The Green Sheet Online Edition
March 23, 2026 • 26:03:02
Industry Update
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Alchemy Pay obtains Delaware Money Transmitter License
Alchemy Pay obtained a Money Transmitter License in Delaware, expanding its regulatory footprint in the United States as it builds a compliant infrastructure for fiat-to-crypto payments. The license authorizes the company to provide regulated money transmission services in the state under the supervision of the Delaware Office of the State Bank Commissioner.
With the addition of Delaware, Alchemy Pay now holds Money Transmitter Licenses in 15 U.S. states and has additional applications pending. The company said the expanded regulatory coverage supports its plans to scale compliant crypto on-ramps and off-ramps and advance future initiatives, including the launch of its own stablecoin and blockchain network, Alchemy Chain.
FintechOS now a Microsoft Solutions Partner
FintechOS earned Microsoft's Solutions Partner with certified software designation for Financial Services AI, recognizing that its FintechOS 8 platform meets Microsoft standards for interoperability, security, governance and responsible AI. Built on Microsoft Cloud, the platform is designed to help financial institutions move AI initiatives from pilot programs into regulated production environments. FintechOS 8 integrates products, workflows and AI into a unified operating system intended to support banks and insurers modernizing legacy systems.
The company said the platform enables features such as automated document ingestion, underwriting support and workflow orchestration.
FintechOS worked with Microsoft over the past 18 months to align the platform with Azure-based security and AI standards.
Kraken Financial receives Federal Reserve master account
Payward Inc. said Kraken Financial, its Wyoming-chartered bank, received a Federal Reserve master account, becoming the first digital asset bank to gain direct access to the Fed's payment infrastructure. The approval allows Kraken Financial to connect directly to U.S. payment rails such as Fedwire without relying on intermediary banks, enabling faster settlement and more efficient movement of fiat funds for institutional clients.
Kraken Financial operates as a Wyoming Special Purpose Depository Institution on a full-reserve model, holding liquid assets equal to or exceeding client deposits. The company said the new connectivity strengthens its infrastructure strategy and could support future services linking regulated fiat liquidity with digital asset markets.
Payabli named to 2026 Forbes Fintech 50
Payabli was named to the 2026 Forbes Fintech 50, marking its first appearance on the annual list, which recognizes innovative private fintech companies in the United States. Forbes evaluates hundreds of firms each year based on factors such as product innovation, revenue growth and market impact. Payabli provides embedded payments infrastructure for vertical software platforms through its Pay In, Pay Out and Pay Ops capabilities, allowing software providers to integrate payment acceptance, payouts and operational tools into their products.
The company recently expanded features including SoftPOS, mobile check capture, AI-driven risk and compliance tools. Payabli said it has achieved fourfold year-over-year growth and now supports more than 100 vertical SaaS platforms.
RESEARCH
U.S. companies stifled by legacy finance systems
U.S. companies face significantly higher compliance risks than their European counterparts, according to a new survey from Basware. The study, based on responses from 400 finance leaders at companies with more than $1 billion in revenue, found that U.S. businesses are five times more likely to pay regulatory fines, seven times more likely to experience fraud and nine times more likely to uncover compliance issues during audits.
The report links the gap largely to fragmented compliance processes and limited use of digital tools.
Many companies still rely on spreadsheets or scanning technology, while fewer than one-third have fully implemented e-invoicing platforms.
Nearly all respondents said greater investment in compliance technology would reduce long-term costs.
Nasdaq Verafin finds financial crime surging
According to Nasdaq Verafin's 2026 Global Financial Crime Report, illicit financial activity has surged by $1.3 trillion since 2023, reaching $4.4 trillion worldwide. The report, based on proprietary data modeling and a survey of more than 500 financial crime professionals, found major growth across multiple crime categories. Drug trafficking generated an estimated $1.1 trillion in illicit flows, while human trafficking reached $528.5 billion and terrorist financing totaled $16.2 billion.
Fraud and bank scams produced $579.4 billion in losses globally, with scam losses growing particularly rapidly as criminal networks increasingly use artificial intelligence to scale attacks.
Ninety percent of financial crime professionals surveyed reported rising AI-driven threats at their institutions.
