SUPPORTING PARTNER
THE FUTURE OF MERCHANT PAYMENTS: INNOVATION, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
The role of mpe and industry leaders in driving innovation The Merchant Payments Ecosystem (mpe) conference continues to be a key platform for shaping the future of payments. Bringing together merchants, acquirers, fintechs, and payment innovators, mpe provides a unique space for discussion, collaboration and strategic insight into the evolving payments landscape. Innovation in payments doesn’t happen in isolation – it’s driven by visionary leaders and disruptive thinkers. That’s where the Payments Power 50 comes in. Unveiled at mpe 2025, the Payments Power 50 highlights those pushing boundaries and transforming payments. At the heart of this transformation are the visionary leaders and companies driving meaningful change. Recognising these contributions, the Payments Power 50, produced in partnership with Payments Cards & Mobile, celebrates the most influential figures in payments, fintech, AI, fraud prevention, and identity verification. As we look ahead to the next 12 months, the payments industry is poised for continued innovation, new challenges, and exciting opportunities. We can’t wait to see how leaders, businesses, and emerging technologies will shape the next phase of payments evolution. Join us in driving the future of payments forward!
The payments industry is undergoing a major transformation, shaped by AI-driven automation, real-time transactions, open banking and evolving regulations. As businesses strive to meet consumer expectations for seamless, secure and instant payments, staying ahead of these trends is crucial for both merchants and payment providers. Key trends shaping merchant payments in 2025/26 AI: Transforming payments and fraud prevention Artificial intelligence is revolutionising payments by enhancing fraud detection, optimising payment flows, and personalising customer experiences. AI-driven tools are helping businesses reduce fraud losses, improve transaction efficiency, and modernise payment architectures – ensuring payments are smarter, faster and more secure. Real-time and A2A payments: Moving beyond cards The shift toward real-time and account-to-account (A2A) payments is gaining momentum as an efficient, cost-effective alternative to traditional card payments. These methods provide merchants with better cash flow control and lower processing fees, though challenges remain in scaling adoption across markets. Open banking and embedded finance: Expanding payment possibilities With PSD3 and API-driven business models emerging, open banking is reshaping the payments ecosystem.
Businesses are exploring how to leverage open banking for seamless account-based transactions, improved authentication, and better financial insights, creating new opportunities for innovation and customer engagement. Challenges facing merchants and payment providers Regulatory compliance and evolving standards With PSD3, the Payment Services Regulation (PSR), the Consumer Credit Directive and the Digital Euro on the horizon, businesses must adapt quickly to new compliance requirements while ensuring seamless operations. Finding the right balance between regulatory compliance and innovation will be key. Fraud and chargebacks: Strengthening security measures As fraud threats become more sophisticated, merchants and PSPs must implement stronger security measures without compromising the customer experience. AI-powered fraud detection and enhanced authentication strategies will be critical
to protecting businesses against fraud and reducing chargebacks.
Payment orchestration: Streamlining the checkout experience For merchants operating across multiple markets, managing different payment methods and providers is becoming increasingly complex. Payment orchestration solutions are helping businesses automate routing, optimise approval rates, and lower processing costs – making global payments more efficient and cost-effective.
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THE PAYMENTS POWER 50
www.thepower50.com
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