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Visa business and news from across the web.
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The adult game crackdown is "ridiculous for our art form", say Hellraiser devs, but they think they'll survive thanks to that Clive Barker association
Developers of Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival express frustration over the ongoing crackdown on adult games, calling it 'ridiculous for our art form.' They believe the established IP status of Hellraiser provides some protection against bans on platforms like Steam, though they acknowledge the chilling effect on developers of original IPs. The game will launch on Steam on October 8 but faces challenges with age classification in territories like Germany and Japan.
Stale Rain contract bleeds $1.1M across crypto card programs — AVICI sinks 49%
Avici, a crypto neobank, suffered a $1.1 million exploit due to an outdated smart contract, with $500,800 directly drained from 1,685 users. Fellow neobank Tria also reported losses totaling $430,000 from its users. The vulnerability affected multiple programs using Rain's card infrastructure, leading to a significant drop in Avici's token value.
Stablecoins Are Crossing Borders Fast — But Someone Still Has to Convert Them Into Local Money
While Visa's new platform simplifies stablecoin access for financial institutions, the primary challenge for cross-border transactions remains currency conversion. Despite stablecoins facilitating value transfer, the need for foreign exchange pricing, liquidity, and settlement persists in each corridor, creating complex plumbing for fintechs operating in multiple markets. Regulatory bodies are increasingly classifying these activities as foreign-exchange operations, highlighting the ongoing friction in converting stablecoins into local currencies for everyday economic activities.
MoonPay puts a non-custodial Solana wallet inside ChatGPT and Claude with PayBox
MoonPay has launched PayBox, a non-custodial cryptocurrency wallet that integrates with AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude. This allows users to manage crypto assets, trade, and make purchases directly within chat interfaces across multiple blockchains including Solana and Ethereum. The system uses multi-party computation for key security and offers two permission modes for transactions.
Samsung Commits Galaxy Wallet to Stablecoins Without Naming a Partner or a Launch Window
Samsung has announced that its Samsung Wallet will soon support stablecoins, making it one of the first major mobile brands to do so. While a specific launch window, issuer, or blockchain were not disclosed, a mockup showed Circle's USDC. This move integrates digital value transfers into the default wallet for Galaxy devices, which already facilitates crypto purchases through Coinbase for millions of users.
Visa, Mastercard and Coinbase have launched a new global stablecoin
Visa, Mastercard, and Coinbase have partnered to launch a new global stablecoin. This venture aims to leverage the existing infrastructure of these major financial institutions for a new digital currency.
EA Announces EA Advertising Aimed At “Transforming How Brands Connect With Audiences”
Electronic Arts has announced EA Advertising, a new program designed to integrate dynamic, real-time advertisements into its popular video games. The initiative aims to create strategic partnerships with brands like VISA, Red Bull, and Mountain Dew, utilizing enhanced targeting and measurement features to evaluate ad performance within titles such as College Football and the UFC franchise.
EA announces advertising platform to launch ads 'directly into gameplay'
Electronic Arts has launched EA Advertising, a new platform designed to integrate advertisements directly into gameplay. The system aims to connect brands with engaged audiences through various ad formats, including in-game signage and custom content, with initial partners like Visa, Lowe's, and Red Bull. While sports titles are a primary focus, other games like The Sims 4 are also being pitched as advertising opportunities.
Say hello to EA Advertising, which will let your favourite brands 'integrate' ads to 'enhance' your…
Electronic Arts has launched EA Advertising, a new platform enabling brands to integrate advertisements into its games. Initially targeting sports titles like EA Sports FC and Madden NFL, these "in-game integrations" will feature dynamic placements, branded content, and reward-driven objectives. EA claims its games reach over 120 million players monthly, presenting a significant opportunity for advertisers to "enhance" player experiences.
EA Announces New Plan To Launch Ads “Directly Into Gameplay” After Working On In-Game Ads For Decades Already
Electronic Arts has unveiled EA Advertising, a new platform designed to integrate ads directly into gameplay without disrupting the player experience. This initiative aims to reach EA's 120 million monthly players and comes amid financial pressures, including a potential $55 billion sale to an investor consortium. While EA claims ads will enhance gameplay, past attempts like pause-screen ads in EA Sports UFC 4 faced significant player backlash.
Japanese game dev denied by bank with ties to western payment processors
Japanese game developer Mousou no Mayu reported that their domestic bank, Daishi Hokuetsu Bank, refused to process a payment from their publisher, Kagura Games, due to the game's content. The bank, which has significant investment from Blackrock, a major shareholder in Visa and Mastercard, cited concerns over adult content despite the Steam version being all-ages. The developer has since moved to Sumishin SBI Net Bank.
Game Crossovers and Collaborations
Electronic Arts and Visa have announced a new global, multi-year partnership. This collaboration will involve EA SPORTS and aims to integrate payment solutions and fan engagement initiatives.
Adult games may be an unintended beneficiary as FTC pressure payment providers like Visa and Mastercard not to debank Trump supporters, but I doubt it
The US Federal Trade Commission has sent letters to major payment providers like Visa and Mastercard, urging them not to deny services based on political or religious views. This action, intended to prevent discrimination against Trump supporters, could inadvertently benefit the adult games industry by discouraging payment processors from bowing to pressure that previously led to content delistings on platforms like Itch.io and Valve.
The video game payment processor crisis may be getting better, thanks to the American Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued warnings to payment processors like Mastercard, Visa, Stripe, and PayPal, stating they cannot deny service based on political or religious views. This action may alleviate the ongoing crisis affecting video game developers and platforms, such as Itch.io and Valve, who have faced restrictions on content and payment services due to pressure from these processors.
Remember when Mastercard pressured Steam to remove a bunch of NSFW games? The FTC says that's not cool—sort…
The US Federal Trade Commission has sent letters to major financial services companies like Mastercard, Visa, PayPal, and Stripe, expressing concerns about potential political or religious discrimination in their services. This action follows Valve's report that Mastercard pressured Steam to remove NSFW games, a claim Mastercard denies, stating they only allow lawful purchases. The FTC's investigation could impact how payment processors handle content restrictions.
Solana Mobile Opens Stack Access to All Android OEMs with SeekerClaw AI Integration in Seeker Phone
Solana Mobile is shifting its business model from hardware manufacturing to providing its blockchain infrastructure, the Solana Mobile Stack, to all Android OEMs. This stack includes enhanced security features like Seed Vault, a user-friendly wallet, and a decentralized app store, aiming to integrate advanced crypto tools into mainstream Android devices. The move also introduces new revenue-sharing models for manufacturers based on transaction volume.
