What Payments Leaders Are Really Preparing for in 2026

Where is the payments industry really headed as we move toward 2026? In this episode of the Merchant Sales Podcast, James Shepherd sits down with Greg Myers, host of the Leaders in Payments podcast, to break down the biggest trends payments leaders are watching—from AI and agentic commerce to embedded finance and evolving ISO strategies. The conversation cuts through the hype to focus on what’s actually changing, what’s moving slower than expected, and where merchant sales agents still have a major advantage. The episode also features a Today in Payments segment with Patti Murphy, covering key industry data and headlines, including ACH growth, crypto adoption, system outages, and emerging payment risks. If you’re an agent or ISO looking to stay ahead of where payments, software, and finance are converging, this episode delivers the insight you need.