Visa and Currencycloud, an enterprise-class payments platform, announced on Tuesday (June 4) a partnership to drive more innovation in cross-border and travel payments.
In a press release, the two companies said the agreement meshes with Visa’s stated goal to make secure digital payments possible at home and when people are traveling. Under the agreement, Visa’s customers and banking and FinTech partners will have the option to use Currencycloud’s cloud-based payments platform to provide in-demand services, including multi-currency wallets and real-time notifications on foreign exchange transactions. It will also offer customers the ability to better manage travel abroad via improved visibility and control of money.
“Today, one in five payments is a cross-border transaction, whether that’s from a consumer traveling internationally or buying from an international seller online,” Charlotte Hogg, CEO, Europe, Visa. “Our goal is to continue to help our clients meet this increasing demand for slick, simple and more convenient cross-border payments and make it easier for Visa cardholders to manage their money when traveling. Our partnership with Currencycloud will empower our clients to do just that by offering an innovative, competitive, digital-first solution that ultimately gives consumers and cardholders more control over digital payments – at home and abroad.”
According to Visa and Currencycloud, the market for international payments is in growth mode, with cross-border eCommerce expected to reach $900 billion in value by 2020. It will account for more than a fifth of the global eCommerce market. The two said they will focus on providing solutions that remove barriers to how, where and when consumers can pay internationally.
The initial focus of the partnership is on Currencycloud’s platform, which enables pre-purchase of travel currency and/or real-time notifications of FX rates when cardholders use Visa outside their home country.
“Currencycloud exists to take the complexity out of international payments,” stated Mike Laven, CEO of Currencycloud. “Banks are under pressure to provide better user experiences in an increasingly connected world, and our partnership with Visa will enable us to deliver that on a grand scale. Our leading APIs give control and visibility of international transactions; that power, combined with the reach of Visa, will enable a new generation of consumers to benefit from a better experience when spending abroad.”
As the calendar flips to March, college basketball fans are gearing up for another exhilarating NCAA tournament.
In the future, artificial intelligence and cutting-edge technology could change March Madness as we know it. Let’s break down how the digital revolution could transform the Big Dance.
AI is already being used to predict brackets. Gone are the days of agonizing over your picks based on team mascots or your alma mater’s colors. In 2025, AI-powered bracketology is the name of the game. Fans can use algorithms that crunch data points, from player statistics to historical upset probabilities, all at the click of a button.
But beware, bracket enthusiasts. While these AI tools promise to boost your chances of winning the office pool, they can’t account for the quintessential March Madness chaos. You know, the instance where AI can predict everything except the inevitable Cinderella story that ruins everyone’s bracket by the second round.
In a move that would be sure to ruffle some feathers, AI-generated commentary could be used for games. Digital play-by-play announcers would never need a bathroom break and potentially be able to recall obscure statistics from the 1957 tournament in an instant.
Can’t make it to the Final Four? Ten years from now, games might happen in a digital stadium, Forbes reported. With virtual reality (VR) technology, fans could experience the thrill of courtside seats from the comfort of their living rooms.
“AI-generated athletes, inspired by the procedural generation techniques of video game developers … could perform in virtual arenas, exhibiting strategies and plays conceived by advanced predictive algorithms,” Forbes reported.
Just be careful not to get too caught up in the moment with streaming. Wouldn’t want to have reports of fans attempting to rush the virtual court after buzzer-beaters have led to an uptick in living room injuries — especially when that flat screen falls over.
While human coaches still call the shots, AI assistants could one day be indispensable members of the coaching staff. In the next five years, these digital strategists could analyze opponent tendencies and more.
“Building on existing technologies … AI will provide coaches and players with intricate, multi-dimensional data patterns that dramatically enhance both offensive and defensive strategies,” Forbes reported. “These advanced algorithms will analyze vast datasets from numerous games to uncover hidden trends, strategic insights, and predictive cues about opponents’ potential moves.”
Say goodbye to controversial calls. Advanced computer vision systems could assist referees in making split-second decisions, from determining if a player’s toe was on the line for a three-pointer to detecting the slightest touch on a blocked shot.
The Hawk-Eye system is already used in tennis and cricket to help determine fouls, Viso.AI reported.
“This system uses a network of cameras to track the ball and then compares the trajectory of the ball to a virtual model of the playing surface,” the report said. “This system is accurate within a few millimeters, which is much more accurate than the human eye.”
As we dive into March Madness 2025, it’s clear that technology will change the way we experience the tournament. From AI-powered brackets to virtual reality arenas, the digital revolution is coming for basketball. But at its core, the magic of March Madness remains the thrill of competition, the joy of unexpected victories, and the heartbreak of last-second defeats.
So, whether you’re relying on an AI to pick your bracket this year, or screaming at a holographic referee in the future, remember to enjoy the ride. In the unpredictable world of college basketball, sometimes the best strategy is to embrace the madness — digital or otherwise.
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