Adyen vs Ant International

Adyen Upgrades Authenticate with AI Payment Optimization

Adyen has significantly expanded its authentication offering, Authenticate, as part of its Uplift optimization suite. The module now uses machine learning to route each transaction in real-time to the most appropriate authentication technology, replacing static 3DS rules. It integrates 3DS, Google Secure Payment Authentication, Mastercard and Visa Payment Passkeys, and pure data flows. The system dynamically decides whether authentication is needed, which method to use, and which data to send to card issuers, optimizing over 150 data fields for 3DS. It also works with Adyen's fraud management module Protect to recognize trusted buyers and minimize friction. Early customers report conversion gains: Too Good To Go saw an 11% relative increase in payment conversion, and Just Eat Takeaway.com reported a 12% higher conversion rate among qualifying visitors. Authenticate is now available worldwide for 3DS and issuer request optimization; newer methods like Google SPA and passkeys are being rolled out gradually, with live transactions already occurring in the UK and broader international rollout planned by 2027.

• Adyen upgrades Authenticate with AI-based routing and optimization.
• The platform integrates 3DS, Google SPA, Mastercard and Visa Payment Passkeys.
• Too Good To Go reports an 11% relative increase in payment conversion.

German Consumers Want AI Shopping Control

A follow-up study by Riverty and Adyen reveals that 49% of German consumers expect AI to handle a large portion of their everyday shopping within the next five years. While 67% understand the concept of AI shopping agents, sentiment is divided, with about a quarter positive and a quarter negative. Control remains key: 21% cite personal control as the main trust factor, 19% fraud protection, 14% data privacy, and 19% would never trust AI for purchases. 48% prefer AI as a shopping co-pilot for product search and recommendations, while only 16% accept fully autonomous purchases. Food and household goods (33%) are the most trusted categories, followed by subscriptions (25%) and ticketing (24%). 51% prefer invoice payment, and willingness to entrust higher budgets has decreased. Human support remains crucial for 56% of consumers.

• 49% of Germans expect AI to handle a large portion of everyday shopping within five years.
• 67% understand the principle of AI shopping agents.
• 21% cite personal control as the most important trust factor for AI shopping.

Adyen H1 2026: Net Revenue Rises Nearly 20%

Adyen reported strong first-half 2026 results: net revenue rose 19% year‑on‑year to €1.303 billion and processed payment volume increased 24% to €803.8 billion. EBITDA was €641.5 million (49% margin) and free‑cashflow conversion reached 86%. After H1 the company completed acquisitions of Talon.One and Orb and introduced new offerings including Adyen Agentic and Intelligent Money Movement to address AI-driven commerce and liquidity management. Adyen added several large international customers (Aritzia, OpenAI, Xiaomi) and GOV.UK Pay in the public sector, expanded the Toast partnership, obtained a UAE retail payments licence, and joined the x402 Foundation. For full-year 2026 Adyen expects 21–23% net revenue growth (constant FX) and plans higher 2026 capex (~7% of net revenue).

• Adyen reported net revenue of €1.303 billion in H1 2026, a 19% increase year‑on‑year (21% at constant FX).
• Payment volume processed via Adyen's platform rose 24% to €803.8 billion in H1 2026.
• EBITDA for H1 2026 was €641.5 million, corresponding to a 49% margin (50% excluding one‑off transaction costs).

Ant International News Roundup: AI-Native Solutions, Agentic Commerce, and Strategic Partnerships

Ant International announces industry-first full-stack AI-native solutions, global rollout of Agentic Mobile Protocol with Mastercard and Visa collaboration, and secures payment institution licence in Brazil.

Ant International Launches Industry's First Full-Stack AI-Native Solutions for Payment, Account, FX, Treasury and Growth Operations for Global Businesses

In an industry first, Ant International launched a full stack of AI-native solutions for payment, account, FX, treasury and growth operations for global businesses.

Visa, Mastercard, Ant International announce Know Your Agent framework for AI commerce

Visa, Mastercard and Ant International (Alipay) have announced a joint 'Know Your Agent' (KYA) framework to standardize the identification and verification of AI agents in agentic commerce. The framework aims to make AI agents identifiable and verifiable across different card, wallet and platform networks, enabling merchants and customers to assess payment plausibility. The three companies will contribute their existing protocols: Visa Trusted Agent Protocol, Mastercard's Verifiable Intent and Ant International's Agentic Mobile Protocol. The collaboration focuses on three areas: linking agents to verified operators or users, defining joint security and behavioral requirements, and continuous monitoring of agents based on identity and transaction data. No concrete standard or launch date has been announced yet.

• Visa, Mastercard and Ant International announced a joint 'Know Your Agent' (KYA) framework.
• The framework aims to make AI agents identifiable and verifiable across card, wallet and platform networks.
• Visa's Trusted Agent Protocol, Mastercard's Verifiable Intent, and Ant's Agentic Mobile Protocol are part of the initiative.