The Next Wave in Payments: Intelligence, Trust & Embedded Value

🧭 What’s Next in Payments: 5 Trends Shaping the Future of the Industry

Over the past six weeks, I’ve been on the road — from MoneyLIVE London to Merchant Payments Ecosystem in Berlin — and in between, dozens of calls with brilliant founders, operators, and VCs shaping what’s next.

The pace of innovation in fintech — especially across payments — hasn’t slowed down. If anything, it's accelerating beneath the surface: smarter infrastructure, embedded trust, and intelligent orchestration are quietly redefining how value moves through digital systems.

Here are five trends worth tracking — with real-world signals and practical insights to guide investment theses and strategic scans across fintech, capital markets, payments, wealthtech, and beyond.

1. Open Banking: The Transatlantic Acceleration

Open Banking is gaining global consistency. Europe is maturing fast with PSD3 and the rise of Open Finance. Meanwhile, the U.S. is building real momentum with regulatory moves from the CFPB that are reshaping how financial data is accessed and controlled.

We’re entering a new phase — where open APIs aren’t just a compliance exercise, but a commercial edge. The most compelling players are building for cross-border bank connectivity, seamless embedded finance, and real-time payment rails.

Open banking isn’t an endpoint. It’s the infrastructure layer for new credit models, loyalty mechanics, and smart financial flows.

2. Fraud, Chargebacks & Preemptive Defense

Fraud is no longer just a risk management problem — it’s a growth inhibitor. False declines, chargebacks, and friction-heavy processes destroy margin and trust in equal measure.

But the new wave of solutions is proactive, composable, and increasingly AI-native. If any of these sound relevant, I’m happy to connect you directly — feel free to mention that I sent you their way.

• Fraudio is enabling PSPs, banks, and merchants to detect fraud dynamically using shared intelligence and proprietary machine learning models.

• ISX Financial is combining identity, card processing, and KYC/AML checks into a unified platform that mitigates risk across the transaction lifecycle.

• Kipp empowers merchants to intercept and challenge chargebacks before they’re settled, flipping the chargeback process from reactive to preventive.

This space is evolving quickly — and those who can embed protection into the payment fabric without sacrificing UX will win.

3. Additive Functionality: From Frictionless to Invisible

Additive functionality refers to intelligent enhancements layered on top of core payments — such as one-click checkout, tokenized loyalty, embedded subscriptions, or contextual rewards.

These aren’t superficial add-ons. They’re driving conversion, retention, and revenue lift.

One European scale-up I was introduced to by a Silicon Valley VC enriches transaction data in real time — enabling hyper-personalized offers and insights tied directly to card usage. It’s the kind of modular tool that plugs into any PSP or wallet and immediately improves user-level economics.

I’ve also been reviewing platform integrations designed for enterprise-grade analytics and orchestration — ConnectPay and emerchantpay stood out. Both are delivering additive value through thoughtful architecture and merchant-centric execution.

4. Trust & Authentication: Security as Experience

Authentication is undergoing a quiet revolution — moving from visible checkpoints to invisible layers of confidence.

The winner of this year’s MPE Start-up of the Year award, Securely, is leading the charge. Their platform uses behavioral biometrics, device intelligence, and passive data signals to verify identity without interrupting the user journey. No SMS codes. No annoying re-authentication. Just invisible security built for scale.

Securely isn’t alone. I’ve also been shown UK-based startups building smart supplier payment controls using AI, and digital incentive platforms offering full regulatory compliance with global reach.

The takeaway? Trust is now a UX imperative. And authentication, when done right, creates speed, reduces abandonment, and deepens brand loyalty.

5. Data x AI: Insight Becomes Infrastructure

Payments generate incredibly rich data — but it’s what you do with it that creates leverage.

The next wave of platforms are using AI not as a bolt-on, but as core infrastructure. They’re:

• Scoring and blocking fraud before it happens.

• Optimizing routing for cost and conversion in real time.

• Powering adaptive checkout experiences based on behavior, geography, or risk profile.

Data is no longer about dashboards. It’s becoming the control layer for every smart transaction — from orchestration to settlement.

This is where payments infrastructure meets intelligence. And it's where we're seeing some of the most exciting deal flow.

💬 Let’s Talk

Each of these trends reflects something bigger: the reinvention of trust, flow, and intelligence across digital finance.

If you're looking at:

• Deal flow across fintech, capital markets, wealthtech, payments, or infrastructure,

• Portfolio optimization through product extension, fraud reduction, or embedded finance, or

• Buy-side scans to map potential acquisition targets or build inorganic growth strategies —

Let’s connect.

Now’s the time to lean in. The best founders are already building — and the best outcomes start with early conversations.

Tom C. Schapira
Founder and CEO
Imagine Capital Group
E: [email protected]
Website: http://www.imaginecapitalgroup.com

Securities Offered through Wellesley Hills Securities. Member FINRA/SIPC