Monoup news digest: main updates from fintech industry
Monoup team has gathered the brightest news of the past week for you, and you definitely don’t want to miss it. Today, you’ll learn why payment companies are rejecting ready-made AI solutions in favor of their own developments, and uncover an unexpected transition from politics to fintech in Poland. The local market is developing more actively than usual, but is this equally good for everyone? Many merchants relying on ZEN processing are concerned about potential stricter AML and KYB requirements. Is there any viable reason to worry?
Latin America is back in the spotlight, with two major payment providers driving the region forward this week. Let’s discuss the developments of PayRetailers and Unlimit. Breaking down all the key news in order.
PayRetailers Develops In-House AI Technology EON
The Latin American processor PayRetailers has launched its own AI system, EON, integrated into the back office for merchants. The goal is not to revolutionize anti-fraud or approval ratios (as many might have assumed), but to improve customer service and simplify routine operations. The functionality includes transaction search using language models, generating custom reports on demand, adaptive dashboards, and automated support through ticket creation with preliminary problem diagnostics.
The company decided against integrating with external AI agents like ChatGPT or Claude due to concerns about payment data leaks. Instead, PayRetailers developed the solution entirely in-house, which required more time and resources but provides full control over security. Given that the PSP primarily works with high-risk industries like gambling, this approach to data is fully justified.
For now, EON is available to a limited pool of clients in beta testing mode. This is a reasonable strategy — to test the system with loyal merchants, gather feedback, and only then offer it to everyone.
The Latin American market is known for its specific localization and compliance requirements, so universal solutions may not be as effective. The question is how quickly PayRetailers can scale the technology and whether it will justify the investment in development. Even it may not attract new capital, it will undoubtedly save on manual routine work, reduce errors, and increase merchant satisfaction. So that could be seen as a clear win already.
Former Polish President Joins ZEN COM
Andrzej Duda, who recently resigned from politics, has joined Polish neobank ZEN as a member of the supervisory board. His role is to open doors to Asian and Middle Eastern markets, leveraging his political connections and reputation to negotiate with regulators and governments. Board consists also of company’s founder, David Rozek, and European law expert Karolis Gudas. The trio is set to seriously expand into new regions.
ZEN has already been named the “Polish Revolut,” though it still has a long way to go to match the British giant in scale and functionality. However, the ambitions are clear, and attracting a former president is a strong signal of intent. Duda is not just a figurehead on the board; he has openly stated his readiness to join other companies, hinting at the formation of an entire network of influence in fintech.
Subsequently, for ZEN’s current business clients, this could mean stricter compliance. As the neobank prepares to enter regulated Asian markets like Singapore or the UAE, verification and AML standards will inevitably rise. On the other hand, access to new jurisdictions opens up opportunities for international settlements and multi-currency operations, which could be critically important for Polish businesses. It remains to be seen how effectively political capital will transform into real licenses and partnerships.
Unlimit Obtains License in Brazil
Unlimit has officially become a Payment Institution in Brazil, investing 46 million reais in share capital for it. The company was already processing Visa, Mastercard, and Amex card payments directly and providing access to the local PIX. Now, the range of services is expanding: Brazilian merchants will have access to banking solutions and white-label card issuance.
Brazil remains one of the most attractive markets in Latin America, although offshore iGaming companies stopped viewing it as one and only destination. High localization and compliance requirements, along with the dominance of local players, create barriers to entry. However, those who overcome these challenges gain access to 215 million potential users with a growing interest in digital services.
PIX, launched by the Central Bank of Brazil, has been a true revolution—offering instant transfers between banks without fees, available 24/7. In just a few years, the system has surpassed card payments in popularity in many segments. For gaming and e-commerce projects, PIX is a must-have, and Unlimit was already offering it through partners. Now, with its own license, the company can process transactions without intermediaries, reducing costs and increasing control over the process.
Nuvei Among the First to Implement AI Checkout
Nuvei has gained access to Visa’s Trusted Agent Protocol — a technology that allows payments to be initiated not by humans, but by chatbots. The functionality is already available to merchants through existing integration, and those who want to switch from a standard payment page to an AI-powered version can do so right now.
Chatbots can compare products, make purchasing decisions, and complete transactions autonomously, without human intervention. However, this requires a fundamentally different payment flow that doesn’t require manual card data entry but still guarantees security. Visa has developed a framework where the bot receives limited authorization to make payments within predefined parameters, with all authorization handled through tokenization and preset limits.
For now, the technology is in the pilot phase with major processors, and Nuvei is among the first to implement it. This makes sense — the company is actively developing subscription and recurring payment solutions, where automation is particularly important. Imagine an AI assistant that orders groceries for home delivery, pays for subscriptions, or books tickets based on your preferences and budget. It sounds like science fiction, but technologically, it’s already possible.
The question is how quickly users will be ready to trust bots with access to their money. It’s one thing to ask ChatGPT for a dinner recipe, but another to give it the authority to deduct funds from your card. Transparency and control are critical here, which is what Visa is trying to ensure with its protocol.
The payment industry is moving toward greater automation, which could potentially help avoid manual errors in the payment process. We constantly monitor updates, and you can stay informed by subscribing to our Telegram channel, where we publish fresh news and insights from the payment industry every day.
