Regulations & Policy
EWA grows despite legal limbo
Against the backdrop of an incompletely clarified regulatory framework for earned wage access (EWA) in the United States, service providers Instant Financial and Clair have both seen significant revenue growth this year. In separate interviews, the CEOs of both companies stated that employer interest in offering employees free access to earned wage services has risen, and legislation in some states has actually driven corporate adoption. Instant Financial expects to achieve profitability for the third consecutive year this year, while Clair claims that revenue, users, and platform scale have all tripled since January.
Visa delivers 6M documents to DOJ
U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Cave ruled on Friday to extend the discovery deadline in Visa's debit card antitrust lawsuit with the Department of Justice from October to January 29, 2027, and required all parties to submit all requested documents by September 30. Visa has submitted over 6 million documents involving approximately 200 requests and plans to complete the review of remaining documents by the end of September. The judge also suggested that District Judge John Koeltl authorize her to preside over regular meetings to coordinate disputes, with the trial expected to take place in 2028.
Is the nickel nearing a revamp?
The US Congress recently passed versions of the Common Cents Act in both chambers, aiming to provide a rounding framework for penny-free cash transactions and allow the Treasury to explore replacing copper with zinc to reduce nickel minting costs. The coin's production cost in fiscal year 2025 was 13.3 cents, exceeding its face value for 20 consecutive years. However, changing the coin's specifications could affect approximately 2.9 million vending machines, with industry update costs potentially reaching $1.45 billion.
Visa, DOJ lawyers clash ahead of trial
Visa and DOJ lawyers are at odds over the pace of discovery in the government's antitrust lawsuit, with both sides seeking court intervention to adjust the schedule. The dispute centers on deposition logistics, document production, and witness lists, as the case approaches its two-year mark.
Doxo to pay $2.1M settlement
Doxo has agreed to pay $2.1 million to the FTC to resolve charges that its ads misled consumers. The settlement includes a ban on unauthorized charges and misrepresentations, and requires clearer disclosure of subscription terms.
Western Union navigates challenges
Western Union is balancing cost cuts, digital transformation, and its $500 million acquisition of Intermex, facing regulatory delays in California and conditions in New York, while digital revenue growth lags.
现金支付使用率落后于借记卡与信用卡
美联储金融服务部8月4日发布的《消费者支付选择日记》调查显示，尽管五分之四的消费者在过去30天内使用过现金，但现金作为首选支付方式的比例仅为16%，落后于借记卡和信用卡。调查还发现，随身携带现金的消费者比例从2024年的79%降至2025年的76%，为2018年以来最大年度降幅；而将现金用于应急储备的消费者比例从2016年的25%升至2025年的45%。