Monthly Archives: October 2026
Types of Payment Cards Explained: Credit, Debit, Charge and Prepaid
Credit, debit, charge and prepaid cards look the same at checkout but work very differently. A beginner-friendly guide to what is on your card, the four card types, and open-loop vs closed-loop networks.
AI Is Now the Interface for Payments Infrastructure: Why Every Payments API Needs an MCP Story
Finix launched MCP server integrations with ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini, following Stripe, Plaid and Square. MCP is becoming the default way developers discover and build on payments APIs.
ChatGPT Got a Window Into Your Bank Account, and Plaid Is the Door
OpenAI launched a personal finance experience in ChatGPT, connected to more than 12,000 financial institutions through Plaid. An AI that remembers and reasons across your finances is a new kind of data consumer.
Anthropic Shipped a Shopping Agent Blueprint and Left Checkout to Merchants
Anthropic released an open blueprint for building commerce agents on Claude, with Accenture, Mastercard and Visa signed on. The notable part is what it leaves out: payment stays with the merchant.
Amex Places a Big Bet on Agentic Commerce With Agent Purchase Protection
American Express launched the ACE Developer Kit for AI agent payments. The bigger move is Amex Agent Purchase Protection: if a registered agent gets a purchase wrong, Amex covers it.
You Paid $100. The Merchant Kept $96.80. Here Is Who Took the Rest
Most people think Visa or Mastercard takes the swipe fee. On a $100 online purchase, the card issuer takes $2.20 of the $3.20. Here is the split, and where merchants can push.
The Fastest-Growing Fraud in 2026 Passes Every Check You Have
Adyen’s 2026 Fraud Report says the fastest-growing fraud comes from verified accounts and recognized devices. The defense is now the cost: half of merchants report rising false declines.