How U.S. Payments Really Work

A comprehensive builder's guide to U.S. payment systems. From ACH to modern crypto rails, everything you need to understand, build, and scale payment systems in the United States.

🏦 ACH & Batch ⚡ Real-Time 💳 Card Networks 🚀 Modern Rails

🏦 ACH & Batch Processing

Master the fundamentals of Automated Clearing House operations, from basic concepts to advanced compliance and operational challenges.

Featured Articles:

How Money Moves In And Out Of Your Bank Account? (Aug 13, 2025)
NACHA File Demystified: Cracking the 94-Character Code (Aug 15, 2025)
SEC Codes in ACH: Authorization, Compliance, and How to Not Get Burned (Aug 16, 2025)

⚡ Real-Time Payments

Explore instant payment systems including wire transfers, RTP, FedNow, and other real-time settlement networks.

Featured Articles:

Wire Transfers Explained: Fast, Final, and Expensive (Aug 14, 2025)
RTP: Real-Time Payments With Real-World Bottlenecks (Sep 05, 2025)
FedNow: Built by the Fed. Moving Like the Fed (Sep 10, 2025) Coming Soon

💳 Card Networks & Processing

Dive into credit card processing, interchange fees, 3D Secure, and the complex world of card network operations.

Featured Articles:

Credit Cards: Swipe, Smile, Settle Later (Aug 27, 2025)
Money Flows, Chargebacks, and Rails: A Leader's Guide to 3-D Secure (Aug 29, 2025)
Why Credit Card Interchange Fees Differ at Authorization vs Settlement (and How to Reconcile Them) (Sep 01, 2025)

🚀 Modern Payment Rails

Explore digital wallets, P2P networks, crypto payments, and emerging technologies shaping the future of money movement.

Featured Articles:

Wallets & P2P Networks: Venmo, Cash App, PayPal, Zelle (Sep 03, 2025)
Stablecoins & Crypto Rails: The New Instant Settlement Layer? (Mar 04, 2026) Coming Soon