Ep. 70 - Global Merchants, Local Problems — Navigating Payments in 2026 with the Merchant Risk Council (MRC)
In this episode, hosts Grant Evans and Justin Hanna are joined by Julie Fergerson, CEO of the Merchant Risk Council, for a deep dive into the challenges merchants are facing across payments, fraud, regulation, and AI in 2026 — and why collaboration across the ecosystem matters more than ever.
Julie explains what the Merchant Risk Council actually does, who it represents, and why it has become one of the most important communities for merchants navigating an increasingly fragmented global payments landscape. The conversation explores the differences between US and European merchant challenges, where payment providers still fall short, and why many merchants feel the industry is often built more for providers than for the businesses actually accepting payments.
They also unpack the growing role of AI across fraud prevention, optimisation, and commerce, discussing where merchants are already seeing real-world value — and where the industry may be underestimating the risks. Along the way, the discussion touches on collaboration, scheme pressure, VAMP, merchant education, and why stronger relationships between merchants, acquirers, and providers are becoming increasingly critical.
Plus, Julie steps up for The Payments Shed’s legendary Shelf of Shame — calling out one payments trend and industry cliché she’d happily banish forever.
Enjoyed the conversation? Keep learning with 15% off all MRC eLearning courses until 1 June using code: PAYMENTSHED15
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The Payments Shed Podcast is headline sponsored by ISX Financial.
ISX Financial, delivers a unified ecosystem with multi-currency accounts, online payments, real-time UK and EU transfers and global mass payouts. Within that platform, PaidBy® provides Pay by Bank with real-time settlement notifications, automated reconciliation and integrated refund management. One partner, one integration — helping your business transact with confidence. Learn more at www.isx.financial [http://www.isx.financial/]
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The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Cyclops.
Cyclops is a crypto and stablecoin infrastructure platform for payments companies, enabling PSPs, acquirers and processors to offer crypto acceptance, stablecoin settlement and payouts without building their own blockchain stack. It provides a unified solution for pay ins, payouts and fiat to digital asset conversion, with simple API or low code integration. Built specifically for the payments ecosystem, Cyclops focuses on making stablecoins practical, scalable and commercially viable.
Learn more at - https://www.cyclops.io/
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The Payments Shed Podcast is supported by PCN.
PCN is a boutique recruitment agency rooted in Amsterdam, driven by a singular mission: connecting top talent with industry leaders. PCN specialises in five core pillars — Fintech, Cybersecurity, SaaS, E-Commerce, and Salesforce — backed by a global network across borders.https://teampcn.com/ [https://teampcn.com/]
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Disclaimer. Any views or opinions referenced in this podcast episode are our own, or those of our respective guests, and they do not represent any views, opinions, or statements from our respective employers, or those of our guests. Additionally, any views expressed here are not intended as investment, legal, tax, or financial advice.
