Show Notes
The payments industry is evolving quickly. Open banking, stablecoins and real-time payment networks are creating new ways to move money, but for merchants operating internationally, more options don't always mean less complexity. So what if businesses didn't have to worry about which payment rail their money travels on? And what does it take to build a payments platform that can support different technologies and markets without adding unnecessary friction?Recorded live at Fintech Meetup Europe in Lisbon, Jasmine Chana is joined by Elaine Smith, VP of Partnerships at Volt, to explore the rise of rail-agnostic money movement, the importance of strategic partnerships and what it takes to scale payment infrastructure globally. From payment initiation services and stablecoins to treasury capabilities and emerging open banking use cases, the conversation looks at how Volt is approaching the challenge of connecting different payment systems into a more flexible experience for merchants. With Australia becoming an important market in Volt's expansion plans, Elaine also discusses the opportunities created by payment innovation across different regions and what other markets could learn from Australia's approach. In this episode, they explore: What rail-agnostic money movement means across payment initiation services, stablecoins and treasury Why the payment rail behind a transaction matters to merchants What supporting global merchants across different payment technologies demonstrates about platform scalability The role of strategic partnerships in expanding payment capabilities Why Australia has become an important market for Volt What other countries can learn from Australia's payments ecosystem How commercial variable recurring payments (CVRPs) could create new opportunities for open banking in the UK Which use cases could take pay by bank beyond traditional checkout payments What's still holding back wider adoption of pay by bank What could be next for Volt as its global payments offering continues to develop
The future of payments may not be about finding one rail that does everything. It may be about making different rails work together so businesses can focus on the transaction, not the infrastructure behind it. As merchants expand into new markets and payment technologies continue to evolve, flexibility and connectivity are becoming increasingly important. The challenge for payment providers is to make that complexity manageable, delivering reliable money movement across different systems without forcing businesses to navigate every technical detail themselves. Because ultimately, merchants don't just want more ways to move money. They want payments that work wherever their business takes them. A huge thank you to our sponsors Mastercard, Salesloft, Cyclops & PCN for supporting The Payments Shed Podcast. Disclaimer: Views expressed are those of The Payments Shed Podcast hosts and guests, not their respective employers. Nothing discussed constitutes investment, legal, tax or financial advice.
More from The Payments Shed
In the latest episode of The Payments Shed Podcast, filmed live from Money20/20 USA 2026 in Las Vegas, Jason Heister is joined by Pooja Shah, Head of Product at Rain, for a special Walk & Talk exploring how stablecoins are transforming card issuing, why traditional settlement infrastructure is holding businesses back and how Rain is building a new generation of global payments infrastructure. For decades, card programmes have operated around settlement cycles that can leave significant amounts of money sitting idle while transactions clear. Pooja takes us inside the float problem and the opportunity for stablecoin-powered settlement, explaining how Rain enables card transactions to settle on chain every day, including weekends. The conversation then turns to cross-border payments and the challenge of moving money globally. As Rain expands its presence into Asia-Pacific, they explore where stablecoin settlement can overcome the limitations of traditional banking infrastructure and why businesses operating across multiple markets are increasingly looking for alternatives to conventional payment rails. A major focus is the emerging world of agentic commerce. As AI agents begin making purchases and managing transactions on behalf of consumers and businesses, new questions are emerging around authorisation, spending controls and security. Pooja discusses Rain's approach to scoped cards for AI agents, exploring how businesses can give autonomous systems the ability to transact without sacrificing control. Jason and Pooja also unpack Rain's expanding product ecosystem, from card issuing and digital wallets to global money movement and rewards. With Rain announcing Mastercard alongside its existing Visa capabilities, they discuss what dual-network support means for partners looking to launch and scale payment products across different markets. The discussion also explores why loyalty and rewards are becoming part of the payments infrastructure itself. Following Rain's introduction of native rewards capabilities, Pooja shares the thinking behind bringing loyalty directly into the platform and what this could unlock for fintechs and enterprises looking to build more compelling customer experiences. Plus, Pooja takes on The Payments Shed's legendary Shelf of Shame, sharing the one outdated settlement practice she'd happily banish from the payments industry. Recorded live on the exhibition floor at Money20/20 USA 2026, this special Walk & Talk explores the convergence of stablecoins, card networks and agentic commerce, and why the next generation of payment infrastructure could look very different from the systems we've relied on for decades. The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Cyclops. Cyclops helps payments companies offer crypto acceptance, stablecoin settlement and payouts through one unified infrastructure platform. Find out more: https://cyclops.finance/ The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Salesloft. Salesloft uses agentic AI to turn buyer, conversation, deal and forecast data into clear actions that help revenue teams sell smarter. Find out more: https://www.salesloft.com The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Mastercard Open Finance. Mastercard Open Finance enables businesses to use consumer-permissioned financial data to create more connected and personalised financial experiences. Find out more: https://www.mastercard.com/global/en/business/open-finance.html The Payments Shed Podcast is partnered with PCN. PCN is a global boutique recruitment agency connecting leading talent and businesses across fintech, cybersecurity, SaaS, e-commerce and Salesforce. Find out more: https://teampcn.com/ Disclaimer: Views expressed are those of The Payments Shed Podcast hosts and guests, not their respective employers. Nothing discussed constitutes investment, legal, tax or financial advice.
