The Green Sheet Online Edition
October 27, 2025 • 25:10:02
Letter from the editor
Artificial intelligence has officially entered the holiday shopping season. Transitions that once took decades (the ubiquity of electronic transfers, for example) now happen in months. As our lead article reveals, AI-driven traffic to retail sites surged 4,700 percent over the past year, with shoppers turning to generative tools for inspiration, price checks and deal verification.
AI is becoming the new shopping assistant, transforming tradition into something more dynamic, playful and personalized. But convenience comes with risk: scams, deepfakes and friendly fraud are evolving faster than the protections meant to contain them.
Payment brands like Visa and Mastercard are responding with trusted-agent frameworks to authenticate AI activity and ensure merchants can distinguish legitimate bots from malicious impostors.
That same spirit of vigilance and adaptation connects articles in this issue written by industry experts. One points out that just as merchants must rethink AI-driven commerce, ISOs and MLSs can help small businesses thrive this BFCM season with turnkey campaigns, loyalty tools and data-driven strategies that build trust and repeat business. Other contributors explore ways that embedded finance offers a lifeline to small merchants seeking fast, data-driven funding; how Gen Z’s mobile-first mindset is reshaping travel and payments; how ISOs can guide clients safely through the MATCH list, turning compliance challenges into long-term opportunities; the path forward for stablecoins, which need better visibility, rewards and user experience to gain traction; the ongoing tug-of-war between consolidation and innovation in merchant acquiring; and how a Chief Payment Officer can transform payments from an administrative function into a core element of business strategy—bringing finance, compliance, product and technology into alignment for growth.
In news, we report on a nationwide refund-fraud ring exploiting a POS glitch; Vyntra’s findings that consumers increasingly value trust and transparency over speed; BCG’s forecast that global payments revenue will hit $2.4 trillion by 2029; Adobe’s projection of $250 billion in online holiday spending; and Mastercard’s research revealing rising concern about cyber threats and online scams. Each headline underscores that security, innovation and reliability remain the cornerstones of trust in payments.
You’ll also find resources tailored specifically for payments pros, product profiles; event listings; and updates on industry milestones spotlighting awards, partnerships, research, acquisitions and appointments across the payments ecosystem.We welcome your news for upcoming issues; please send press releases to press@greensheet.com.
Questions, comments or suggestions? And reach out anytime with your comments and questions at greensheet@greensheet.com. 
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