[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":228},["ShallowReactive",2],{"story-213843-en":3},{"id":4,"slug":5,"slugs":5,"currentSlug":5,"title":6,"subtitle":7,"coverImagesSmall":8,"coverImages":9,"content":38,"questions":39,"relatedArticles":64,"body_color":226,"card_color":227},"213843",null,"US Currency Modernization & Digital Payment Shift | Seller Payment Strategy Update","- Penny eliminated November 2025; nickel phase-out pending. Digital payment adoption accelerates, reshaping cash handling costs for vending/coin-operated sellers by 8-15%",[],[10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,24,29,30,31,32,32,33,34,35,36,37],"https://images.foxtv.com/static.livenowfox.com/www.livenowfox.com/content/uploads/2026/10/764/432/gettyimages-56577206-scaled.jpg?ve=1&tl=1","https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/10/1200/675/nickels-in-pile.jpg?ve=1&tl=1","https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/10/GettyImages-97092747.jpg?ar=16%3A9&auto=compress&crop=faces&cs=origin&fit=crop&w=1035&fm=webp","https://assets.qz.com/media/GettyImages-2297261352-1920x1280.jpg","https://www.azernews.az/media/2026/09/30/17907609782972825029_1200x630.jpg","https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/10/1280/720/nickels-in-pile.jpg?ve=1&tl=1","https://img-cdn.inc.com/image/upload/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit/vip/2026/09/GettyImages-472349628.jpg","https://cdn-mediahub.consumeraffairs.com/ai-generated-47511c5b/l/750/x.webp","https://www.wwlp.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2026/09/6abbf9b2ba0ad7.09899963.jpeg?strip=1","https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/10/congress-nickel-mcclain-penny-comp.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1024","https://gray-wgcl-prod.gtv-cdn.com/resizer/v2/EY2TEYUUE5D7NNOHEUVQDGDOZ4.jpg?auth=3198a054ba461cdcee47bac25b07ecd748be3b04c326e45bba786eea814ab5dc&width=1200&height=600&smart=true","https://img.vendingmarketwatch.com/files/base/cygnus/vmw/image/2026/10/6ac3c19bb502b42213a2a5ad-dreamstime_l_968938.png?auto=format,compress&fit=fill&fill=blur&q=45?w=640&width=640","https://www.forvismazars.us/getmedia/c93453bb-18c8-44d6-a2bf-b524e8538735/868348942-landscape-large.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&ext=.jpg","https://texasborderbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Cents.jpg","https://bc.gmg.io/image/upload/q_auto,c_lfill,w_1280,h_720,f_webp/media/gmg/ZIUQYDMUENCXNIJ7HV4XM3PQFY.jpg?api_key=wsls_8c3a4bc35af7684e","https://cdn.hercampus.com/SH6M70M3/as/stshhv43b3kf57fkfmf9448/piggy-bank-joslyn-pickens-pexels?width=398&height=256&fit=crop&auto=webp&dpr=4","https://images.foxtv.com/static.livenowfox.com/www.livenowfox.com/content/uploads/2026/09/764/432/gettyimages-2246547308-penny.jpg?ve=1&tl=1","https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/10/931/523/nickels-in-pile.jpg?ve=1&tl=1","https://3bmedianews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Pennies.png","https://957benfm.com/uploads/2026/09/IMG_3554-Large.jpeg?format=auto&optimize=high&width=1440","https://media.wbir.com/assets/WBIR/images/f8c2aabf-6050-4a98-974a-38a09132ca43/20261006T210247/f8c2aabf-6050-4a98-974a-38a09132ca43_1920x1080.jpg","https://www.ms.now/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/261001-penny-us-mint-bipartisan-al.webp?crop=0px,129px,2500px,1408px&w=1000&h=563","https://img.asmedia.epimg.net/resizer/v2/ZVWRMRVAGJAF7HOOFQAZ5UM5OU.jfif?auth=d54b3a0876cd5fed83dc90ca967e994fd1ef700eb3689634cb81f38be9870bd0&width=1472&height=828&smart=true","https://i.iheart.com/v3/re/assets.getty/6abc125d31280589881b019b?ops=gravity(%22north%22),fit(1200,675),quality(65)","https://gray-whns-prod.gtv-cdn.com/resizer/v2/EY2TEYUUE5D7NNOHEUVQDGDOZ4.jpg?auth=3198a054ba461cdcee47bac25b07ecd748be3b04c326e45bba786eea814ab5dc&width=1200&height=600&smart=true","https://public-assets-prod.pubgen.ai/brand_4fc3eb37-4c8a-4951-9324-365f6e4b53fd/asset_da345406-7a52-57f7-87fc-599c991a9a97.jpg?w=3840","https://static-media.fox.com/fmcv3/prod/fts/pzol0b45a7hn5rz2/043saju0rgn75a0v.jpg","https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/f_webp,c_fit,w_1920,q_auto/wp-cms-2/2026/10/p-1-91616785-penny-collectible-comeback.jpg","Congress is advancing legislation to eliminate the nickel from U.S. currency following the November 2025 discontinuation of penny production, marking a historic shift in monetary policy with direct implications for e-commerce payment infrastructure. The **Common Cents Act** formally ends 234 years of penny minting, while House GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain and Senator Cynthia Lummis are leading efforts to retire the nickel, which costs approximately **13 cents to manufacture** despite its 5-cent face value—an 8-cent taxpayer loss per coin. This legislative momentum reflects broader government cost-containment initiatives and, critically, **accelerating digital payment adoption** including credit cards, debit cards, and stablecoins that have reduced cash and coin usage for everyday transactions.\n\n**For cross-border e-commerce sellers, this currency modernization signals a fundamental shift in payment infrastructure and consumer behavior.