MAG Insights

Mar 31, 2026, 08:28 by Chad L Oswald

On June 9-10, 2026, the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG) brings its flagship European event to London, hosted at 155 Bishopsgate in the heart of the city.

Mar 30, 2026, 09:04 by Chad L Oswald

The retail landscape is constantly evolving, driven by consumer demand for convenience, speed, and privacy. For merchants, the challenge is balancing operational efficiency with compliance and security. A crucial new technology at the intersection of these needs is the Mobile Driver's License (mDL).

Mar 11, 2026, 09:01 by Chad L Oswald

The face of the retail industry continues to evolve. This revolution is being fueled by customer demand for seamless shopping experiences across channels and increased personalization at every touchpoint. A recent report found that Millennials and Gen Z, which are projected to comprise 67% of the U.S. population by 2030, are accelerating digital-first purchasing behaviors, presenting merchants with new opportunities to meet the shopping preferences of this growing cohort.

Mar 2, 2026, 08:16 by Chad L Oswald

In recent years, there has been no shortage of payments policy news. From the Federal Reserve reexamining the regulated rate and clarifying routing requirements in eCommerce, to activity around open banking at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, to the Administration’s elimination of the penny, payments advocates have been busy – not to mention the legislative activity in Congress and various states. Things have moved much more slowly through the courts, but finally, there is some noteworthy activity, with key decisions, brief deadlines, and court dates scheduled in early 2026.

Feb 25, 2026, 13:15 by Chad L Oswald

Payments teams don’t need another abstract discussion of global payments complexity. You’re already living it: new rails, new rules, new fraud patterns, and a growing number of markets.

Feb 25, 2026, 12:38 by Chad L Oswald

The payments landscape is moving fast, shaped by AI, identity, regulation, orchestration, and global market expansion. Between now and the MAG Payments Summit – London26 (June 9–10), the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG) is bringing the industry together across webinars, International Meet-Ups, Innovation Spotlights, and global speaking engagements.

Feb 2, 2026, 09:37 by Chad L Oswald

Agentic payments are redefining eCommerce by enabling AI-powered agents to discover products, negotiate terms, and complete purchases on behalf of consumers. This shift moves commerce beyond traditional storefronts toward an agentic ecosystem where trusted digital agents interact directly with merchant systems.

Jan 22, 2026, 15:57 by Chad L Oswald

Payments MAGnified 26 is February 17–20, 2026, in San Diego, and the MAG has curated a lineup of sessions built for depth, relevance, and forward-looking insights for payments professionals across business and technology teams. This event is a forum to unpack the technologies and trends shaping the next era of payments, from AI and agentic commerce to stablecoins and alternative payment methods. Here are some key sessions you won’t want to miss.

Jan 15, 2026, 10:25 by Chad L Oswald

If payments feels harder to keep up with lately, you’re not imagining it. The pace has accelerated. New capabilities arrive before old ones are fully operational. Fraud tactics evolve faster than fraud mitigations can respond. Global expansion introduces new layers of authentication, routing, and reporting. And the most consistent question we hear from members is simple: What’s coming next, and how do we plan for it?

Jan 14, 2026, 10:49 by Chad L Oswald

Our Special Interest Groups (SIGs) have long been one of the most valued parts of MAG conferences, earning consistently high satisfaction for their open, merchant-only discussions. Since their introduction at MAG’s inaugural conference in 2008, SIGs have evolved alongside commerce itself, expanding in format, frequency, and focus.

Dec 17, 2025, 16:25 by Chad L Oswald

As this year ends, the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG) has stayed firmly focused on one thing: serving as the voice of merchants in a rapidly changing payments landscape. Through collaboration, education, and advocacy, the MAG worked alongside you to shape a payments ecosystem that better reflects merchants’ priorities and ultimately serves our shared customers. Thank you for your continued engagement and support. Your participation on committees, at conferences, in surveys, and in direct conversations with networks and regulators is what gives the MAG its strength and credibility as the merchants’ voice.

Dec 1, 2025, 09:41 by Chad L Oswald

Payments MAGnified 26 returns February 17–20, 2026, at the Gaylord Pacific in San Diego, and registration is officially open. This high-impact event is designed for payments professionals looking to go beyond general updates and immerse themselves in specialized, merchant-driven learning.

Dec 1, 2025, 09:32 by Chad L Oswald

Industry leaders call for interoperable standards, merchant inclusion, and coordinated regulation to drive the next phase of real-time payments (RTP) growth across Asia.

Nov 21, 2025, 09:33 by Chad L Oswald

As 2025 comes to a close and the federal government re-opens, there are many payments policy issues to watch carefully, including credit card interchange and network rules, debit reform, challenges to state laws regulating interchange, and penny circulation complexities.

Nov 10, 2025, 08:59 by Chad L Oswald

The payments landscape has entered a phase of rapid, overlapping change. Historically, payments evolved through infrequent, compliance-driven upgrades. Today, new capabilities and program changes are emerging from card networks, processors, and fintechs continuously, and they have direct commercial impact on authorization rates, fraud exposure, dispute workload, and customer experience. Added state and federal legislation, coupled with new regulatory frameworks, can further complicate strategic planning. Payments is no longer simply an operational necessity — it is now a lever for revenue performance and customer experience.

Oct 30, 2025, 09:32 by Chad L Oswald

As we head into Q4 and the holiday shopping season, it’s a perfect time to wrap up 2025 goals and prepare for what’s ahead in 2026.

Oct 20, 2025, 08:44 by Chad L Oswald

As we move into the final stretch of 2025, it’s inspiring to reflect on the incredible progress the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG) has made across our international markets. This year has been a defining one, marked by record-breaking participation, deeper merchant engagement, and a growing global voice for merchant payments advocacy.

Oct 9, 2025, 10:57 by Chad L Oswald

The rise of agentic commerce, and a world of artificial intelligence (AI) agents that research, recommend, and even purchase on behalf of consumers, is set to transform the payments ecosystem. For merchants, issuers, and consumers, this new paradigm raises pressing questions.

Oct 7, 2025, 09:03 by User Not Found

As an Annual Sponsor of the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG), you signed on to support the MAG community and help drive positive change and innovation in the payments industry. But are you taking full advantage of everything that comes with your sponsorship? Each of our sponsorship tiers comes with a robust list of benefits, and we don’t want you to miss a single thing. From speaking opportunities, to comp conference passes and more, here’s a quick refresher to make sure you are taking full advantage of your sponsor benefits and maximizing the return on your investment.

Sep 30, 2025, 11:51 by Leah R Collins

The Merchant Advisory Group (MAG) continues to advance the merchant voice across the payments industry, from technology upgrades to thought leadership on emerging trends. With exciting changes on the horizon, including a new database, active engagement at key industry events, and leadership in shaping conversations around agentic commerce, the MAG is driving collaboration and delivering resources that matter most to our members and sponsors.