Leaders In Payments

Greg Myers
  • 5.0 (15)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Hear directly from C-level executives in payments/fintech about industry trends, successful strategies, products, services, and what the future holds for the payments/fintech industry. We cover the entire industry from merchant acquiring, payment processing, ISOs, payfacs, fraud, security, issuing, b2b, fintech, to start-ups, if it goes on in payments we will be talking about it.

  1. 2D AGO

    Special Series: The Future of Modern Payments with Pat Antonacci, Chief Product Officer at The Clearing House | Episode 464

    Money keeps moving while the world sleeps, and the rails behind it are evolving fast. We sit down with Pat Antonacci, Chief Product Officer at The Clearing House, to break down how CHIPS, ACH (EPN), and RTP each power a different promise - liquidity, scale, and always‑on finality and why that mix is reshaping how businesses and consumers move funds. Pat explains why CHIPS dominates high‑value cross‑border flows and how its netting algorithm delivers 30:1 liquidity savings that matter on volatile days. We trace ACH’s steady rise, including same‑day and intraday growth, and dig into record holiday peaks that reveal the hidden rhythms of settlement. Then we go deep on RTP: eight years in, 98% of U.S. real‑time traffic, rising daily volumes, a $10 million limit, and use cases spanning account‑to‑account moves, brokerage funding, wallet top‑ups, gig payouts, loan disbursements, and tuition deadlines that can’t wait until Monday. The conversation tackles big questions: Are rails competing or complementing? Where are checks being displaced? How do Request for Payment and ISO 20022 unlock cleaner data and fewer exceptions? We explore the 2026 landscape - APIs, cloud, AI‑driven fraud controls, open banking momentum and why the smart strategy is matching the rail to the job: ACH for routine batches, RTP for precise timing and finality, and CHIPS for high‑value, cross‑border certainty. Pat also previews The Clearing House roadmap, from broader RTP ubiquity and fraud tools to extended CHIPS hours that bring wires closer to continuous availability. If you care about how money actually moves and how that movement shapes cash flow, customer trust, and the broader economy, this conversation is your field guide.

    26 min

  2. 4D AGO

    The Signal: What's New for Platforms & Payments featuring Matt Downs of Global Payments | Episode 463

    In this Signal Series episode of the Leaders in Payments Podcast, I sit down with Matt Downs, President, Integrated and Platforms at Global Payments, to unpack the biggest platform-payments shifts heading into 2026. Coming off the newly closed Worldpay and Global Payments combination, Matt shares what scale means for ISVs and platforms, and why payments is no longer “just a feature.” It is a growth engine that touches product, operations, and trust. The conversation breaks into three practical themes: embedded payments, embedded finance, and AI-driven fraud. Matt explains how platforms are moving toward richer embedded experiences that extend beyond checkout into the full workflow, including onboarding, chargebacks, disputes, and support. At the same time, platforms are feeling pressure to expand into adjacent financial products such as working capital, banking services, cards, and payroll. He also points to a common blind spot: many leaders do not benchmark how competitors are using payments and financial services to differentiate their core product. That competitive context should directly shape the roadmap. On fraud, Matt argues that 2026 demands an end-to-end mindset. Threats now show up earlier in the lifecycle, operate in real time, and adapt quickly using AI, deepfakes, machine-to-machine attacks, and automation. He outlines the “non-negotiables” for security and compliance, including layered defenses that protect the entire transaction journey, from the first web visit through refunds and disputes, without adding so much friction that it slows growth. If you are an ISV or platform executive building your 2026 plan, this episode will help you pressure-test your partnership strategy, prioritize embedded finance by vertical, and make smarter decisions to stay ahead while avoiding costly execution pitfalls.

