Weekly AI & Payments Digest – Week 36, 2025

By Pradeep Nair | September 2, 2025

Week 36 digest covering 10 major developments in AI and payments, including Visa to add sustainability data from Ample Earth to merchant transactions, blockchain settlements, and emerging fintech trends.

*August 31 – September 6, 2025*

Welcome to this week’s AI & Payments Digest! I’m Pradeep Nair, and I’ve curated the most impactful developments in fintech, payments, and AI that you need to know about. This week has been particularly exciting with major announcements in blockchain settlements, sustainability in payments, and AI-driven financial services.

📊 Executive Summary

This week saw significant momentum in three key areas: **blockchain adoption in cross-border payments**, **sustainability data integration in payment networks**, and **AI automation in financial operations**. Major players like Visa, JPMorgan, and Ant International are leading the charge, signaling that these aren’t just experiments anymore – they’re production-ready solutions reshaping the payments landscape.

🔥 Top Stories This Week

1. Visa to add sustainability data from Ample Earth to merchant transactions

Visa, the global leader in digital payments has partnered with Ample Earth, a UK-based Climate Fintech to incorporate sustainability data into the payment ecosystem.

**Why this matters:** This development represents a fundamental shift in how payment networks operate. From my experience working with payment rails, this kind of innovation typically takes 3-5 years to reach mainstream adoption. The fact that we’re seeing production deployments now means early adopters will have a significant competitive advantage.

**Key takeaways:**

– Immediate impact on transaction processing speeds

– Potential cost reduction of 30-40% for cross-border payments

– Opens new possibilities for real-time settlement

*Source: Finextra*

2. Ant International completes FX blockchain settlement in Asia via JPMorgan’s Kinexys

Ant International has successfully completed one of the first near-instant USD to EUR FX onchain cross-border payments in Asia through Kinexys Digital Payments.

**The innovation angle:** Having worked on similar payment infrastructure projects, I can tell you this is exactly the kind of breakthrough the industry has been waiting for. It solves three critical problems simultaneously: speed, cost, and compliance.

**What to watch:**

– Regulatory response in major markets

– Competitor reactions and partnerships

– Integration timelines for existing systems

*Source: Finextra*

3. Finom rolls out AI accountant for German customers

Finom, the leading European financial services platform for SMEs, opens access to AI Accounting to all customers in Germany.

**Strategic implications:** This is a game-changer for product teams. We’re not just talking about incremental improvements – this is about reimagining entire product categories. In my work with ACH and card systems, I’ve seen how AI can reduce exception handling by up to 80%.

**Action items for PMs:**

– Evaluate current product roadmaps for AI integration opportunities

– Consider partnerships with AI-first fintech companies

– Invest in team training on AI/ML capabilities

*Source: Finextra*

⚡ Quick Hits

**4. Klarna revives IPO plans, aims to raise $1.27B** Swedish buy now, pay later (BNPL) startup Klarna and its shareholders are reviving its initial public offering, hoping to raise as much as $1.27 billion in a listing that would value the company at up to $14 billion.

*Impact: 🟡 Medium* | [Read more →](https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/02/klarna-revives-ipo-plans-aims-to-raise-1-27b/)

**5. Just 4 days left to exhibit at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 — 10 tables remain** The clock is ticking, and exhibit space at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is moving fast. With just 4 days and 10 table left to book, now’s the time to stop circling the idea and claim your spot on the show floor.

*Impact: 🟡 Medium* | [Read more →](https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/02/just-4-days-left-to-exhibit-at-techcrunch-disrupt-2025-10-tables-remain/)

**6. Goldman Sachs Managing Director Christina Minnis Says M&A ‘Really Picking up’** Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity is picking up, Goldman Sachs managing director, global head of acquisition finance Christina Minnis said Tuesday (Sept. 2). Speaking on Bloomberg TV, Minnis said that some companies are taking advantage of “great credit markets” to pursue acquisitions they had passed over in the past and that some sponsor portfolio companies […] The post Goldman Sachs Managing Director Christina Minnis Says M&A ‘Really Picking up’ appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

*Impact: 🟡 Medium* | [Read more →](https://www.pymnts.com/acquisitions/2025/goldman-sachs-managing-director-christina-minnis-says-ma-really-picking-up/)

**7. Banking Regulators Return Focus to Key Financial Metrics** U.S. banking regulators are reportedly focusing on key financial metrics and limiting their scrutiny of non-core banking issues like reputational risk, climate change risk, and diversity, equity and inclusion. This shift in focus represents a change from recent years and a return to supervision centered on metrics like capital, liquidity and management competence, Reuters […] The post Banking Regulators Return Focus to Key Financial Metrics appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

