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- Amex Acceptance ‘Skyrockets’ In Australia With Launch Of OptBlue
- Circle Launches Euro-Backed Stablecoin On Solana Network
- Japan, Cambodia Sign Agreement On Interoperable QR Code Payments
- UK's Payment Systems Regulator Appoints New Head Of Strategy
- Ukraine Eyes SEPA Launch In 2024
- Hong Kong Digital Wallet App Fined For AML/CTF Failures
- New Hampshire Becomes Latest US State To Legislate Against CBDC
- Russian Director Of UK Payments Firm Quits Following FCA Probe
- IrisGuard Biometrics Partners With Yemen’s National Payments Company
Amex Acceptance ‘Skyrockets’ In Australia With Launch Of OptBlue
American Express has a new programme in Australia that will see thousands of small businesses onboarded to the network through partnerships with acquirers Fiserv and .
Known as OptBlue, the programme seeks to bring an end to the question: “Do you accept Amex?" With OptBlue, small businesses will be able to process Amex transactions at a “competitive rate”.
Both Fiserv and Tyro will add Amex to their single solutions for all card types, including a single statement, settlement process, onboarding journey and servicing contact. Other acquirers may also join in the future, though Fiserv and Tyro will be first-to-market.
In the past 12 months, Amex acceptance had already expanded to more than 136,000 new merchants in Australia, primarily in retail and dining.
OptBlue previously launched in the US in 2014, Canada in 2015 and Mexico in 2017. An Amex spokesperson said OptBlue is a “huge win” for small businesses in Australia at a time of “significant economic pressure”.
Circle Launches Euro-Backed Stablecoin On Solana Network
Circle has EURC, its euro-backed stablecoin, on the Solana network. Solana is now the fourth blockchain where EURC is natively available — alongside Avalanche, Ethereum and Stellar.
Users and developers can now transact using EURC and USDC, Circle’s dollar-backed stablecoin, on Solana. With higher throughput and higher transactions per second, Circle said that using Solana for EURC transactions will increase efficiency and reduce costs.
Using Circle Mint, a fiat-to-stablecoin on-ramp and off-ramp, businesses can convert EUR to and from EURC and tap into applications in the Solana ecosystem for 24/7 foreign exchange and financial services.
“With plans for EURC to achieve full MiCA conformity as an e-money token, developers and users of EURC on Solana can continue to expect the highest standards of trust, and transparency and reliability,” the company said.
Japan, Cambodia Sign Agreement On Interoperable QR Code Payments
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) have a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) on interoperable QR code payments.
The MOC is expected to “accelerate discussions” towards the implementation of a unified QR code standard that will improve cross-border payments between the two countries and increase tourism spending.
METI said it is also in discussions with other Asian countries on the use of JPQR, Japan’s unified QR code standard for payments (JPQR).
JPQR was created by the Payments Japan Association and is based on EMVCo standards. By unifying multiple QR codes, JPQR allows users to pay for multiple services using a single JPQR code.
UK's Payment Systems Regulator Appoints New Head Of Strategy
The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has Dan Moore as its new head of strategy and intelligence, effective as of January 15, 2024.
Moore joins the PSR from the Department for Transport (DfT), where he has worked for and currently serves as director of rail strategy and analysis.
Prior to the DfT, Moore worked for the Competition and Markets Authority for one year and the Office of Fair Trading for ten years.
The PSR said Moore’s role will focus on understanding current and future trends in payments, both in the UK and internationally.
This will inform the delivery of the regulator’s five-year strategy and will identify new areas that the PSR should be focusing on.
Ukraine Eyes SEPA Launch In 2024
The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) has said it plans to connect the country to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) in 2024, as by local news agency Interfax Ukraine.
Andriy Pyshnyy, governor of the NBU, posted an update of the plans on Facebook: “We have carried out thorough preparatory work and next year we plan to initiate the process of Ukraine’s accession to SEPA,” he said.
In preparation for SEPA accession, Pyshnyy said Ukraine has made “significant progress” in improving banking and non-banking legislation for “full compliance” with EU standards.
He also said the NBU will continue to work on easing foreign exchange restrictions, ensuring exchange rate flexibility and returning to inflation targeting.
Hong Kong Digital Wallet App Fined For AML/CTF Failures
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has a fine of HK$1.5m ($224,000) on TNG (Asia) for violation of the Payment Systems and Stored Value Facilities Ordinance.
The disciplinary action, which follows an on-site examination and investigation by the HKMA, found that TNG (Asia) had failed to fulfil the minimum criteria for anti-money laundering/counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) and prudential risk management.
All offences took place between August 2016 and 2020. The HKMA noted that this is the first time TNG (Asia) has been penalised for non-compliance, which mitigated the penalties imposed.
TNG (Asia) is a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based TNG Fintech Group. Not to be confused with Malaysia’s Touch N’ Go, TNG Fintech’s other holdings include Tranglo, a cross-border payment app, and Walletku, an Indonesian digital wallet.
New Hampshire Becomes Latest US State To Legislate Against CBDC
Following similar action in Indiana, Florida, Alabama and South Carolina, New Hampshire has become the latest US state to legislate against the use of central bank digital currency (CBDC).
In New Hampshire, Republican representative James Summers and three cosponsors have introduced (HB1232).
If adopted, the bill would prohibit any agency, department or political subdivision of the state from accepting payments using CBDC.
It would also prohibit them from participating in any test of CBDC by any Federal Reserve branch.
In May this year, as covered by žž, lawmakers in Florida voted 116-1 to ban the use of CBDC in the state.
The bill, the first-of-its-kind in the US, was into law by Florida governor Ron DeSantis later that month.
Russian Director Of UK Payments Firm Quits Following FCA Probe
A Russian citizen who was a director of a UK payments firm has resigned following a restriction order placed on the company by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Mikhail Strogonov, also known as Mikhail Nadel or Michael Strogonov, resigned from his post at Dzing Finance on November 20, according to a filing.
In October, the FCA imposed severe restrictions on Dzing Finance, after finding that received by its users were linked to authorised push payment (APP) fraud.
Previously, Strogonov was the chairman of Asia Universal Bank, the largest bank in Kyrgyzstan. He held the post until 2010, but was of fraud and money laundering in Kyrgyzstan and sentenced to 16 years imprisonment.
Strogonov denied the charges, claiming that he was wrongfully convicted due to political motivations. According to Companies House, Strogonov currently resides in Israel.
IrisGuard Biometrics Partners With Yemen’s National Payments Company
IrisGuard, a provider of biometric payments technology, has a new partnership with the National Payments Company of Yemen (MEPSYemen).
The partnership will see MEPSYemen implement the IrisGuard's EyePay Network, which will be deployed for retail use at banks, shops, post offices and mobile wallet agents, and by government agencies and non-governmental organisations.
"This agreement is a significant step in developing technological services in Yemen,” said Kamal Abdulraqeeb Al-Subaihi, director general of payment systems at the Central Bank of Yemen.
“It reflects the vision of the Central Bank of Yemen, aiming for digital transformation through the implementation of secure and sound payment systems, aligning with international standards.”
