Cross-border Payments

Samsung Pay is now linked to the Coinbase app, letting users in the US and Canada buy and trade crypto more easily without switching apps. The update makes payments faster and safer, helping more people use crypto on their phones.

PayPal is making a bold move to reshape global payments with the unveiling of the PayPal World platform, designed to connect local digital wallets with PayPal’s vast global merchant network.

Western Union is testing stablecoin payments in Latin America and Africa to make money transfers faster and cheaper. The move follows a new US law that supports stablecoin use, and the company may launch the service later this year.

The US has started an investigation into Brazil’s trade policies, focusing on whether its Pix payment system unfairly affects American companies. Officials are also looking at tariffs, digital rules, and how Brazil treats US tech firms.

Thailand is testing a crypto sandbox to let tourists change digital assets into Thai baht for local spending. Approved exchanges will handle the conversions, with spending limits and ID checks to meet national rules.

Bank of America has launched a new research series called On Chain to explore blockchain, stablecoins, and tokenised assets. The bank sees Ethereum and companies like Stripe as key to the future of digital finance and payment systems.

Ant Group plans to add USDC, a dollar-backed stablecoin from Circle, to its blockchain platform for international payments. The move depends on US regulatory approval and could make Ant a major user of regulated digital currencies outside China.

The Kingdom of Bhutan is making a bold statement by integrating cryptocurrency payments into its tourism infrastructure, essentially saying Bhutan is opening up to modern travelers and eliminating friction in its payment infrastructure.

Binance Pay has teamed up with French fintech Lyzi to introduce cryptocurrency payments to over 80 businesses across the French Riviera, including the glamorous cities of Cannes, Nice, Antibes, and Monaco.

Leading prime brokerage platform FalconX has joined forces with Crypto.com, Galaxy, Wintermute, and other major industry players to launch a next-generation settlement network called Lynq.