B2B
Fiserv explores divestitures
Fiserv CEO Takis Georgakopoulos held two closed-door meetings with analysts this week to outline his business restructuring and operational continuity strategy. According to Cantor analysts, the company is still evaluating the potential sale of one of its two debit networks (STAR or Accel), leaning toward retaining STAR and divesting Accel. Meanwhile, Fiserv plans to consolidate 14 payment gateways into a single modernized solution and may adjust non-growth areas such as paper-based operations. The new CEO emphasizes continuity with predecessor Mike Lyons' strategy while maintaining stability in the existing management team.
Stripe, OpenRouter finally strike a deal
Stripe announced the acquisition of OpenRouter, which routes AI workloads to about 400 models and manages token expenses. The deal, reported at $7.5 billion, includes $1.5 billion for founders. Stripe's CEO highlights the importance of efficient token spending. OpenRouter processes over 10 trillion tokens daily and has seen 10x annual growth since 2023. The acquisition positions Stripe in AI payments and governance.
Weave scooped up for $650M
Francisco Partners has agreed to acquire Weave Communications for $650 million, adding a healthcare-focused payments and patient communication platform to its portfolio. The deal follows the firm's earlier acquisition of Canadian payments provider Moneris. Weave will become a private company and plans to invest in artificial intelligence.
Stripe acquisition may bolster its AI strategy
Stripe's reported acquisition of AI spend management firm OpenRouter could position the payments giant at the center of AI computing procurement and payment, according to industry experts.
Fiserv seeks investor lawsuit dismissal
Fiserv on Tuesday filed a motion to dismiss a consolidated shareholder class action lawsuit, asserting that plaintiffs have not alleged any securities fraud. The litigation, which began in July 2025, involves claims related to a 73% share price drop and a $92 billion market value loss. Fiserv and four former executives argue the suit is exactly what the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act was designed to prevent.
Q2 Same-Day ACH Payments Surge 29.5% to $1.3 Trillion
According to a Nacha press release on July 30, same-day ACH payment volume in the second quarter of 2026 surged 29.5% year-over-year to 435.7 million payments, with total payment value increasing 28.1% to $1.3 trillion. Overall ACH network transaction volume grew 6.2% to 9.3 billion payments, and value rose 11.1% to $25.9 trillion. B2B payments grew 9.9%, and P2P payments increased 21%. Nacha plans to raise the same-day transaction limit to $10 million starting September 17, 2027.
Pex Secures $160 Million in Funding to Accelerate Expansion of Corporate Card and Expense Management Business
Pex announced it has secured $160 million in funding, invested by Bluff Point Associates, with the capital to be used for product innovation, sales, and strategic growth. The company has raised approximately $180 million in total funding, manages about $11.7 billion in corporate spending, and counts clients including Live Nation and Tory Burch.
Payment Industry Consolidation Wave Continues: M&A Trajectory from Evo to Harlow
Harlow Payments last week appointed Evo Payments founder Ray Sidhom as Executive Chairman, with his son Chris Sidhom as President, working alongside CEO Diego Vazquez to advance acquisitions. Industry consolidation continues, with PayCompass CEO Justin Volrath believing that regulatory complexity and scale requirements will drive more M&A. Harlow plans to acquire 51%-70% stakes in companies while retaining management, building a financial ecosystem.
Nium Expands Stablecoin Business, Acquires Crypto Wallet Company Cypher
Cross-border payment company Nium, after launching a stablecoin card issuance platform in March, acquired crypto digital wallet business Cypher this month to further expand its crypto services in the blockchain ecosystem. CEO Prajit Nanu stated that stablecoins are gaining regulatory momentum, and the company plans to transform Cypher into API infrastructure, considering more acquisitions in Latin America and Africa.