The Green Sheet Online Edition
July 28, 2025 • 25:07:02
Letter from the editor
If the headlines have you convinced it’s all bad news out there, think again. While challenges remain in payments and fintech, there are reasons for optimism. From growing small business sales and falling inflation expectations to the rapid rise of instant payments and regulatory clarity on merchant fees, real momentum is building across the industry. Even in Washington and the courts, recent developments are offering relief rather than disruption. Innovation, investment and infrastructure gains continue to reshape the landscape. That’s something worth spotlighting.
Our contributing writers continue to provide insights worth spotlighting, too. In this issue you'll find a range of spot-on articles from industry leaders. Topics include why startup business plans must prioritize banking strategy, risk and compliance to gain acceptance from payment providers and avoid costly missteps; the evolving e-skimming attacks targeting merchant checkout scripts and the new PCI DSS v4.0.1 rules that aim to help; how understanding the psychology driving payment choices helps merchants improve conversion by aligning checkout experiences with consumer expectations, trust signals, local habits and more; why payment providers are modernizing siloed back-office systems, integrating reconciliation, settlement and dispute workflows into unified ecosystems; the need for ISOs to own their tech stacks to protect merchant accounts, preserve residuals and stay competitive in our rapidly evolving industry; and why it makes sense to bank on agents, who have evolved into savvy consultants driving growth by bringing expertise and powerful business software to merchants.
The news we’ve highlighted covers global efforts to combat AI-driven fraud in Web3, with Bitget’s Anti-Scam Month educating users through interactive tools and fostering cross-sector collaboration, while Visa, UK banks, India’s RBI and insurers launch similar fraud-fighting initiatives; Mastercard and Fiserv’s penny-a-month Clover POS offer giving 1,000 small businesses access to modern payment hardware, symbolizing a commitment to empowering entrepreneurs; U.S. plans to eliminate federal checks by late 2025, despite ongoing scrutiny of Zelle's fraud vulnerabilities; AppOmni’s latest SaaS security report indicating many organizations are overconfident despite rising breaches and calling for more proactive defense strategies; and in Australia, RBA's proposal to ban card surcharges and lower interchange fees to simplify payments and support business savings.
In addition, you'll find our customary profiles and updates on industry research, partnerships, appointments and other milestones. If you like what you're reading or have suggestions for us, email greensheet@greensheet.com. And please continue to send your latest news to press@greensheet.com. 
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