Frictionless payments rewire consumer spending
NMI's Psychology of Payments survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers found frictionless checkout experiences are reshaping spending behavior. Half of respondents said they shop more frequently when payments are seamless, while 50 percent abandon purchases when checkout is complicated. Fast, one-click payment options also influence spending, with 48 percent saying they spend more when checkout is quick and convenient. Incentives such as loyalty rewards, cash back and buy now, pay later programs encourage additional purchases, researchers found, particularly among younger consumers.
Digital wallet adoption is growing fastest among Gen Z. However, the study also found concerns about overspending, with many of those surveyed saying frictionless payments can make money feel less tangible and reduce awareness of spending.
Businesses will discount invoices for faster payments
SAP Taulia's latest supplier survey found that 66 percent of businesses are willing to accept a discount on invoices in exchange for faster payment as liquidity becomes a higher priority than profit margins in a volatile economic environment.
The survey, based on responses from more than 10,800 suppliers globally, shows on-time payments continuing to decline, with only 37 percent of invoices now paid on schedule, down from 42 percent in 2024 and 54 percent in 2019. Businesses are increasingly turning to alternative liquidity tools to bridge cash flow gaps, including virtual or credit cards, early payment programs and credit lines. The findings highlight growing pressure on suppliers to convert receivables into cash more quickly.
PARTNERSHIPS
Bluefin, Volanté tackle enterprise foodservice payments
Bluefin expanded its partnership with Volanté Systems to deliver additional PCI-validated point-to-point encryption (P2PE) capabilities for enterprise foodservice operators. The collaboration, which began in 2021, now includes support for the PAX A35 Android payment device through the Volanté POS platform.
Bluefin's P2PE technology encrypts cardholder data at the point of interaction, helping organizations reduce PCI scope and limit exposure to sensitive payment information. Volanté's platform is designed for large foodservice environments and supports centralized management across multiple locations. The addition of the A35 device enables support for EMV, NFC, magstripe and QR payments while maintaining strong payment security across enterprise operations,, the partners stated.
Link2Gov a preferred digital payments partner for IRS
Global Payments said the Internal Revenue Services selected Global's Link2Gov business as a preferred digital payments provider for the 2026 tax season. Through Link2Gov's Pay1040.com service, taxpayers can pay federal income taxes using credit cards, debit cards and other digital payment methods.
The initiative supports the federal government's push to modernize payment systems following a March 2025 executive order encouraging electronic disbursements and receipts. Link2Gov has served as an authorized IRS payment processor for more than 20 years and processes millions of tax payments annually.
The company said the partnership will help expand secure, convenient digital payment options for taxpayers while supporting the IRS's broader modernization efforts.
InvoiceCloud, CBES team up for elders' digital literacy
InvoiceCloud partnered with Central Boston Elder Services (CBES) to support digital literacy programs for older adults in the Boston area. Through CBES' computer lab program, participants attend 12-week sessions that provide hands-on training with iPads and everyday technologies such as Wi-Fi, Zoom, email and safe internet browsing.
The initiative aims to help seniors build confidence online while reducing vulnerability to digital fraud. InvoiceCloud employees have volunteered more than 80 hours, assisting over 40 participants to date. The nonprofit graduated 69 older adults from the program in 2025 and expects about 70 participants to complete sessions in 2026, reflecting growing demand for digital skills training.
Klarna, eBay scale embedded resale
Klarna and eBay are expanding their embedded resale integration to six new markets: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Poland and Switzerland. The collaboration allows Klarna users to list eligible purchases on eBay directly from the Klarna app, with product images, descriptions and details automatically populated using purchase data. The companies said the tool simplifies resale and makes it easier for consumers to turn past purchases into new listings.
They also noted this expansion follows strong adoption in the United States and United Kingdom, where users have created more than 1 million eBay listings through the Klarna app since the feature launched in December 2024, which highlights growing interest in secondhand and circular commerce.
PayBright, Material team up to elevate CX
PayBright made a strategic investment in retail technology company Material and named it the company's preferred POS solution for retail merchants. Material's platform integrates hardware, software and payments to help independent retailers manage both in-store and online operations. The system is designed for boutique and specialty retailers such as gift shops, pet stores and sports apparel businesses.
Through the partnership, PayBright will offer Material's tools to its merchant base, expanding support for smaller retailers that often lack tailored technology solutions.
Material stated it currently supports more than 5,000 boutiques and has facilitated $50 million in online marketplace sales and $150 million in brick-and-mortar retail transactions.
