commitment to financial inclusion, ATMIA noted. Key initiatives include Pin4 Cash, enabling emergency cash access without bank accounts; shared deposit-taking ATMs in the UK; ATM as a service (ATMaaS) for operational resilience; and the Allpoint Network for surcharge-free banking in the United States. NCR Atleos CEO Tim Oliver reaffirmed the company's commitment to advancing self-service financial access worldwide.
Biggest growth driver for US, UK merchants – payment tech
PXP, a global payment platform, surveyed 250 merchants in the United States and the UK on digital payment transformation. Findings show 64 percent now see payment technology as a strategic growth driver. Security and fraud prevention (36 percent) are top priorities, followed by system reliability (28 percent) and scalability (17 percent). Over half use payments to create new revenue streams, while 49 percent explore emerging methods like BNPL and digital wallets. Needs vary by sector, with omnichannel businesses prioritizing security and stability. CEO Kamran Hedjri emphasized that payment tech is now a key business strategy, driving growth and customer engagement.
Velera debuts Card on File for merchants
Velera, formerly PSCU/Co-op Solutions, launched its Card on File solution, stating it enables cardholders to update payment methods across more than 115 merchants seamlessly. Available via DX Online, DX Mobile, and APIs, it allows real-time credential updates, reducing card declines and missed payments, Velera said, adding that this eliminates manual updates, a common frustration when outdated cards lead to lost transactions. Velera Senior Vice President Cody Banks highlighted the solution's role in enhancing user experience and loyalty. Additionally, the solution boosts credit unions' transaction volume, driving revenue through increased interchange, interest and member engagement, Velera added.
RESEARCH
Hyper-disposable email domains a rising threat
AtData identified a rising fraud threat: hyper-disposable email domains, which now make up 46 percent of all disposable domains. These short-lived emails, active for less than seven days, are mass-produced to evade detection, complicating fraud prevention and identity verification. Unlike traditional disposable emails, which persist for weeks, these domains accelerate digital fraud risks, contributing to billions of dollars in losses. To combat this, enhanced adaptive domain models can help businesses detect and block fraudulent emails while maintaining customer engagement and protecting revenue from escalating fraud tactics.
EBANX IDs surging paymnt types in emerging markets
Surging demand for fast, seamless transactions is driving record adoption of Pix, account-based transfers, and debit cards in emerging markets EBANX found. Pix, Brazil’s instant payment system, leads with 35 percent annual growth projected through 2027, while account-to-account payments and debit cards follow at 28 percent and 24 percent, respectively. EBANX’s Beyond Borders report highlights this shift, noting innovations like Pix Automático, which could generate $30 billion in recurring payments. Also, despite rising alternatives, credit cards remain dominant, especially in streaming and gaming, with fintechs enhancing security and accessibility in emerging digital economies.
EaaS market worth $5.98B by 2030
The Encryption as a Service (EaaS) market is projected to grow from USD 1.57 billion in 2024 to USD 5.98 billion by 2030, at a 24.9 percent CAGR, driven by increasing concerns over data breaches and regulatory compliance, according to research by MarketsandMarkets. With businesses migrating to digital platforms, demand for encryption is rising, particularly in banking and finance and cloud-based services, researchers stated, adding that Asia Pacific is expected to see the highest growth, fueled by government investments and cybersecurity regulations. Leading players include AWS, Microsoft, IBM, Cisco and Google, with application-level encryption emerging as a key growth segment.
PARTNERSHIPS
Bluefin, Datecs team up to enhance payment security
Bluefin, a provider of PCI-validated P2PE and tokenization, partnered with Datecs Ltd. to integrate its ShieldConex® Orchestration platform into Datecs’ Android payment devices. This enables encrypted data transmission to Bluefin’s platform for secure decryption and formatting before authorization, enhancing security and flexibility for merchants, the partners stated, adding that ShieldConex Orchestration reduces PCI compliance scope while allowing ISOs, ISVs and merchants to choose their processor and device without vendor lock-in. The partnership, they noted, ensures seamless, high-level security, eliminating barriers to P2PE adoption for global businesses.
