Mastercard’s CipherTrace Technology
Blockchain analytics and cryptocurrency intelligence is the expertise of CipherTrace, which was acquired by Mastercard last year. CipherTrace had more than 50 customers worldwide among financial institutions, digital asset exchanges and governments when Mastercard bought the company.
Digital Currency Update
Crypto.com, a digital currency exchange, will accept cryptocurrency purchases using Apple Pay from within the company’s app.
Newland SmartPOS Device
The sixth largest manufacturer of POS terminals worldwide has introduced a handheld SmartPOS device intended for retail and hospitality merchants. The Newland N950 uses a 6-inch TFT touchscreen for data entry and runs on Android 10. Its readers accept contact and contactless chip as well as magstripe cards.
Facial Biometric Payment Service
Brazil-based Payface piloted its biometric payment engine in 2019 with restaurant Biezza in a closed-loop system and launched it for open network payments last year with that country’s top merchant acquirer Cielo. Mastercard has selected Payface as a vendor in its global Biometric Checkout Program.
Worldline Payments in the Metaverse
Should it come to fruition, the metaverse (an immersive online virtual world), which operates in Web 3.0, will need a way for people to make card, account-to-account and cryptocurrency payments to businesses. Worldline, the fourth largest merchant acquirer in Europe, has created a virtual showroom inside Decentraland, one of the virtual worlds currently comprising the metaverse, to explore what real-world payment services for virtual consumers (avatars) could look like.
Apple Pay Later
American users of the Apple Pay wallet will be offered a buy now, pay later (BNPL) option from Apple for purchases made in-store and online of less than $1,000 at any merchant. Users can divide the purchase amount into four equal payments, which must be tied to a debit card.
Digital Currency Update
Mastercard is working with marketplaces and cryptocurrency service providers MoonPay, Immutable X, Candy Digital, The Sandbox, Mintable, Spring and Nifty Gateway to allow card payments for NFTs and Web 3.0 commerce.
Mastercard’s Biometric Checkout Program
Recognizing the opportunity to further reduce friction in the payment process as well as to provide consumers with another method of payment, Mastercard has created the Biometric Checkout Program.
Digital Currency Update
Payment processor Jack Henry will partner with Nydig, an institutional digital asset firm, to provide crypto transactions on its Banno Digital Platform. Jack Henry services 7.1 million consumers through local and regional financial institutions.
Sunmi Android PIN Pad
Shanghai-based Sunmi Technology, a manufacturer of POS terminals, has launched an Android-based device called the P2 Smartpad, which differs from a typical PIN pad. It is built more like a tablet or handheld mobile POS terminal.