Новости за 31.12.2024

Bitcoin topped $100,000 this year. Will 2025 bring cryptocurrency fans similar good fortune? Investors, experts and industry executives surveyed by CNBC in a report published Tuesday (Dec. 31) say they expect the world’s most popular crypto to reach new record highs in the coming year. Some even project that bitcoin will double in price, such as Carol Alexander, finance professor […]

Mobile banking app Dave is pushing back against claims in a new government lawsuit. The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a suit Monday (Dec. 30) against the FinTech and its CEO Jason Wilk, alleging they violated federal law by deceptively advertising Dave’s cash advances, charging hidden fees, misrepresenting how Dave uses the “tips” paid by customers and levying recurring […]

As we wrap up 2024, PYMNTS’ “What’s Next in Payments” series has provided insights from industry leaders on the current and future state of play for banking, payments and the connected economy. Here are five thought-provoking comments from executives that stood out this year, offering a glimpse into the future of finance in 2025 from […]

Transforming healthcare — in terms of payments efficiencies, so that providers get paid and patients are able to handle the financial responsibilities tied to getting the care they need — is a bit like turning a battleship around on the open seas. It takes time, planning and coordination. Behind the scenes are teams and crews […]

Higher education is vital for personal and professional growth but rising tuition costs make it harder for students to attend. While financial aid like scholarships and loans help, delays in disbursement can jeopardize enrollment. A PYMNTS Intelligence report, “Making the Grade: Promoting Faster Payments in Education,” a collaboration with Ingo Payments, examines how modernizing payment […]

Silicon Valley’s artificial intelligence powerhouses staked their tech claims in 2024, rolling out AI models that solved increasingly complex problems. The latest systems from OpenAI, o3 and o3-mini, can reason through a task and validate themselves for accuracy — a change from earlier versions that were not as reliable. The company is testing the models […]

Here at PYMNTS our main focus is exactly what the name says. But to our CEO Karen Webster’s credit, she saw that the digital shift that was happening in banking and the payments sector would be so dramatic that it needed to be set against the rest of the economy for context and comparison. For […]

The global economy is an intricate web of transactions, and cross-border payments serve as its financial backbone. For much of its history, that backbone has been creaky, slow and inefficient. But throughout 2024, the cross-border payments sector evolved at a breathtaking pace, driven by technological innovation and changing customer expectations, while simultaneously grounded in regulatory […]

Brazilian startup Carecode has closed a pre-seed round to support the development of its service that uses conversational artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver customer service in healthcare. The service enables healthcare companies to talk in the tone of their brand, “with empathy and clarity”; provide answers about scheduling, billing, FAQs and other issues; reduce costs; […]

Treasury Department workstations were breached by China-backed hackers who then stole unclassified documents, according to multiple media reports posted Monday (Dec. 30). The incident happened this month and was disclosed to lawmakers by the Treasury Department, Reuters reported Monday. The hackers gained access to the Treasury workstations by compromising a third-party cybersecurity service provider and […]

The Justice Department said Monday (Dec. 30) that it recovered nearly 94% of fraud losses for victims of the Ponzi scheme for which Bernard L. Madoff pleaded guilty in 2009. The agency said this in a Monday press release announcing the Madoff Victim Fund’s 10th and final distribution to victims. The distribution of $131 million […]

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has referred its previously announced federal court case against online cash advance firm Dave to the Department of Justice (DOJ). The DOJ, in turn, has filed an amended complaint that names the company’s CEO, Jason Wilk, as a defendant and seeks civil penalties, the FTC said in a Monday (Dec. […]

Main Street has been getting a digital makeover in recent years, and small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are among the biggest beneficiaries. This crucial commercial cohort has faced challenges — ranging from navigating the aftermath of a global pandemic to managing persistent economic uncertainty. Yet the convergence of innovations in embedded finance, artificial intelligence (AI), […]

As streaming platforms continue to raise subscription fees, many consumers say they are dissatisfied with the quality of content being offered. Recent surveys, such as TiVo’s 2024 report, suggest satisfaction with both ad-free and ad-supported services has declined, sparking concerns that the golden age of high-quality, original programming might be over. In fact, PYMNTS data […]

Unified commerce and logistics software firm Cart.com teamed with punchout integration provider Greenwing Technology. The collaboration is designed to make eProcurement easier and more efficient for institutional buyers such as universities, government agencies and large corporations, according to a Thursday (Dec. 26) news release. “By combining Cart.com’s robust B2B Commerce Platform with Greenwing Technology’s advanced […]

2024 was a very good year for stablecoins. The blockchain-based digital tokens, which are pegged to fiat currencies or assets to minimize volatility, gained traction as financial services firms ventured into blockchain, while Donald Trump’s election victory portends a pro-crypto administration in the U.S. Stablecoins have transitioned from speculative tools to potentially foundational elements of […]

Digital payment solutions provider iWallet is adding voice artificial intelligence technology to its payments offering. The new technology comes as many consumers are using voice technology each day, according to a Monday (Dec. 30) press release. “However, the payments industry has lagged behind, relying on outdated systems and neglecting to integrate modern, secure technologies for […]

Rural lifestyle retailer Tractor Supply Company has finalized its acquisition of online pet pharmacy Allivet. “We’re very excited to officially welcome the Allivet team to the Tractor Supply family,” Tractor Supply CEO Hal Lawton said in a news release Monday (Dec. 30). “This acquisition complements and expands our existing ‘Life Out Here’ product and services line-up. We look forward to […]

Vacation rental property management companies Casago and Vacasa are becoming one. Casago will acquire all Vacasa’s stock in a $128.6 million deal, MarketWatch reported Monday (Dec. 30). “This transaction combines the strengths of both companies and accelerates progress toward a shared vision: empowered local teams, delivering best-in-class home care and revenue for homeowners, and providing […]