    29 min

  3. JAN 29

    Farooq Malik, Co-Founder & CEO of Rain | Episode 462

    Money is changing faster than most teams can update a roadmap. We sit down with Farooq Malik, Co-Founder and CEO of Rain, to unpack how stablecoins and tokenized dollars are moving from crypto headlines to the hidden plumbing of real payments - powering card programs, cross-border payouts, and embedded finance at enterprise scale. Farooq breaks down Rain’s vertically integrated stack: pay-ins and payouts across ACH, wires, and Visa; support for dozens of stablecoins on 11 blockchains; and account logic that makes tokenized value feel like a familiar account, not a science project. We dig into a standout use case - a margin-backed credit card where each swipe triggers instant receivable financing in stablecoin - cutting working capital needs by about 80% and transforming the unit economics of card programs. He also shares how one API can issue regulatorily compliant products in multiple markets, letting global platforms pay creators, freelancers, and merchants in “international dollars” without stitching together country-by-country integrations. We explore the surge in institutional interest fueled by emerging regulatory clarity, the 30x volume growth Rain has seen in the last 12 months, and why broader rules could unlock 10x–100x adoption across the ecosystem. Farooq contrasts Rain’s approach with reseller patchworks, highlighting the benefits of being a principal Visa member and owning the core of the stablecoin stack. Beyond stablecoins, we touch on open banking, the rise of global-first consumer apps, and how nomadic work patterns are forcing finance to follow people, not addresses. If you lead payments, product, or finance, you’ll leave with a clear view of where tokenized money creates immediate value: better card economics, faster global disbursements, and simpler enterprise integrations.

    24 min

  4. JAN 27

    Andrew Helms, CEO, USA at SumUp | Episode 461

    Forget the hype - small merchants need tools that actually work when a line forms and a card won’t tap. Andrew Helms, CEO USA at SumUp digs into a merchant-first approach that puts transparency, service, and growth at the center of payments. Andrew shares his unconventional path from Middle Eastern studies and consulting in Dubai to entrepreneurship, scaling Home Chef through acquisition, and ultimately leading SumUp’s U.S. team from Boulder Colorado. That global lens shapes a practical strategy: localize for U.S. realities like tax complexity and tipping, keep pricing honest, and answer the phone when a sale is on the line. We unpack how SumUp’s integrated ecosystem - payments, POS, invoicing, banking, lending, and loyalty - helps brick-and-mortar stores thrive. The spotlight is on inventory-heavy retail: convenience stores, liquor shops, toy and pet stores juggling large catalogs, aging stock, and tight margins. Andrew explains how POS plus loyalty surfaces what’s expiring, what’s stuck, and which promotions move units, turning shelf data into cash flow. He’s candid about competitors’ junk fees and makes the case for clear contracts and seven-day live support that’s moving toward 24/7 coverage. Looking ahead, Andrew separates signal from noise on stablecoins, instant payments, and AI. Cross-border settlement and faster payouts hold real promise if they reach main street, while selective AI can power insights and smarter support without replacing the human layer. He also taps SumUp’s global footprint for “crystal ball” learnings - from Brazil’s Pix to London’s kiosk boom - and shows how to translate those wins for U.S. merchants. We close with career advice to ask better questions and a call for ethics in payments: long-term success depends on enabling small businesses to build community, repeat revenue, and resilience. If you care about the future of main street retail, this conversation brings strategy you can use today.

    28 min

  5. JAN 22

    Edward Woodford, CEO and Founder of zerohash | Episode 460

    Money that waits for Monday is losing ground to rails that never sleep. Greg sits down with Edward Woodford, CEO and Founder of zerohash, to explore how stablecoins and tokenized deposits are reshaping cross-border payments, account funding, and global payouts for merchants, platforms, and marketplaces. From MIT roots to building one of the largest movers of stablecoins, Edward explains why velocity of money matters and how interoperability solves the messy reality of assets, chains, and compliance at scale. We dig into concrete use cases: topping up trading or gaming balances instantly, paying freelancers in the Philippines or Brazil with automatic local currency conversion, and using stablecoins as a dependable 24/7 rail. Edward breaks down why abstraction is the unlock - users shouldn’t pick chains or tokens, they should just send money. He also shares why banks are poised to become the biggest on- and off-ramps as regulatory clarity lands, and why tokenized deposits may deliver stronger economics for financial institutions than issuing their own stablecoins. Looking ahead, Edward maps a world of vertical integration, where processors launch their own networks and potentially bank charters, compressing costs and aligning incentives across the stack. He makes the case for streaming payments as a catalyst for financial resilience and agentic commerce, where instant settlement reduces payday lending and powers software-to-software transactions. The result isn’t crypto vs. traditional - it’s connected plumbing that makes payments faster, cheaper, and more inclusive. If you care about the future of payments, cross-border commerce, and the real-world path from crypto rails to everyday use, this conversation offers a clear blueprint.

