The Green Sheet Online Edition
January 12, 2026 • 26:01:01
Letter from the editor
For years, payments innovation has been defined by speed: faster checkouts, faster rails and faster decisions. But as 2026 unfolds, the industry is entering a more demanding phase, one where velocity alone is not enough. Trust, governance, resilience and real-world execution are moving to the foreground, even as AI, digital wallets, instant payments and new settlement models continue to advance.
In this issue’s lead feature, we explore how payments leaders are navigating that shift, from promise to pressure test, and what it will take to build systems that don’t just move money faster, but do so securely, transparently and sustainably. Navigating that shift also applies to marketing in the new year, a topic explored by one of this issue's contributing writers. Other experts featured herein explain why treating payments as a finance afterthought leaves merchants exposed, and strategy, education and provider scrutiny matter as fintech choices multiply; why, after the UK Financial Conduct Authority's decision to allow providers to set contactless limits, the real challenge lies in managing heightened consumer anxiety about fraud, not fraud itself, which remains low; and why monetization, compliance and explainable AI are the foundations for growth and trust for banks.
Select news briefs report on growing opposition to a proposed settlement in the long-running interchange litigation involving Visa and Mastercard, with Walmart and major retail trade groups urging a federal court to reject the deal; Shift4 Payments founder Jared Isaacman's confirmation as the 15th Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; new data from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau suggesting BNPL loan performance is improving despite consumers using BNPL more often and for larger amounts; The Federal Reserve's biennial debit and prepaid card report showing debit use continuing to grow but at a slower pace, while fraud losses are rising and interchange fees remain largely stable; and solid gains posted in U.S. consumer spending during the 2025 holiday season, reflecting steady confidence and flexible shopping behavior, according to Mastercard. Full versions of all recent news stories are posted here: www.greensheet.com/breakingnews&article_id=3354.
Also included are product and company profiles; updates on recent appointments, acquisitions, partnerships, research and more; and additional features to empower you in your payments career. To help us remain your trusted source of information and inspiration in the new year, please send your suggestions to greensheet@greensheet.com and your news to press@greensheet.com. 
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