Germany Pays Digitally – An Initiative with Potential

Germany Pays Digitally – An Initiative with Potential

Posted on 03.04.2025 By Simon Lammerding

Digital payment methods have long been a part of everyday life for many consumers in Germany – and yet, the retail sector, particularly among micro-businesses, is still noticeably lagging behind when it comes to digital payments. While there has been significant progress in recent years – I was recently finally able to pay for my…

How phishing and weak security mechanisms are challenging the market

How phishing and weak security mechanisms are challenging the market

Posted on 31.01.2025 By Tim Danker

A personal case of fraud as a starting point Last year around Black Friday, I myself became a victim of fraud. It all started when I was sitting on the sofa in the evening. Suddenly, around 100 emails poured into my inbox on my cell phone within a few seconds. When I looked at them,…

BRICS Pay: Geopolitical power shift in international payment transactions?

BRICS Pay: Geopolitical power shift in international payment transactions?

Posted on 25.10.2024 By Til Steng

While the introduction of the digital euro will not take place until 2028 at the earliest, the announcement regarding the introduction of another digital currency is making waves. This refers to BRICS Pay, a joint effort by the BRICS countries, which were founded in 2009 and 2010 from (B)razil, (R)ussia, (I)ndia, (C)hina and (S)outh Africa.…

AI phishing: new threats for financial institutions and merchants

AI phishing: new threats for financial institutions and merchants

Posted on 05.07.2024 By Tim Danker

In principle, phishing has been around since the advent of online banking. For many of us, it has been part of everyday life for years. It is one of the most common forms of internet fraud in which criminals attempt to steal sensitive information such as passwords or credit card details. However, while it used…

The evolution of payment in football stadiums: a look from the 2006 World Cup to Euro 2024

The evolution of payment in football stadiums: a look from the 2006 World Cup to Euro 2024

Posted on 12.06.2024 By Simon Lammerding

Just before the start of UEFA EURO 2024, we take a look at the development of payment in football stadiums: from cash and long waiting times at the 2006 World Cup to contactless payment and lightning-fast checkouts at EURO 2024. A fascinating comparison shows how digitalization has revolutionized the stadium experience for fans. Read all…

Digital Euro

Digital Euro

Posted on 14.04.2024 By David Kruse

Will the digital euro offer added value for banks and the German retail sector? Typically, many of the topics that industry experts consider exciting are of absolutely no interest to the majority of society. This is particularly the case when it comes to nerdy payment topics that have no overlap with the banking industry. However,…

Banking as a Service – embedded banking, regulation and how partners become competitors

Banking as a Service – embedded banking, regulation and how partners become competitors

Posted on 27.10.2023 By David Kruse

Anyone who has looked into private financial investments in recent months has often become aware of various deposit offers with attractive interest rates. High-risk investment opportunities that can be classified as “high risk & high return”, such as in cryptocurrencies, are a thing of the past, as the current trading volume within Germany shows. Consequently,…

Worldcoin – a cryptocurrency? Or the holy grail of authentication?

Worldcoin – a cryptocurrency? Or the holy grail of authentication?

Posted on 13.09.2023 By Tim Danker

It’s the next big thing. Or at least it is supposed to be: Worldcoin – the next stroke of genius by Sam Altman, the brain behind ChatGPT. But what exactly is Worldcoin? Just another digital currency? Or a tool that will soon influence our business processes and many other aspects of our everyday lives? You…

How EPI (despite all scepticism) could become a success after all

How EPI (despite all scepticism) could become a success after all

Posted on 29.06.2023 By Tim Danker

The European Payments Initiative has only just started – and yet there is already a “EPI is doomed to fail” mood in the market. The scepticism is certainly understandable. After all, the plan for a European payment system raises countless questions. For example: Why does the customer need another payment procedure? Or: What motivation should…

OSTHAVEN Practice: Optimising the eCommerce payment infrastructure for an omnichannel future

OSTHAVEN Practice: Optimising the eCommerce payment infrastructure for an omnichannel future

Posted on 14.04.2023 By Simon Lammerding

Payment processing in e-commerce is subject to constant change. Merchants are repeatedly confronted with the question of how to position themselves properly for the future. OSTHAVEN’s experts are therefore often called upon for the market analysis and tendering of payment services. Today we give you an insight into one of our exciting projects, which is…