Page 5 - gs251101

Letter from the editor

very day, payments professionals hear direct-
ly from merchants about what's working at
the POS—and what isn't. We asked a group
E of industry experts what merchants are talk-
ing about most urgently right now. Are they asking for
faster payments, real-time settlement and crypto accep-
tance, or are rising costs, chargebacks and support issues
taking priority?

The first installment of this multi-part lead feature high-
lights themes surfacing most consistently in experts'
conversations with merchants: frustration with fees
and processing costs, growing concern over fraud and
chargebacks, pressure to simplify fragmented systems,
and increasing demand for transparency, reliable report-
ing and hands-on support. Additional perspectives from
other industry leaders will appear in upcoming issues as
we continue exploring what merchants need most—and
what they wish the payments industry would finally fix.

The conversation about what merchants want contin-
ues throughout this issue. One contributing writer ex-
plores how live commerce is reshaping retail by merg-
ing livestream video, social interaction and instant pay-
ments, raising expectations for seamless, flexible check-
out. Another article offers advice on how ISOs and MLSs
can help small convenience stores evaluate whether
adding delivery will boost margins or overextend opera-
tions. Readers seeking practical sales guidance will find
insights on staying competitive in today's crowded pay-
ments landscape—from modernizing lead generation
and onboarding to refining brand presence and clos-
ing with authenticity. One expert looks at the shifting
focus of fintech investment as capital moves away from
consumer-facing apps and toward infrastructure-driven
platforms. Another provides a timely analysis of holi-
day spending trends, showing why flexible, friction-free
payments are becoming a merchant's strongest conver-
sion tool.

News highlights include a $199.5 million settlement in
the long-running merchant lawsuit over EMV liability
shift costs; warnings that fallout from the recent AWS
outage may trigger weeks of chargebacks and disputes;
the Federal Reserve's exploration of granting direct
payment-rail access to nonbank fintechs; merchants
and banks facing off in court over Illinois' ban on inter-
change fees for tax and tips, a ruling that could influence
similar legislation in other states; new research showing
cyber confidence far exceeds reality; and PayPal's move
deeper into AI-driven agentic commerce through part-
nerships with Mastercard and OpenAI. Rounding out
this issue are product profiles, company spotlights, up-
dates on industry milestones and additional resources to
help you thrive in your payments career. To share your
news, please send press releases to press@greensheet.com.
We also welcome your thoughts and questions at green-
sheet@greensheet.com.
5