Facebook’s move to launch a cryptocurrency has been met with strong opposition from the gatekeepers of the global financial system. Joy Macknight explores these concerns. 

The European payments industry is coming to the end of the Payment Services Directive 2 implementation – or is it? 

Swift must contend with complex geopolitics, with the US now diverging from its traditional allies. How will it fare amid plans for new international networks? Silvia Pavoni reports

Appetite and expectations for faster payments continue to build among consumer and corporate clients. Yet delivering the service – especially across borders – remains a challenge, writes Christof Hofmann of Deutsche Bank.

APIs provide an efficient way to enable third-party developers to build applications and services. Heather McKenzie reports.

Invisible payments are transforming the physical point of sale into a zero-effort, frictionless affair. The Banker explores why banks should have a strategy for this concept. 

The case for cash is being eroded by innovations in payments and wholly digital business models, yet physical banknotes and coins persist. Is there a future for physical monetary exchange? Joy Macknight investigates.

The use of QR codes for payments has seen widespread take-up across emerging markets due to the low-tech, low-cost deployment. But will they conquer the developed markets? 

Is blockchain living up to its potential in revolutionising the cross-border payments space? Joy Macknight investigates how far the technology has come.