The Green Sheet Online Edition
November 24, 2025 • 25:11:02
Industry Update
ANNOUNCEMENTS
APAC awards names Paymentology the Best Payments Service
Paymentology won the Best Payments Service Award at the 2025 APAC Payments Excellence Awards, underscoring the company's commitment to fast, deeply localized solutions. The company was recognized for its advanced issuer-processing platform and service model across Asia Pacific, which is designed to enable banks, digital banks and fintechs to launch and scale localized payment solutions with real-time data, multi-cloud support and 24/7 operational resilience. Presented in Hong Kong, the award reflects Paymentology's role in supporting rapid growth in digital and cross-border payments throughout the region. Judges praised Paymentology for bold innovation and leadership shaping APAC's payments future.
Disputed.ai launches free VAMP calculator
Disputed.ai launched its free VAMP Calculator to help merchants and payment processors assess their status under the Visa Acquirer Monitoring Program (VAMP) ahead of stricter enforcement heading in 2026. The tool mirrors Visa's methodology for calculating the VAMP ratio, which combines fraud and non-fraud disputes. Businesses exceeding Visa's thresholds (1.5 percent today and 0.9 percent starting April 2026) risk $8-per-dispute fees and potential loss of processing privileges. Disputed.ai CEO Shawn Kelley said the tool provides much-needed transparency as VAMP's rules can cause fraud reports to count twice. With more than 1,000 assessments completed, the calculator is helping merchants detect risk earlier and avoid penalties, the company added.
EMS rebrands as Kurv
Electronic Merchant Systems rebranded as Kurv, unveiling a modern payments platform designed to make transactions simpler, faster and more flexible. Led by Executive Chairman and CEO Afshin Yazdian, Kurv focuses on removing friction for small businesses through instant payments, advanced reporting and 24/7 U.S.-based support. The platform strengthens security with AI-driven fraud detection and streamlines underwriting for rapid onboarding, Kurv stated, adding that it also enhances tools for ISO agents with a new Agent Portal offering real-time dashboards, instant underwriting and automated workflows. Recent acquisitions and expanded leadership further position Kurv for accelerated growth, the company noted.
PayRam unveils private stablecoin payment gateway
PayRam launched a decentralized stablecoin payments gateway designed to give merchants and individuals full control of their payment infrastructure without intermediaries. Built for privacy, autonomy and self-custody, PayRam is focused on enabling users to self-host payment nodes and eliminate risks such as frozen accounts, delayed settlements and centralized oversight. Founded by Siddharth Menon of WazirX, the platform supports multi-chain stablecoin and crypto payments and can be deployed in minutes on minimal hardware, PayRam stated. With programmable APIs, advanced analytics and privacy-preserving smart-contract tools, PayRam aims to establish a permissionless PayFi layer that powers the next era of decentralized, stablecoin-driven commerce.
Venmo introduces Venmo Stash rewards
Venmo launched Venmo Stash, a new rewards program that grows in value as customers use more Venmo products. Designed to support Venmo's evolution from a peer-to-peer app into a broader commerce platform, Stash offers up to 5 percent cash back on Venmo debit card purchases from curated brand bundles aligned with users' lifestyles. Customers earn 1 percent cash back by using their balance, 2 percent when enabling auto-reloads, and 5 percent when receiving monthly direct deposits. Cash back is automatically added to the Venmo balance each month. Venmo plans to expand Stash in 2026 with additional ways to earn rewards across its merchant network.
RESEARCH
Security concerns cause UK shoppers to abandon online purchases
A new Burbank–YouGov report shows trust, not speed, determines online checkout success. More than half of UK shoppers surveyed indicated they have abandoned purchases over security concerns, and nearly 60 percent refuse to pay on unfamiliar sites. Verification friction also undermines confidence, with many consumers, especially older ones, finding pop-ups and step-heavy checks confusing or unsafe. Yet shoppers are open to new payment methods that feel familiar: 56 percent of respondents said they would use a tap-and-PIN-style flow online; almost half who previously abandoned a purchase would complete it if checkout mirrored in-store payments. Burbank said its Card-Present over Internet approach aims to deliver that recognizable experience.
