Contactless payments stories

BENEFIT and Ant International will launch cross-border QR payments in Bahrain in 2026, enabling 15,000 merchants to accept Alipay+ wallet payments.

CloudTech launches CobWeb Pay Mastercard in Australia, letting users spend cryptocurrency on everyday purchases wherever Mastercard is accepted.

Prezzee launches PrezzeePay, enabling retailers worldwide to offer unified digital gift cards without costly system changes, targeting cashless Gen Z shoppers.

SaaS vendors can now rival giants by integrating Tap to Pay SoftPOS, boosting retention and revenue with minimal development effort and better customer value.

Australians lost nearly AUD$1,700 each to fraud this year amid peak shopping season, with retailers urged to adopt AI-driven security and seamless payments.

GCash launches PocketPay with BPC to enable contactless Visa and Mastercard payments on Android devices, aiding 6 million Philippine businesses go cashless.

Constantinople teams up with Paymentology to enhance Banking-as-a-Service in Australia, boosting card issuing and payment tech for local banks and fintechs.

Visa has launched its Scan to Pay QR service across Asia Pacific, enabling millions of merchants to accept Visa payments via popular digital wallets and apps.

Gr4vy teams up with Mastercard to offer merchants worldwide seamless access to advanced payment solutions via its no-code platform.

Jio Payments Bank will introduce contactless Multi-Lane Free Flow tolling on the Gurugram-Jaipur route, enhancing convenience with digital payment tech.

Fergus has launched tap-to-pay on mobiles, letting tradespeople accept instant contactless payments without extra hardware, boosting convenience and cash flow.

Clover's new Tap to Pay update lets Australian businesses accept contactless payments via mobile phones, boosting ease and flexibility without extra hardware.

AMP Bank GO has blocked over 1,000 fraudulent accounts in six months using a selfie video verification and numberless cards to enhance security.

Many small businesses risk lost sales and loyalty as one in three still don’t accept credit or debit cards, despite 86% of consumers relying on them.

OPPO launches its compact Watch X2 Mini smartwatch in New Zealand from NZD $499, blending style, health tracking and smart features in a sleek design.

Gumtree Australia adds PayPal Pay in 4, letting customers split purchases up to AUD $2,000 into four interest-free instalments for more flexible payments.

The OPPO Watch X2 smartwatch offers robust design, impressive health features, and up to 16 days’ battery life, perfect for style and function on the move.

The Asia Pacific smart retail market is set to soar to USD $198.16 billion by 2034, driven by AI, IoT, and rising digital adoption across the region.

UK gaming and hospitality venues adopt contactless NFC sticker payments via ASK Global and Sticky Connections, enabling swift, hardware-free transactions.

Square has launched its portable Handheld device in the UK, offering restaurants a lightweight tool to streamline operations and improve service efficiency.