: The customer presents a card or wallet at a Point of Sale (POS) or online checkout. : A secure "bridge" (like ) encrypts and sends data to the processor. Authorization
This article explores the history, the present technological drivers, and the future trajectory of the global ecosystem. payment
Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stablecoins (USDC, USDT) represent a radical departure. A crypto is a peer-to-peer transfer on a decentralized blockchain, requiring no bank. While still volatile for daily coffee purchases, stablecoins have made cross-border payment faster and cheaper than traditional wire transfers. : The customer presents a card or wallet