92 percent of enterprise merchants hit by payments outages
New research from BR-DGE found that 92 percent of enterprise ecommerce merchants have suffered payment outages or disruption in the past two years, with half losing $1.4 million to $12.5 million (£1.1 million to £10 million) in revenue. Beyond outages, a poor checkout experience also drives abandonment and erodes customer trust, prompting resilience to become a priority. To address this, BR-DGE released its Payments Resilience Playbook, offering practical guidance on maintaining performance, rerouting traffic and optimizing approval rates. The Playbook highlights five pillars of resilience—redundancy, flexibility, interoperability, optimization and future-readiness—and underscores that modern payments infrastructure is a growth enabler, not merely a safeguard, as merchants expand and face integration challenges.
SMBs want flexible, feature-rich credit
i2c Inc.'s new SMB Growth Monitor Report, produced with PYMNTS Intelligence, revealed strong credit optimism among small and midsize businesses: 83 percent of participants believe they would be approved for a new business credit card. Also, SMBs respondents view credit as essential for daily operations and long-term growth, but usage varies by size: larger firms rely more heavily on business cards than smaller ones. Across all segments, researchers found, SMBs want flexible, customizable credit tools such as dynamic limits, virtual cards, installments and spending controls, and many SMBs in the study indicated they are willing to pay for them. With confidence high, providers must differentiate themselves through adaptability and advanced features rather than basic access, researchers concluded.
Americans redefine financial success around resilience
KeyBank's 2026 Financial Mobility Survey found Americans increasingly defining financial success in terms of resilience, with debt-free living cited by 74 percent as a top milestone. Despite rising financial stress (experienced by 68 percent of respondents), many consumers are channeling pressure into long-term discipline, with 35 percent feeling in control of their money. Inflation and higher daily expenses have weakened emergency readiness, reduced savings, and shifted priorities away from traditional milestones like homeownership and marriage. Younger generations are reimagining success on their own terms, while Gen X reported the highest strain. BNPL use is rising, particularly among Gen Z and millennial respondents, providing short-term relief but not easing overall financial stress.
AI agents set to transform how Americans shop
New Worldpay research found growing openness to AI shopping assistants ahead of Black Friday. Nearly half of Americans (44 percent) participating in the survey indicated they would let an AI browse for deals, rising to 59 percent among 18-to-34-year-olds. Respondents said they expect AI agents to make about 9 percent of their online purchases by 2030, potentially driving $261 billion in spending. They said they want help finding low prices (63 percent) and top-rated brands (44 percent), but still demand control: 48 percent prioritize fraud protection, 44 percent want to review each purchase, and only 6 percent would allow fully automated buying. Also, participants surveyed prefer AI for everyday items under $50, while valuing human support when issues arise.
PARTNERSHIPS
Cyborg Automation Hub now a ParaScript partner
ParaScript partnered with Cyborg Automation Hub, expanding ParaScript's presence in the Middle East and bringing AI-powered signature verification directly to regional financial institutions. Cyborg will integrate ParaScript's configurable software into client environments, enabling faster, more accurate payment processing while reducing manual work and strengthening fraud detection, the partners stated, adding that the ParaScript system uses advanced AI and image analysis to compare stored signatures with those on submitted documents, achieving accuracy and speed beyond human review. One client cut verification costs by 33 percent within the first 90 days of implementation and is on track for a two-thirds reduction, the partners noted. Both companies highlighted the partnership's shared focus on innovation, efficiency and measurable performance gains.