ACQUISITIONS
Shift4 acquisition of key Worldline subsidiaries final
Shift4 completed its acquisition of Bambora North America, including Bambora Inc., Bambora Holding Corp., Bambora Corp. and Worldline SMB US Inc., subsidiaries of Worldline. Bambora's gateway platform supports more than 140,000 merchants across North America and integrates with over 500 independent software vendors, Shift4 stated, adding that those merchants will now gain access to Shift4's end-to-end payments and commerce solutions, creating opportunities to expand services across the company's platform.
Shift4 added that the acquisition adds significant payments volume and strengthens its presence in several industry verticals. The move aligns with the company's strategy of integrating gateway customers into its broader payments and commerce ecosystem.
Veon's JIH to acquire digital-first TPL Insurance
Veon Ltd. said its subsidiary Jazz International Holding Ltd. agreed to acquire a controlling stake in TPL Insurance, a publicly listed digital-first insurer in Pakistan. The transaction, valued at about PKR 4.15 billion (approximately $14.6 million), is expected to close in mid-2026 pending regulatory approvals.
TPL Insurance offers auto, health, fire and property coverage and has issued more than 277,000 policies as of the end of 2025. Veon said the acquisition will expand its digital financial services ecosystem in Pakistan by integrating insurance with platforms such as JazzCash and Mobilink Bank, supporting broader financial inclusion in a market where insurance penetration remains relatively low.
APPOINTMENTS
NEACH Payments Group taps Alex Campbell
Alex Campbell was appointed to the board of directors of NEACH Payments Group. Campbell brings more than 27 years of experience in financial technology and payments operations to this role. He currently serves as first vice president and chief payments officer at COCC, where he oversees payment initiatives spanning product management, implementation and client support.
His expertise covers ACH, wire, check processing, RTP, FedNow and API-driven payment platforms. Campbell also has governance experience through prior board roles with The Scribes Institute and the Global Communication Academy.
Nancy Gail Daniels to leave Hyosung Americas
Nancy Gail Daniels, chief operating officer of Hyosung Americas, will depart the company in April 2026 after leading a period of operational transformation and growth. Daniels returned to Hyosung in 2023 with nearly five decades of experience in the ATM and payments industry.
During her tenure, she oversaw initiatives including retail product innovation, supply chain improvements and the development of a high-performance sales and service organization, helping the company achieve double-digit growth and strengthen its market share in North America. Daniels previously held C-level leadership roles at Fujitsu, NCR and Hyosung and has been an active industry voice on ATM crime, cybersecurity and the impact of tariffs on the payments sector.
Stax Payments appoints four top executives
Stax Payments has announced several leadership appointments as the company aligns its commercial, operational and technology functions to support continued growth.
Andrew "Drew" Monroe has joined Stax as chief commercial officer. Monroe brings more than 15 years of experience in fintech and payments, most recently serving as chief revenue officer at Bluefin. Earlier in his career, he led global enterprise sales teams at Worldline and Ingenico ePayments. At Stax, Monroe will oversee sales and commercialization efforts, unifying go-to-market strategies across enterprise, mid-market, ISV and partner channels to support expansion and strengthen revenue operations.
The company also promoted David Winters to chief operating officer. Previously chief administrative officer, Winters will now lead customer experience, financial operations, risk and underwriting, legal, human resources, program management and the Stax Bill business unit.
The expanded role consolidates key operational functions under a single leader to improve execution and accountability as the company scales.
Within the technology organization, VJ LeBlanc has been promoted from senior vice president of engineering to chief technology officer.
In the role, LeBlanc will oversee technology strategy, platform infrastructure and product development for the Stax platform.
Former CTO Mark Sundt will transition to chief AI officer, focusing on advancing artificial intelligence initiatives across the organization and integrating AI capabilities into Stax's technology and payments infrastructure.
Andy Zosel signs on with Diebold Nixdorf
Andy Zosel joined Diebold Nixdorf as executive vice president and chief product and technology officer, a newly created role overseeing the company's unified product and technology organization.
Zosel will lead product management, engineering, research and development, and innovation across Diebold Nixdorf's banking and retail businesses, with a focus on accelerating product development and advancing technologies such as artificial intelligence.
He brings to Diebold nearly 30 years of global experience in technology, product development and automation, most recently serving as senior vice president and general manager of Intelligent Automation at Zebra Technologies. Zosel previously held leadership roles at Omron Corp. and Microscan, specializing in engineering, marketing and industrial automation solutions. 
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