Welcome to What’s Trending In Payments – a weekly look at the most popular, irreverent and important stories the payments industry had to offer over the past five days. Which companies grabbed the most headlines – for better or for worse – this week, and which topics have the industry abuzz with intrigue, laughter or disbelief? Featuring breakdowns from the PYMNTS.com staff and commentary by Karen Webster, here’s our take on what all of you payments peeps thought.
Why It’s Hot The TurboTax and Quicken maker is going to make a small business owner’s dream come true with a contest that will showcase the winner’s company in a Super Bowl ad. Up for grabs is a $4 million production budget and a chance to stand among the champions of T.V. advertising.
Karen’s Commentary – That’s one way to take the sting out of paying taxes this year.
PYMNTS Commentary – Hopefully we won’t see another “Whassup?” clone .
Top Tweet – @kabster728 – Um, wow. I was just kinda moved by a TurboTax commercial.
One Student’s Dollar-Bill Protest
Why It’s Hot In a bid to protest the University of Utah’s decision to raise tuition rates, Luq Mughal, an electrical engineering student, chose to pay his entire $2,000 bill in singles. The school recently raised tuition rates by 5 percent in order to offer staff a cost-of-living raise. Unconfirmed sources say Mughal used a briefcase to carry the hefty amount of bills.
Karen’s Commentary – And they say cash is dead.
PYMNTS Commentary – At least he saved them card processing fees.
Top Tweet – TFMSchaefferBMW – Like a true boss, this U. of Utah student paid his tuition with a briefcase full of $1 bills.
Jamaican Bobsled Team Fundraiser Draws DogeCoin Support
Why It’s Hot In what’s shaping up to be a possible sequel to the hit sports film Cool Runnings, the Jamaican bobsled team has been raising money to attend this year’s Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The community behind DogeCoin, a cousin of Bitcoin based on a popular internet meme, contributed nearly $30,000 worth of donations in the form of the virtual currency.
Karen’s Commentary – So maybe the only way to get people to donate was to keep donor identities a secret via a Bitcoin knockoff.
PYMNTS Commentary – For the record, one DogeCoin is worth approximately 0.00000215 Bitcoin.
Top Tweet – @ellingson – We live in a future where meme branded money helps out the Jamaican bobsled team. I approve. Keep your foot on the weird-pedal. #dogecoin.
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