DataVisor teams up with ACFE for DEFEND rollout
DataVisor launched DEFEND Training, a self-paced program designed to upskill fraud, risk and AML professionals amid rapidly evolving financial crime threats. Introduced during International Fraud Awareness Week, the program is being offered to members of the ACFE San Francisco Bay Area Chapter for CPE credit, and DataVisor is opening 100 seats to additional professionals worldwide. Developed by DataVisor's in-house experts, DEFEND delivers practical, on-demand courses covering modern fraud threats, applied AI, fraud strategy, and key use cases across cards, ACH, checks and promotions, DataVisor stated. Participants earn shareable digital certificates and gain access to a collaborative learning community. Early adopters reported faster onboarding, stronger analytical skills and improved cross-team alignment, underscoring DEFEND's value in preparing the next generation of financial crime fighters, DataVisor added.
TGI Fridays to implement Toast across all its U.S. locations
Toast partnered with TGI Fridays to roll out its digital restaurant technology across all U.S. locations. The deployment will include Toast's POS platform, Multi-Location Management, Mobile Order & Pay, Toast Go handhelds, and Kitchen Display Systems, with the option to add tools like Catering Pro, Waitlist, and Kiosk. TGI Fridays said it chose Toast to enhance efficiency and support nationwide growth through an intuitive, scalable system that frees staff to focus on the brand's signature hospitality. Executives from both companies emphasized how Toast's purpose-built platform will streamline operations, elevate guest experiences, and support TGI Fridays' expansion in the U.S. and beyond.
#h2UBS, Ant International team up on cross-border payments UBS formed a strategic partnership with Ant International to advance blockchain-based payment innovation, signing an MoU in Singapore to explore tokenized deposits and real-time global settlement. Ant will use UBS Digital Cash, which is UBS's blockchain payment platform piloted in 2024, to enhance its global treasury operations with faster, more transparent, multi-currency fund flows. The collaboration, the partners stated, will also connect UBS's capabilities with Ant's Whale platform, enabling 24/7 liquidity management unconstrained by traditional cut-off times. Leaders from both companies highlighted their shared goal of transforming cross-border payments through blockchain efficiency, transparency and security while expanding access to modern digital finance solutions.
Washington Trust adds Clover to its business services
Washington Trust said it integrated Clover technology into its business banking solutions, giving merchants expanded payment acceptance options and tools to manage operations more efficiently. Businesses can now sign up for Clover's all-in-one operating system, which includes mobile readers like Clover Go and countertop systems like Clover Station Duo, offering features such as real-time reporting, inventory tracking, order routing, table management and customer feedback. Clover supports PCI-compliant processing with advanced encryption and fraud prevention, while enabling acceptance of cards, contactless wallets and online payments. Most Clover transactions settle into Washington Trust business accounts by the next business day, reinforcing the bank's commitment to supporting local businesses, the bank stated.
Yodlee, JPMorganChase update data access agreement
JPMorganChase and Yodlee expanded their 20-year partnership with an amended data access agreement featuring mutual commitments and a new pricing structure. The strengthened collaboration is designed to support their shared goal of advancing open finance and improving financial wellness for millions of U.S. consumers. JPMC's Melissa Feldsher emphasized the companies' long history of delivering essential financial services, while Yodlee CEO Farouk Ferchichi highlighted the opportunity to build next-generation financial wellness tools informed by JPMC's expertise and Yodlee's extensive spending, income and wealth data. The renewed agreement reinforces both firms' commitment to shaping the future of open banking and customer-focused innovation.
ACQUISITIONS
Paystand acquires Bitwage
Paystand acquired Bitwage, marking a major enterprise move in a year of accelerating corporate stablecoin adoption. The deal is expected to enable Paystand to offer enterprise-grade stablecoin settlement, FX and treasury automation across its B2B payments network, which processes over $20 billion annually. The acquisition comes amid growing regulatory clarity and billion-dollar stablecoin deals by Stripe, Ripple and others. Paystand said combining its AR/AP network with Bitwage's global payout engine brings faster, lower-cost, compliant cross-border payments to CFOs. As stablecoin transaction volume surges and institutions adopt on-chain money movement, the combined platform positions stablecoins as scalable infrastructure for global businesses, Paystand stated.
