Why It Matters
The payments industry faces a critical juncture as Congress establishes rules for digital assets, fraud prevention, and financial data access. The Electronic Transactions Association (ETA) is lobbying to ensure its members—payment processors and fintech firms—secure favorable regulatory outcomes. With stablecoin regulation now law and the TRAPS Act advancing for payment scam prevention, the ETA’s quarterly investment signals how much is at stake: market access, compliance costs, and competitive positioning.
By the Numbers
The ETA spent $550,000 on in-house lobbying during final quarter 2025. The organization has filed 53 in-house disclosures totaling over $15.16 million since August 2013.
The lobbying team comprises Scott Everett Talbott and Patrick Russell. Talbott, who joined in April 2014, has overseen nearly $14.8 million in spending across 48 disclosures. Russell joined in 2025, bringing experience from ACA International and the Surety and Fidelity Association of America.
The Agenda
The Electronic Transactions Association is lobbying on five core areas shaping digital payments and fintech.
Primary focus is banking and financial services, targeting digital assets, mobile payments, open banking frameworks, and regulatory reform. Key priorities include the TRAPS Act, which advanced with bipartisan support to combat AI-powered payment scams, cybersecurity information sharing bills, and targeting retirees.
The ETA also tracks homeland security and cybersecurity initiatives affecting payment infrastructure, small business access to digital payments, and budget and appropriations activity.
Broader Context
The GENIUS Act, signed in July 2025, established federal frameworks for payment stablecoins, threatening traditional bank fee income while creating fintech opportunities.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is reshaping practices through open banking rules, while Treasury’s shift to 100 percent electronic payments effective October 1, 2025, creates both opportunities and risks for processors.
Between The Lines
The TRAPS Act has gained significant bipartisan momentum with Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Mark Warner (D-VA) and Representatives Jim Himes (D-CT) and Zach Nunn (R-IA) as champions. The House sponsors explicitly list ETA as a key supporter.
On digital assets, key bills like the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (H.R. 3633) are advancing regulatory clarity. ETA CEO Jodie Kelley testified as a key witness at a January 2026 House subcommittee hearing on fintech innovations.
Federal payment system security has emerged as bipartisan priority, with Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and others raising Treasury system vulnerability alarms.
Competitive Landscape
The ETA operates within a crowded lobbying arena. Block Inc. filed three reports totaling $1.26 million in 2025, focusing on digital assets and AI. Worldpay Inc. filed four reports totaling $400,000 in 2024-2025, targeting stablecoin bills.
The Bottom Line
The ETA’s fourth quarter 2025 spending reflects strategic positioning as Congress reshapes payments policy. With direct legislative support for the TRAPS Act, the organization demonstrates effective advocacy in a competitive landscape dominated by larger fintech players.
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