Today In Payments: Coinbase Suspends XRP Trading; Amazon Delivered Record-Breaking 1.5 Billion Holiday Packages

In today’s top news, Coinbase has suspended XRP trading in the wake of the SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple, and Amazon delivered over 1.5 billion packages this holiday season. Plus, J.P. Morgan acquired the rewards division of cxLoyalty Group Holdings.

SEC’s Ripple Lawsuit Prompts Coinbase To Suspend XRP Trading

Coinbase has suspended all XRP trading after the SEC filed suit against Ripple last week. Users will still be able to deposit and withdraw XRO from their digital wallets during the trade suspension.

Amazon Delivers Record-Breaking 1.5 Billion Holiday 2020 Packages

Amazon reported delivering more than 1.5 billion toys, electronics and household goods, a record-breaking holiday shopping season. The eCommerce giant also saw Alexa video calling double this year, and meditation music downloads increased by 1.5 times last year’s amount.

JPMorgan Bets On Travel Rebound With cxLoyalty’s Rewards Buy

With an eye on the future of travel, J.P. Morgan Chase has agreed to acquire the rewards division of cxLoyalty Group Holdings to help expand its rewards content in categories such as merchandise, gift cards and travel. The price of the transaction was not disclosed.

US House Green-Lights $2,000 Stimulus Checks, Sends Bill To Senate

The U.S. House of Representatives voted Monday (Dec. 28) to pass legislation raising individual stimulus check payments to $2,000 instead of $600, in line with a call from President Donald Trump last week. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill on Tuesday (Dec. 29).

Machine Learning Supercharges Banks’ Efforts To Fight Debit Fraud

Eighty-six percent of consumers shopping online are targets of debit card schemes and other forms of fraud, and these growing threats are pushing banks to rethink the tools in their fraud-fighting arsenals. In the Next-Gen Debit Tracker, People’s United Bank executives Karen Boyer and Frank Wheelahan discuss how pairing rules-based analysis with machine learning tools can help banks shore up their defenses as they battle debit fraud.

Control Vs. Convenience Shapes Debate As FIs Adopt Faster Payments

Small financial institutions (FIs) that directly integrate with real-time payments (RTP) must do more work than counterparts that turn to third parties for RTP access. But the initial investment is worth the cost, said Jesse Honigberg, technology chief of staff at Cross River. In the Real-Time Payments Report, Honigberg explains how direct integrations give banks the control needed to launch new and creative RTP-powered experiences.

Drone Delivery Gets A Lift With FAA Rule Change

Calling it a major step toward integrating 1.7 million drones into the national airspace system, the Federal Aviation Administration has released two new rules that it said will increase safety and innovation within the transportation industry’s fastest-growing segment.

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