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Letter from the editor

or years, artificial intelligence in payments has
been framed as a tool that speeds decisions,
reduces friction and automates routine tasks.
F But a deep shift is underway. As autonomous
AI agents begin transacting on behalf of humans, the
industry is being pushed to rethink not just intelligence,
but trust itself.

In this issue’s lead article, we explore agentic commerce at
this more mature stage, where AI moves from supporting
decisions to executing them, and where trust becomes
continuous rather than transactional. The discussion
moves beyond novelty, hype and prior limitations to
examine how orchestration, identity and behavioral
verification must evolve together if agentic systems are
to operate safely at scale. The future of commerce will
not rely on automation alone; it will hinge on systems
designed for intelligence and trust to work as one.

To remain relevant in this evolving environment, one Let me make it easy for you
expert contributor believes, banks need to embed
payments orchestration, data intelligence and finance to reach your target audience
directly into the B2B marketplaces now transforming with a personalized custom
financial services. Other featured industry leaders speak
to how POS systems are becoming security tools, helping advertising campaign to meet your
merchants reduce conflict, deter theft and protect staff;
what ISOs must understand before expanding abroad company’s individual needs today.
so they can minimize hurdles arising when familiar
acquiring rules collide with regional requirements; ways
in which alternative finance and crypto are evolving Customized advertising campaigns
alongside the Federal Reserve to keep money moving to fit any size company and budget.
amid economic uncertainty; and the practical, legal and
emotional questions now arising with the U.S. penny's • Spotlight Innovators’ Pages
retirement.
(frequently updated content)
This issue’s news coverage captures a payments industry • Resource Guide listing
operating at full throttle. We report on new research
showing digital payments now generate more than (print/online/front page options)
$350 billion in annual U.S. economic output, supporting
millions of jobs and giving small businesses faster • Email Blasts (to GS readership)
paths to scale. At the same time, enforcement actions • Advertising
underscore that compliance failures can resurface
years later, with regulators signaling they will pursue (website/twice month various size options)
accountability aggressively. We also examine how
merchants are grappling with surcharging amid shifting • Video
consumer expectations. On Capitol Hill, debate over • Bundled advertising campaign discounts
credit card routing continues to polarize lawmakers
and industry stakeholders. And federal authorities’
takedown of large-scale skimming operations highlights Rick Aston
both persistent vulnerabilities and the value of proactive
fraud prevention. Senior Media Partnership Specialist

Other features herein include new product and spotlight 707-284-1693
profiles, updates on industry milestones, a look back
at the industry a decade ago, and other resources Your bottom line will thank you.
designed to inspire you. Please send your comments to
greensheet@greensheet.com, and send your latest news to
press@grensheet.com.
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