The payments space is getting closer to really serving B2B
- B2B payments is a massive field that still hasn't seen a single player make a huge mark.
- That's changing as a new class of fintechs set their sights on the space.
Welcome back to Payments, our bi-weekly newsletter about all things payments -- from blockchain to BNPL to B2B. It's inspired by our payments coverage as well as the top stories from around the payments space. Subscribe here.
Platforms like Klarna and Affirm have raised the bar on B2C payments by offering a smooth checkout experience with modern payment options and flexible terms. The same can’t be said for B2B, where payment methods are outdated and most transactions are still done offline. Startups like Balance, Melio, and Resolve are mushrooming to modernize B2B checkout and offer a B2C-level payments experience. The digitization of B2B payments should be a space to watch over the coming months.
Our top stories
‘$130 trillion of global B2B trade is coming online’: Balance looks to digitize payments for B2B ecommerce (Outlier member exclusive)
‘E-commerce subscriptions are about stability and predictability for consumers’: Behind Recharge’s recent growth
What buying its first NFTs says about Visa’s broader crypto strategy
Gig workers are paving the future of payments (Sponsored)
How rooting its customer experience in hotels and airfare enables Sunbit to make an impact (Outlier member exclusive)
Through partnership with Mastercard and Marqeta, Synctera adds card capabilities to its platform
Beyond CryptoKitties and bragging rights: A look at the financial use cases of NFTs
Whenever you hear the word NFT, you may instinctively think of a 10-year-old meme of an animated flying cat with a Pop-Tart body, or a digital art piece selling for $69 million for reasons that still aren’t quite clear to you.
But in a few years, the word NFT may conjure up a completely different set of images in people’s heads. That’s because tokenizing digital art and collectibles is just one of many possible applications for this novel technology.
NFTs have potential applications that extend far beyond digital art and sports memorabilia. Financial use cases for this technology could potentially include NFT-backed loans, insurance, investments, ownership of rights, and debt management.
SPONSORED
What we're reading
Goldman Sachs is acquiring buy now, pay later fintech GreenSky for $2.2 billion (CNBC)
B2B payments firm Melio raises $250 million at $4 billion valuation (Reuters)
Citi, BNY Mellon and Verizon team on real-time bill payments (Finextra)
MoneyLion enters crypto trading with $1 million prize pool to lure investors (Finextra)
Square will let Cash App users make in-store payments with mobile wallet (MarketWatch)
Sezzle's plans reveal how BNPL could spread further into banking (The Financial Brand)
Papaya Global raises $250 million to grow its payroll platform (PYMNTS)
PayPal acquires Japanese BNPL player Paidy for $2.7 billion (Finovate)
Wells Fargo introduces new AI-powered integrated receivables service (PYMNTS)
MX partners with Payveris on open API digital payments (Finextra)
Coinbase: SEC fight plays to the crypto crowd (FT)
Derek Jeter joins athletes looking to cash in with NFTs (deBanked)
Netspend launches earned wage access platform (Finextra)
Mastercard buys open banking firm, Aiia (PYMNTS)
Revolut is targeting billions in new revenue before IPO (Insider)
Debt collection is becoming a serious problem for BNPL consumers: Report (Crowdfund Insider)
Crypto firms snap up ex-regulators, but some struggle to keep them (FT)