Grey, Clear Junction to bring payments to digital nomads
Grey, a Y-Combinator-backed fintech that provides secure global banking solutions for emerging markets, partnered with Clear Junction Ltd., a payments provider, to enhance global remittance speed and reliability. Grey offers multi-currency accounts, virtual cards for global spending, real-time transfers to 80+ countries, and bank transfers from over 40 countries. Founded in 2020, Grey now serves over 1 million users, focusing on remote workers and the gig economy, the partners stated, adding that their collaboration strengthens Grey's mission to simplify cross-border payments and expand financial accessibility worldwide.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, ParkHub improve parking for fans
Mercedes-Benz Stadium partnered with ParkHub to enhance fan parking experiences using advanced technology. Launched Feb. 10, 2025, the collaboration introduced ParkHub’s EventPass, SeasonPass and CompPass systems, along with its Suite platform for real-time parking management. MBS stated it will centralize parking operations, offer pre-bookable options and reduce game-day congestion. ParkHub noted that its recent merger with JustPark expands its capabilities, ensuring seamless parking for fans. MBS added that it aims to improve convenience and efficiency, reinforcing its commitment to premium fan experiences both inside and outside the stadium.
NCC Group, TikTok extend Project Clover contract
NCC Group signed a three-year contract with TikTok to continue its role as an independent security provider for Project Clover, TikTok’s €12 billion (USD 12.4 billion) initiative enhancing European data security. Protecting 175 million users, the program exceeds regulatory standards by implementing strict data safeguards, independent monitoring and advanced privacy enhancing technologies, the partners stated. NCC Group audits TikTok’s security measures, ensures compliance and works with authorities to set a new industry standard, they added, noting that this extended partnership reinforces TikTok’s commitment to data privacy, strengthening security measures across Europe over the next three years.
ACQUISITIONS
Finovifi acquires Modern Banking Systems
Finovifi acquired Modern Banking Systems, a core processing provider with over 50 years of experience, marking a major step in Finovifi's mission to modernize community banking. Under Finovifi’s leadership, MBS will integrate AI-driven banking, cloud-native solutions and real-time payment capabilities to enhance compliance and customer experience. The acquisition also includes Modern Banking Systems of Alabama, expanding Finovifi’s reach in the Southeastern United States. With a strong fintech leadership team, Finovifi said it is poised to transform MBS into a leading force in AI-powered banking innovation.
APPOINTMENTS
Ballerine taps Cihat Fitzgerald
Ballerine appointed Cihat Fitzgerald as chief risk officer, bringing to the company more than 27 years of expertise in payments risk and compliance. Formerly vice president of global ecosystem security & integrity at Visa, Fitzgerald led global risk frameworks, fraud control initiatives and high-profile investigations with international law enforcement. He authored key industry standards, including Visa’s Global Acquirer Risk Standards and Integrity Risk Program. Fitzgerald said he now aims to strengthen risk management for financial institutions, leveraging AI to streamline onboarding, compliance and fraud prevention.
TSG names Shelley Joyce as CTO
Shelley Joyce signed on as chief technology officer at TSG, bringing extensive expertise in payment technology and platform development to the consultancy. Previously CTO of merchant acquiring technologies at Global Payments, Joyce led global processing platforms, POS applications and financial systems. As CEO of Monetary, she developed an omnichannel commerce platform; as vice president of product at Total Merchant Services, she launched Groovv POS. At TSG, Joyce will drive technology strategy, platform modernization and innovative solutions, with the goal of reinforcing the company’s role as a leader in payments intelligence and consulting.
EWPN appoints new directors
The European Women Payments Network is undergoing a leadership transition as co-founders Martha Dali Mghendi-Fisher and Nadja van der Veer step down as registered directors. They will continue as special advisors, while Angela Yore and Merima Mahmutovic will join Silvia Mensdorff-Pouilly to lead the organization. EWPN, headquartered in the Netherlands, reported it has empowered underrepresented communities through mentorship, leadership programs and global events for the past decade. The new leadership team members affirmed they are committed to expanding EWPN’s influence and fostering diversity in the payments industry.
Barrett Young joins Socure
Barrett Young is the new chief marketing officer at Socure, bringing his extensive experience in scaling B2B AI-powered SaaS companies. Previously, he led marketing at Netradyne, driving the company's sevenfold growth in four years through demand generation, branding and product marketing. Known for his data-driven strategies and expertise in AI storytelling, Young will focus on expanding Socure’s leadership in identity verification and fraud prevention. His role includes thought leadership, enterprise engagement and AI-driven marketing strategies, positioning Socure for continued hypergrowth. 
Whether you want to upgrade your POS offerings, find a payment gateway partner, bone up on fintech regs or PCI requirements, find an upcoming trade show, read about faster payments, or discover the latest innovations in merchant acquiring, The Green Sheet is the resource for you. Since 1983, we've helped empower and connect payments professionals, starting with the merchant level salespeople who bring tailored payment acceptance and digital commerce tools, along with a host of other business services to merchants across the globe. The Green Sheet Inc. is also a proud affiliate of Bankcard Life, a premier community that provides industry-leading training and resources for payment professionals.
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