Feds Peer Into Payments Regulatory Crystal Ball-And Get Headaches

For whatever consolation it offers, the feds overseeing payments-related regulatory issues are as apprehensive as payment facilitators. As the payments world is undergoing massive change in new and different ways of handling payments-an area where PFs lead-Justice and Treasury top brass are struggling to figure out the right ways to execute oversight.

Indeed, there's even talk of adopting a European-like saferoom approach, where startups have a limited window to explore and innovate without worrying about regulators cracking down. It's a saferoom in the sense that no idea is too risky to not be explored, even for a limited period of time. In other words, regulators are toying with the idea of whether it's sometimes best to not regulate at all.