The Green Sheet Online Edition
January 26, 2026 • 26:01:02
Letter from the editor
Payments innovation has always followed a familiar arc: new technology arrives promising speed and convenience, adoption accelerates, and only then do the risks fully come into view. Agentic commerce appears poised to follow that same trajectory—only faster, more complex and with higher stakes. In this issue, we begin a two-part exploration of agentic commerce, examining what happens when AI agents are embedded directly into payment flows and allowed to act on behalf of consumers. As industry leaders explain in our lead article, the challenge ahead is not whether agentic AI will reshape commerce, but how securely, transparently and responsibly that integration unfolds.
One of our contributors also delves into AI, suggesting that AI, along with automation, can be turned into a strategic tool for back-office speed, accuracy and customer trust. Other experts address compelling topics such as why ISOs and MLSs must rethink commissions, roles and value, and embrace technology, specialization and new sales models to stay relevant as payments shift from hardware to software; and mobile wallets' new foundational role, delivering speed and security while forcing merchants and processors to reevaluate execution, economics and long-term operational discipline.
Our news highlights cover a spectrum of pressures reshaping payments today—from emerging technologies pushing beyond their original use cases to regulatory and political forces testing long-standing industry assumptions. We examine how self-custodial crypto wallets are evolving into bank-like platforms, with stablecoins, payments and yield products gaining traction even as usability remains a barrier to mainstream adoption. On the retail front, the federal government’s decision to end penny production is creating immediate operational challenges, raising questions about rounding, compliance and legal exposure as cash use continues to decline. We also track the latest developments surrounding the CFPB, where a federal court ruling has temporarily preserved the agency's funding amid ongoing legal and political battles. Finally, we look at renewed scrutiny of credit card economics, from a proposed 10 percent APR cap that could ripple through fintechs and acquirers to President Trump's endorsement of legislation targeting Visa and Mastercard's dominance. Together, these stories highlight an industry navigating innovation, regulation and disruption all at once.
We hope you'll also enjoy our featured innovators and products, along with our customary updates on recent appointments, partnerships, research, partnerships, accolades and other milestones achieved in our sphere. Have feedback for us? Please email greensheet@greensheet.com. Have breaking news? Send your press release to press@greensheet.com. 
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