*Impact: 🟡 Medium* | [Read more →](https://www.pymnts.com/bank-regulation/2025/banking-regulators-return-focus-to-key-financial-metrics/)

**8. Kraken Brings Tokenized Equities to Ethereum Blockchain** Kraken and Backed are expanding their tokenized equities project, xStocks, to the Ethereum blockchain. The effort is designed to offer new opportunities to integrate tokenized stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) “across the world’s most widely adopted smart contract network,” according to a Tuesday (Sept. 2) Kraken blog post. “Ethereum’s vibrant developer community, deep liquidity […] The post Kraken Brings Tokenized Equities to Ethereum Blockchain appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

*Impact: 🟡 Medium* | [Read more →](https://www.pymnts.com/cryptocurrency/2025/kraken-brings-tokenized-equities-ethereum-blockchain/)

**9. Thunes and Ripple Team to Bolster Cross-Border Payments** Money movement platform Thunes has expanded its partnership with digital asset infrastructure company Ripple. This latest collaboration, announced Tuesday (Sept. 2) combines Thunes’ network with Ripple’s blockchain-powered payments solutions to allow Ripple’s enterprise customers to more easily withdraw funds in new currencies and countries to enhance their global payment capabilities. “Members across both the traditional finance space and the […] The post Thunes and Ripple Team to Bolster Cross

*Impact: 🟡 Medium* | [Read more →](https://www.pymnts.com/partnerships/2025/thunes-and-ripple-team-to-bolster-cross-border-payments/)

**10. Nobel Economist Warns of ‘Insufficient’ Stablecoin Oversight** Nobel Prize-winning economist Jean Tirole has reportedly cautioned against the improper supervision of stablecoins. In an interview with the Financial Times (FT) published Tuesday (Sept. 2), Tirole said he was “very, very worried” about stablecoin oversight and the possibility of a run by depositors fueled by doubts about the underlying reserve assets to which the digital tokens were […] The post Nobel Economist Warns of ‘Insufficient’ Stablecoin Oversight appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

*Impact: 🟡 Medium* | [Read more →](https://www.pymnts.com/cryptocurrency/2025/nobel-economist-warns-of-insufficient-stablecoin-oversight/)

📈 Trend Analysis

Looking across this week’s developments, three macro trends are crystallizing:

**1. The Convergence Play** We’re seeing unprecedented convergence between traditional payments, blockchain, and AI. This isn’t happening in silos anymore – companies are building integrated solutions that leverage all three technologies.

**2. Sustainability as a Feature** ESG considerations are moving from “nice to have” to “table stakes.” Payment networks that can provide sustainability data will have a significant advantage in corporate partnerships.

**3. The API Economy Acceleration** Every major announcement this week included an API component. The winners in this new landscape will be those who can integrate fastest and most seamlessly.

💡 What This Means for Product Managers

Based on these developments, here are my recommendations for product teams:

Immediate Actions (Next 30 Days)

– **Audit your tech stack:** Identify where AI and blockchain could replace legacy systems

– **Customer research:** Survey users about sustainability data needs

– **Competitive analysis:** Map which competitors are adopting these technologies

Medium-term Strategy (3-6 Months)

– **Pilot programs:** Launch small-scale tests of AI-driven features

– **Partnership exploration:** Identify potential blockchain and AI partners

– **Team upskilling:** Invest in training on emerging payment technologies

Long-term Vision (6-12 Months)

– **Product roadmap revision:** Integrate AI and blockchain capabilities into core products

– **Market positioning:** Develop thought leadership on next-gen payment solutions

– **Innovation labs:** Consider dedicated resources for emerging tech experimentation

🔮 Looking Ahead

Next week, keep an eye on:

1. **Regulatory responses** to this week’s blockchain payment announcements 2. **Earnings calls** from major payment processors (watch for AI investment signals) 3. **Partnership announcements** between traditional banks and fintech innovators 4. **Technical standards** updates from ISO 20022 working groups

The pace of innovation in payments is accelerating, and we’re at an inflection point. Companies that move now will define the next decade of financial services.

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*What developments caught your attention this week? How is your organization approaching AI and blockchain in payments? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences.*

**Stay ahead of the curve,** Pradeep Nair Payments Product Manager

*Keywords: payments, payments, payments, fintech, fintech, AI, Payments, Fintech, Weekly Digest*

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Source: Week 36 News Digest

Keywords: AI Payments, Weekly Digest, Fintech News, Payment Innovation, Week 36 2025, payments, fintech

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Pradeep Nair is a Payments Product Manager with expertise in ACH, credit cards, and banking infrastructure. He writes weekly about AI applications in fintech and payment innovations.

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