    23 min

  6. JAN 20

    Afshin Yazdian, CEO of Kurv | Episode 459

    Payments shouldn’t feel like a maze. We sit down with Kurv’s CEO, Afshin Yazdian, to unpack how a legacy “lifestyle business” evolved into a modern payments platform by stripping out friction, investing in human-centered service, and doubling down on tools that make small businesses stronger. From tap-to-pay on everyday smartphones to faster access to funds, the strategy centers on clarity and speed so owners can focus on sales, staff, and customers - not statements and support tickets. Afshin walks us through his unconventional path from law to leading roles at iPayment, Priority, and Paysafe before acquiring and rebranding EMS as Kurv. He shares what it took to rebuild operations, unify a new leadership team, and scale applications and activations nearly 10x in 18 months. We explore why transparent pricing, intuitive onboarding, and self-service matter just as much as getting a live expert on the phone, and how that blend becomes a moat in a commoditized market. We also dig into the high-stakes frontier of AI and fraud. With more digital leads and synthetic identities hitting underwriting queues, Kurv deploys machine learning to protect onboarding and e-commerce merchants while preserving approval rates. Add in real-time payments for better cash flow and a truly omnichannel approach - retail, field services, and online and you’ve got a playbook for SMB payments that is powerful without being complicated. Along the way, Afshin makes a strong case for culture as strategy: communicate clearly, care for people, and let that pride carry through every interaction. If you’re building, selling, or relying on payments, this conversation will leave you with practical ideas for simplifying workflows, reducing risk, and earning loyalty.

    26 min

  7. JAN 15

    Keith Raphael, Co-founder & CEO of Straddle | Episode 458

    What if account-to-account payments felt as dependable as swiping a card? We sit down with Keith Raphael, Co-founder and CEO of Straddle, to explore how a trust-first approach can transform ACH, RTP, and FedNow into fast, reliable options that product teams and finance leaders can actually count on. Keith’s journey from hardcore compliance to building a unified API offers a rare, inside look at what it takes to replace “file uploads and hope” with identity-led orchestration and clear, real-time visibility. We unpack the core idea that money moves at the speed of trust and how the lack of a strong identity layer has kept A2A stuck in 1970s-era uncertainty. Keith explains how Straddle combines KYC, fraud detection, open banking connectivity, tokenization, and multi-rail routing to solve the “where is my money” gap for subscriptions, stored-value wallets, remittances, marketplaces, and B2B flows. We also dig into US-specific headwinds: no regulatory mandate for open banking or instant payments, incumbent pricing strategies that protect debit economics, and the resulting friction for adopters. From the rise of platforms and embedded finance to direct-to-rail integrations and the cautious reality of stablecoins, Keith lays out a pragmatic roadmap for scaling bank payments without sacrificing compliance or customer trust. The lesson from Stripe and Square still stands (simplicity wins) but it now applies to ACH, RTP, and FedNow.

    23 min

  8. JAN 13

    Special Series: The Future of Modern Payments featuring Block and JP Morgan Payments | Episode 457

    Cash flow used to mean waiting and worrying. Today, it can mean deciding and doing. We sit down with Ana Garcia of JPMorgan Payments and James Chi of Block to unpack how real-time payments are reshaping the small business playbook - turning every sale into instantly usable working capital and replacing uncertainty with visibility you can act on. Ana pulls back the curtain on how instant payments actually work: APIs or portals trigger transactions, banks authenticate and screen for fraud and compliance, networks like The Clearing House RTP clear and settle, and funds land in seconds with instant confirmation. James maps those capabilities to real merchant needs - Square’s instant transfers to linked accounts, immediate spend via Square Checking, and faster marketplace payouts for merchants - showing how speed enables on-time payroll, proactive inventory management, and smoother refunds. We also get real about adoption. Many owners still don’t know they can move money this fast, so education in context is key - surfacing instant options exactly when cash is tight. On safety, both leaders emphasize layered defenses: identity checks, behavioral analytics, transaction limits, and step-up authentication, proving you don’t need to trade security for speed.  Looking forward, we explore request for payment for cleaner collections, the march toward near-universal bank coverage, and the promise of cross-border instant payments that could redefine supplier and marketplace flows. If you care about liquidity, predictability, and customer trust, this conversation shows how real-time payments turn pressure into momentum. This episode is part of our special series on The Future of Modern Payments sponsored by The Clearing House.

    22 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Hear directly from C-level executives in payments/fintech about industry trends, successful strategies, products, services, and what the future holds for the payments/fintech industry. We cover the entire industry from merchant acquiring, payment processing, ISOs, payfacs, fraud, security, issuing, b2b, fintech, to start-ups, if it goes on in payments we will be talking about it.

Information

  • Creator
    Greg Myers
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    465
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Leaders In Payments
  • Show Website
    Leaders In Payments

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