Mastercard

European Union institutions are highlighting the question of whether Europe should develop its own payment system, reducing reliance on US-dominated networks such as Visa and Mastercard. The topic has drawn wide attention, with officials and commentators debating European payment sovereignty, the role of the digital euro project, and how feasible it is to build independent cross-border payment infrastructure within the EU.

Mastercard, former Meta executive Sheryl Sandberg and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt are investing in a finance platform serving small businesses, according to Forbes. The backing from a major payments company and two of tech's most prominent figures signals growing investor interest in lending and financial tools aimed at small firms, an area often underserved by traditional banks.