In the latest episode of The Payments Shed Podcast, filmed live from Money20/20 USA 2026 in Las Vegas, Svante Westerberg is joined by Stephano Maciel, Co-Founder & CEO of ATTRUS, for a special Walk & Talk exploring the challenges of cross-border payments, the rapid evolution of Latin America's financial infrastructure and how businesses can unlock growth across the Americas. Every fintech has an origin story, and for ATTRUS, it began with a payment that technically worked but highlighted just how complicated moving money internationally could be. Stephano takes us inside the journey from one frustrating international wire transfer to building a regulated payments infrastructure business, explaining why the company shifted its focus from consumer remittances to solving cross-border challenges for businesses. They explore the realities of expanding a licensed financial services operation across multiple jurisdictions and the lessons learned along the way. The conversation then turns to Latin America and its rapidly evolving payments ecosystem. With instant payment systems such as Brazil's Pix and Mexico's SPEI transforming how businesses and consumers move money, Svante and Stephano explore why the region has become such an important market for payments innovation. A major focus is the role of stablecoins in cross-border settlement. As digital assets become an increasingly prominent part of the global payments conversation, Stephano shares his perspective on where stablecoins can deliver genuine operational value, where traditional banking infrastructure remains essential and why understanding local market dynamics is critical to building sustainable cross-border solutions. They also explore the commercial opportunity connecting the United States and Latin America. For successful US businesses looking to expand internationally, Latin America offers significant potential, but navigating different banking systems, regulations and payment methods can create substantial barriers. The discussion also touches on Miami's growing role as a gateway between North and Latin America, exploring why Stephano chose the city as a base for ATTRUS and how proximity to both markets can help businesses build stronger commercial relationships across the region. Plus, Stephano takes on The Payments Shed's legendary Shelf of Shame, sharing the one frustrating practice banks continue to impose on cross-border businesses that he'd happily banish from the industry. Recorded live on the exhibition floor at Money20/20 USA 2026, this special Walk & Talk explores the realities of building a cross-border payments business, why Latin America continues to drive payments innovation and what it takes to connect businesses across the Americas. *** The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Cyclops. Cyclops helps payments companies offer crypto acceptance, stablecoin settlement and payouts through one unified infrastructure platform. Find out more: https://cyclops.finance/ The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Salesloft. Salesloft uses agentic AI to turn buyer, conversation, deal and forecast data into clear actions that help revenue teams sell smarter. Find out more: https://www.salesloft.com The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Mastercard Open Finance. Mastercard Open Finance enables businesses to use consumer-permissioned financial data to create more connected and personalised financial experiences. Find out more: https://www.mastercard.com/global/en/business/open-finance.html The Payments Shed Podcast is partnered with PCN. PCN is a global boutique recruitment agency connecting leading talent and businesses across fintech, cybersecurity, SaaS, e-commerce and Salesforce. Find out more: https://teampcn.com/ *** Disclaimer: Views expressed are those of The Payments Shed Podcast hosts and guests, not their respective employers. Nothing discussed constitutes investment, legal, tax or financial advice.
