The news: Fiserv will launch its own stablecoin, FIUSD, by end of year to complement its existing banking and payments infrastructure. Our take: Reporting BNPL data to the credit bureaus would be a solid step toward combatting BNPL’s “phantom debt” criticism.

At Cannes Lions 2025, commerce media partnerships once again reigned supreme. Once the domain of digital shelf tactics and retail data, commerce media is now reshaping how brands show up across social platforms, connected TV (CTV), and in-store displays. This year’s festival offered a glimpse into a more integrated, AI-driven future—one where conversational ads, programmatic pipes, and real-world touchpoints blur the lines between media and purchase.

FMNs are a small but burgeoning part of commerce media, offering valuable first-party transaction data. Despite their promise, FMNs face scale limits due to data sensitivity and must find ways to shift audiences toward commerce-focused behaviors.

The news: PayPal is launching storefront-style ads that allow users to buy products directly within display ads on publisher sites, using PayPal or Venmo without leaving the page. Debuting in the US with partners like Business Insider and Vox Media, the units will later expand to include carousels and listings. This move strengthens PayPal’s financial media network footprint after its 2023 Ads launch. Our take: As FMN spend is set to reach $1.78B by 2027, PayPal is embedding commerce where consumers already are. These shoppable ads address friction, drive impulse purchases, and position PayPal as a safeguard against rising AI-driven agentic commerce.

Tariff uncertainty, billion-dollar merger and acquisition deals, and a jump in social commerce will create new dynamics in the payments industry in H2 2025. Burgeoning tech like agentic AI and stablecoins will further shake up the space.

The news: PayPal will serve as Selfbook’s commerce partner for its travel and hotel offerings, per a press release. Customers can book travel arrangements directly within the PayPal app. Our take: Consumers want travel features from their banks, which PayPal has taken up as a fintech payment provider.

Advertisers’ push for a unified strategy across retail media, loyalty programs, and merchandising is raising the bar on data and transparency. Paul Lentz, executive director and head of strategic development at CVS Media Exchange, shares how new collaborations—from The Trade Desk to social platforms—can help brands see every ad dollar’s impact.

With account integration ending for Android wallets, PayPal sets its sights on keeping more users within its own ecosystem.

Centralized payment options and automating spend threshold One Credential can help to keep PayPal products top-of-wallet for Gen Z.

Retail media ad spending in France, Germany, and the UK continues to rise, outpacing all other ad formats. The space is developing rapidly despite fragmentation and a lack of standards.

With seamless in-app purchases coming, PayPal could turn Perplexity into a trusted, AI-driven checkout hub—especially for younger, AI-hungry consumers.

This launch could revolutionize PayPal’s in-store ambitions—and provide real competition for Apple Pay

Payment providers are investing in AI to help streamline and personalize both the merchant and customer experiences

The tech is dominating recent headlines as retailer and consumer interest explodes

Agent Pay could transform the payments experience for consumers with hyperpersonalized recommendations

Economic uncertainty could derail its efforts to reinvigorate growth

In the first 100 days of his second term, President Trump has reshaped business strategy across retail, tech, healthcare, and media. Here’s how tariffs, regulation, and market volatility are forcing brands to rethink spend, growth, and planning.

The payments giant also deepened its tie-up with Coinbase to make buying and using the asset more accessible

The campaign’s associated sweepstakes encourages users to pay more frequently with PayPal

Uptake could be limited given the crypto market plunge