S&P Global acquires ORBCOMM's AIS business
S&P Global completed its acquisition of ORBCOMM's automatic identification system (AIS) business, a leading provider of satellite-based vessel tracking and maritime visibility data. The AIS unit will operate within S&P Global Market Intelligence, supporting the company's broader supply chain strategy and strengthening its maritime, trade and risk solutions. Alongside the acquisition, the two companies formed a strategic alliance to develop enhanced supply chain data products and insights. The deal is not expected to have a material financial impact on S&P Global or its Market Intelligence division, but it expands the firm's data capabilities worldwide.
APPOINTMENTS
Payments+Partnerships welcomes Bhavna Kaushal
Payments+Partnerships appointed Bhavna Kaushal as engagement lead and senior consultant. Kaushal brings to the company more than two decades of leadership in financial services, fintech and loyalty, with expertise in digital transformation, strategic partnerships and global market expansion. She previously drove Scotiabank's multi-product loyalty strategy and major digitization initiatives across 25 Latin American and Caribbean markets, and held senior roles at American Express and Berkeley Payments, where she advanced fintech–bank collaboration. A respected industry voice, Kaushal sits on Euromonitor's Global Loyalty Expert Council and has contributed to CPPO and ACT Canada. She also received the 2023 Women in Payments Social Impact & Sustainability Award.
Butter Payments hires Sonali Sambhus
Butter Payments appointed Sonali Sambhus as chief technology officer, adding a seasoned technology leader with deep expertise in AI- and ML-driven fintech innovation to its leadership team. Sambhus brings a strong record of scaling intelligent platforms, most recently leading the developer & ML platform at Block Inc. She has held executive roles at Realtor.com and Vuclip, co-founded analytics startup 10jumps, and advised multiple emerging fintech and AI companies. She also served on AvidXchange's board and is an advisory board member at Illuminate Ventures. Sambhus said she looks forward to advancing Butter's ML technology and supporting clients' growth as Butter Payments continues to scale.
Aneal Vallurupalli joins Drata
Drata named Aneal Vallurupalli as chief financial officer, bringing to the company a seasoned financial leader with extensive experience guiding high-growth technology companies. Vallurupalli previously held senior roles at Airbase, Mattermost, Mapbox and Guidewire, where he built scalable financial operations, led major fundraising initiatives, supported mergers and acquisitions, and prepared organizations for enterprise and public-company maturity. His background spans corporate development, operational transformation and strategic growth execution. Vallurupalli said he is joining Drata at a pivotal moment as the company uses AI to modernize trust management, noting that organizations increasingly need strong, transparent foundations of risk and compliance to operate confidently.
Worth adds three executives to leadership team
Worth expanded its executive team with three seasoned fintech leaders to support its rapid growth following a strong seed round and rising adoption of its onboarding and underwriting platform. Craig Snodgrass joins as chief data officer after serving as CDO at Cardlytics, where he built enterprise-scale data programs. At Worth, he will oversee data architecture, governance and analytics to reinforce the company's AI infrastructure.
Sethen Maleno was appointed chief technology officer. Formerly CTO of WorldWinner and vice president of engineering at PrizePicks, he will guide technology strategy and advance Worth's platform reliability and scalability. Blaine Dawson is Worth's new chief operating officer, bringing extensive experience leading fintech operations at FieldPulse and Stax to the company. He will manage internal operations, client delivery, and implementation as the company grows its enterprise base.
Worth stated these hires reflect its commitment to strengthening execution across data, technology and operations as customer reliance on automated decisioning increases. The expanded leadership team provides the operational and technical foundation needed to support continued scale and meet rising customer expectations. 
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