In the latest episode of The Payments Shed Podcast, filmed live from Money20/20 USA 2026 in Las Vegas, Jason Heister is joined by Jeff Hallenbeck, VP of Customer Advocacy at Adyen, for a special Walk & Talk exploring how AI agents are transforming commerce, why fraud is becoming increasingly complex and how payments data is creating new opportunities for merchants. With Adyen processing over $1.6 trillion in annual payment volume, Jeff brings a unique perspective on the challenges facing some of the world's largest merchants. From changing consumer behaviour to the rapid evolution of AI, Jason and Jeff explore what businesses need to be thinking about as the next generation of commerce begins to take shape. The conversation starts with the rise of agentic commerce and what happens when AI becomes the shopper. As autonomous agents begin browsing, comparing products and making purchases on behalf of consumers, the traditional relationship between merchants and their customers could fundamentally change. They explore whether brand loyalty can survive in an agent-driven world, what happens when purchasing decisions become increasingly focused on price and product specifications, and how merchants need to adapt their product data and checkout experiences to remain competitive. A major focus is the changing face of payments fraud. While stolen card details have traditionally dominated conversations around fraud prevention, merchants are increasingly dealing with first-party fraud, returns abuse and new threats emerging from AI. Jeff explores why detecting fraudulent behaviour from genuine customers can be particularly challenging and how businesses can strengthen their defences without introducing unnecessary friction into the customer experience. Jason and Jeff also discuss the growing importance of payments data and the competitive advantage it can create. With access to enormous volumes of transaction information, Adyen has a unique view of consumer behaviour and merchant performance. The discussion also looks at the emerging trends hidden within payments data, exploring how shifts in consumer behaviour can provide early signals of wider changes across commerce and what merchants can learn from those insights. Plus, Jeff takes on The Payments Shed's legendary Shelf of Shame, sharing the one payments or ecommerce habit, assumption or piece of industry jargon he'd happily banish for good. Recorded live on the exhibition floor at Money20/20 USA 2026, this special Walk & Talk explores how AI, fraud prevention and payments intelligence are converging, and why the businesses that understand and act on their data could be best positioned for the next era of commerce. *** The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Cyclops. Cyclops helps payments companies offer crypto acceptance, stablecoin settlement and payouts through one unified infrastructure platform. Find out more: https://cyclops.finance/ The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Salesloft. Salesloft uses agentic AI to turn buyer, conversation, deal and forecast data into clear actions that help revenue teams sell smarter. Find out more: https://www.salesloft.com The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Mastercard Open Finance. Mastercard Open Finance enables businesses to use consumer-permissioned financial data to create more connected and personalised financial experiences. Find out more: https://www.mastercard.com/global/en/business/open-finance.html The Payments Shed Podcast is partnered with PCN. PCN is a global boutique recruitment agency connecting leading talent and businesses across fintech, cybersecurity, SaaS, e-commerce and Salesforce. Find out more: https://teampcn.com/ *** Disclaimer: Views expressed are those of The Payments Shed Podcast hosts and guests, not their respective employers. Nothing discussed constitutes investment, legal, tax or financial advice.
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In the latest episode of The Payments Shed Podcast, filmed live from Money20/20 USA in Las Vegas, Sarah Stapp is joined by Joe Dowd, Principal Partner & VP, Americas, for a special Walk & Talk exploring what's really happening behind the scenes in payments recruitment, which businesses are winning the talent race and how emerging technologies are reshaping the industry's hiring priorities. After several turbulent years for the payments and fintech sector, from tightening investment conditions to major industry players restructuring and others continuing to scale, Joe shares his perspective on which businesses are positioning themselves for growth and what separates those succeeding from those struggling. Drawing on his experience working closely with payments companies and their leadership teams, they explore the trends emerging inside boardrooms that don't always make the headlines. The conversation then turns to stablecoins and digital assets, two of the biggest talking points across Money20/20 USA. Sarah and Joe explore whether the excitement surrounding stablecoin infrastructure is translating into genuine recruitment activity, what capabilities businesses are looking to build and which specialist roles could become increasingly important as digital assets move further into mainstream payments. A major focus is the impact of artificial intelligence on hiring across payments and fintech. With AI rapidly becoming part of almost every industry's technology strategy, they discuss whether businesses are creating entirely new positions or fundamentally changing the skills and experience expected of existing teams. From technical expertise to commercial leadership, they examine how hiring priorities are evolving as businesses adapt to an increasingly AI-driven ecosystem. They also explore the challenges of international expansion, particularly for payments companies entering new markets across the US, Europe and LATAM. Plus, Joe takes on The Payments Shed's legendary Shelf of Shame, with a twist, revealing the one hire he believes payments businesses should be prioritising right now. Recorded live on the exhibition floor at Money20/20 USA, this special Walk & Talk offers a look inside the payments industry's talent market, exploring where businesses are investing, how leadership requirements are changing and what it takes to build teams capable of supporting the next generation of payments innovation. *** The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Cyclops. Cyclops helps payments companies offer crypto acceptance, stablecoin settlement and payouts through one unified infrastructure platform. Find out more: https://cyclops.finance/ *** The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Salesloft. Salesloft uses agentic AI to turn buyer, conversation, deal and forecast data into clear actions that help revenue teams sell smarter. Find out more: https://www.salesloft.com *** The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Mastercard Open Finance. Mastercard Open Finance enables businesses to use consumer-permissioned financial data to create more connected and personalised financial experiences. Find out more: https://www.mastercard.com/global/en/business/open-finance.html *** The Payments Shed Podcast is partnered with PCN. PCN is a global boutique recruitment agency connecting leading talent and businesses across fintech, cybersecurity, SaaS, e-commerce and Salesforce. Find out more: https://teampcn.com/ *** Disclaimer: Views expressed are those of The Payments Shed Podcast hosts and guests, not their respective employers. Nothing discussed constitutes investment, legal, tax or financial advice.