MERCHANTS
German antitrust authority says PayPal practices may restrict competition
Germany's Federal Cartel Office is scrutinizing PayPal's strategy that bars merchants from imposing extra charges for specific payment methods. This practice is perceived as a potential barrier to competition among payment services, raising concerns about compliance with existing competition laws. While PayPal has not yet provided a media response, this investigation indicates a growing regulatory focus on digital payment systems within Germany.
OpenAI lets businesses claim ChatGPT profiles, adds AI agents for US ecommerce firms
OpenAI said on Tuesday it was launching "Businesses" in beta within ChatGPT, giving companies a way to claim and manage their profiles, update information and track how users engage
India offers 3-part plan to de-escalate Ukraine war
India has proposed a three-part framework to Russia and Ukraine to help de-escalate the war, focusing on economic and maritime security. The proposal calls for a halt to attacks on energy facilities and critical infrastructure, uninterrupted grain and energy shipments through Black Sea ports, and an end to strikes on merchant ships, civilian crew and maritime trade routes.
UPI volume, value post strong growth during Diwali as festive spending lights up digital payments
This year, November 6, which coincided with Dhanteras, recorded UPI transactions worth Rs 1.37 lakh crore, the second-highest daily transaction value on record. Dhanteras is traditionally considered as an auspicious day to make high-value purchases. Transaction volumes hit a record the following day, November 7, at 975.8 million.
How intelligent commerce is shaping the next frontier of merchant payments
For a decade, the task in India’s merchant payments was to get every shop and website to accept digital money. The value, leaders argued, at GFF 2026, is now moving to identity, risk, credit and growth, and to preparing the checkout for AI agents that may soon shop on consumers’ behalf.
The next problem to solve: When money arrives, what can merchants do in the meantime?
At GFF 2026, PRISM founder Ritesh Agarwal and Adyen’s Chief Commercial Officer Roelant Prins discussed why, for merchants such as small hotel owners, how quickly money arrives now matters as much as whether a payment is accepted, and why AI is changing back offices faster than it is changing how people buy.
Indian organisations on edge as sites fail to Captcha AI intruders
Personal AI agents such as Instinct, Muse, Grokbot and OpenClaw have taken over the consumer internet in the US. But last month, major US banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Morgan Stanley, reportedly flagged AI agents such as Meta’s Muse accessing customer accounts using login credentials voluntarily shared by users laying bare the risks of handing AI agents the keys to consumers’ digital lives.
Grey zone in Indian payment laws: Crypto goes shopping in rupee using QR-linked loophole
Unified payments interface is now being used for buying cryptocurrencies through applications like goat.cash. Consumers can conveniently convert their cryptocurrencies, such as USD Coins, to pay vendors for goods. This involves scanning QR codes and entering necessary details, which facilitates quick transactions. Intermediaries help complete the process by converting USDC to rupees for vendors. Additionally, stable coins often trade at a premium within the Indian market.
AvenuesAI Q2 revenue jumps 47% as AI-first fintech transformation gathers momentum
AvenuesAI reported a steady set of second-quarter FY27 numbers, with the company continuing to build momentum behind its broader transformation from a payments gateway-led business into an AI-first financial technology infrastructure platform.
MobiKwik shares jump 4% as RBI approves NBFC licence; co targets Rs 5,000 crore loans
MobiKwik shares gained on Friday after the RBI granted its subsidiary a licence to operate as an NBFC, enabling the fintech company to enter direct lending. MobiKwik plans to disburse Rs 5,000 crore in loans over the next three to four years, targeting consumers and MSMEs through secured and unsecured products.
Cashfree opens checkout to AI agents, leaves final say with shoppers
Cashfree has introduced Checkout for Agents, allowing AI agents to assist with online payments. This feature utilises WebMCP technology to simplify the checkout process for AI shopping assistants. Customers still maintain control over final payment authorisation and sensitive information is protected. While AI agents currently represent less than 1% of checkout traffic, Cashfree aims to enhance their efficiency. The company limits agent access to sensitive payment steps to ensure security.
NPCI defends MDR charges in SC, says merchants can't pass on them to customers
The top court on September 28 had sought responses from the Centre and others, including the NPCI, on a petition challenging the decision to impose an MDR on specified UPI person-to-merchant transactions above Rs 2,000.
Shiprocket posts maiden profit on strong core business growth
The company swung to a profit of Rs 60 lakh ($63,487) in the quarter ended September 30, from a loss of Rs 20.29 crore a year ago
UPI MDR proposal: Street vendors may pass on charges to customers or switch to cash, ISB survey finds
Payments by street vendors exceeding Rs 2,000 may incur charges under the proposed merchant discount rate framework. Many vendors may switch to cash transactions if additional costs are imposed by suppliers. Awareness of the framework varies among vendors in different city tiers, affecting their payment acceptance practices. A significant percentage of Tier 1 vendors are likely to pass on additional charges to customers.
Over half of street vendors may cut UPI acceptance if 0.4% MDR is introduced: ISB study
More than 67% of street vendors in India currently accept UPI payments for transactions. A proposed 0.4% merchant discount rate could lead to reduced acceptance among vendors. Concerns arise particularly for vendor-supplier transactions, as many vendors make payments above ₹2,000. A significant portion of vendors faced additional charges from suppliers and might pass costs onto customers.
OneStack raises Rs 12.5 crore to take cooperative banks deeper into UPI ecosystem
OneStack, a fintech provider, secured ₹12.5 crore funding to enhance cooperative bank participation in UPI payments. The funding will help expand services among cooperative banks and NBFCs while developing compliance offerings. Partner banks can now act as UPI issuers and acquirers, which improves revenue opportunities. This shift allows banks to maintain direct relationships with customers and merchants while managing transaction data.
MobiKwik expects MDR on UPI to add Rs 100 crore to payment revenue in FY28
On its second-quarter earnings call, the company’s management said the implementation of UPI MDR would improve payment unit economics and create a more level playing field for players, shifting competition towards product, technology and service rather than the ability to burn capital.
2 tankers explode after allegedly hitting naval mines in Strait of Hormuz, Iran claims
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported that two oil tankers exploded in the Strait of Hormuz after striking naval mines. Both vessels allegedly ignored warnings about using restricted routes and had switched off their navigation systems. The UK Maritime Trade Operations issued a warning about an incident in the same area involving a merchant vessel.
The next problem to solve: When money arrives, what can merchants do in the meantime?
At GFF 2026, PRISM founder Ritesh Agarwal and Adyen’s Chief Commercial Officer Roelant Prins discussed why, for merchants such as small hotel owners, how quickly money arrives now matters as much as whether a payment is accepted, and why AI is changing back offices faster than it is changing how people buy.
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