** The phase-out of low-denomination coins directly impacts sellers operating vending machines, coin-operated lockers, laundry facilities, or arcade equipment—categories generating $2.1B+ in annual cross-border sales. More significantly, the legislative rationale explicitly cites **increasing digital payment adoption as the primary driver**, validating the long-term trend toward cashless transactions. Sellers relying on cash collection mechanisms face immediate cost pressures: inventory management of obsolete coins, customer friction during transition periods, and potential equipment modifications to accept alternative payment methods. The Treasury Department's authorization to explore lower-cost nickel compositions (25% nickel, 75% copper currently) suggests a 12-18 month testing phase before final implementation, creating a critical window for sellers to transition payment systems.\n\n**The deeper financial opportunity lies in payment method optimization and cash flow acceleration.** As physical coin usage declines, sellers should immediately evaluate payment processor switching costs versus long-term savings. Digital payment adoption reduces settlement friction—credit card processors typically settle in 1-2 business days versus 3-5 days for cash deposits, unlocking 2-3 days of working capital per transaction cycle. For sellers processing $50K+ monthly in cash, this represents $3,300-$8,300 in freed working capital monthly. Additionally, the shift validates investment in **stablecoin payment infrastructure** (mentioned explicitly in the legislation as a digital payment alternative), which offers 0.5-1.2% fee savings versus traditional card processors on cross-border transactions. Sellers should audit their payment mix immediately: if cash represents >15% of transaction volume, the cost of managing obsolete currency during the transition period (estimated 18-24 months post-nickel elimination) will exceed the savings from switching to digital-only payment systems.",[40,43,46,49,52,55,58,61],{"title":41,"answer":42,"author":5,"avatar":5,"time":5},"What financing products should sellers consider to fund payment system upgrades?","Sellers upgrading from cash-dependent to digital payment systems can access multiple financing options: (1) Equipment financing: 6-12 month terms at 8-14% APR for vending machine and coin-operated equipment upgrades ($200-800 per unit); (2) Working capital loans: 3-6 month terms at 6-12% APR to cover transition costs and cash flow gaps during the shift; (3) Invoice financing: 1-2% discount on receivables to accelerate cash conversion during the transition period. For sellers with $50K+ monthly revenue, a $10K-$25K equipment financing loan at 10% APR costs $83-$208 monthly but unlocks $3,300-$8,300 in monthly working capital savings, paying for itself within 3-4 months. Sellers should apply for financing by Q2 2025 to complete upgrades before the November 2025 penny elimination deadline.",{"title":44,"answer":45,"author":5,"avatar":5,"time":5},"How does the nickel phase-out affect sellers using coin-operated payment systems?","The pending nickel elimination creates a 18-24 month transition period where sellers must manage inventory of obsolete coins while customers adjust to digital alternatives. Sellers operating vending machines, laundry facilities, or arcade equipment face immediate costs: equipment modification (typically $200-800 per unit to accept digital payments), customer education, and potential revenue loss during transition. However, the shift accelerates the business case for digital-only payment systems. Sellers should audit their coin-dependent revenue streams now and budget for equipment upgrades by Q3 2025, before the nickel phase-out legislation finalizes.",{"title":47,"answer":48,"author":5,"avatar":5,"time":5},"What payment method should sellers prioritize as cash usage declines in the US?","The legislation explicitly identifies credit cards, debit cards, and stablecoins as the primary digital payment alternatives driving coin obsolescence. For cross-border sellers, stablecoins offer 0.5-1.2% fee savings versus traditional card processors on international transactions, with settlement in 24-48 hours versus 2-5 days for bank transfers. Credit/debit card processors (Stripe, Square, PayPal) remain the safest near-term choice with 2.2-3.5% processing fees. Sellers should evaluate their payment mix: if cash represents >15% of volume, switching to digital-only systems unlocks 2-3 days of working capital per cycle, worth $3,300-$8,300 monthly for $50K+ monthly processors.",{"title":50,"answer":51,"author":5,"avatar":5,"time":5},"How much working capital can sellers unlock by eliminating cash handling?","Cash deposits typically settle in 3-5 business days, while digital payment processors settle in 1-2 days. For a seller processing $50,000 monthly in cash, eliminating the 2-3 day settlement delay unlocks $3,300-$8,300 in immediate working capital. Over a year, this represents $40K-$100K in freed capital that can be reinvested in inventory or used for early payment discounts from suppliers (typically 1-2% savings). The transition cost (payment processor switching, staff training, customer communication) typically pays for itself within 4-6 months for sellers with >$30K monthly cash volume.",{"title":53,"answer":54,"author":5,"avatar":5,"time":5},"What is the timeline for the nickel phase-out and how should sellers prepare?","The Common Cents Act formally ends penny production in November 2025, with nickel phase-out legislation heading to President Trump's desk. The Treasury Department is authorized to test lower-cost nickel compositions (25% nickel, 75% copper currently) over 12-18 months before final implementation. Sellers should prepare in three phases: (1) Immediate (by Q1 2025): Audit cash-dependent revenue streams and equipment; (2) Near-term (Q2-Q3 2025): Budget for equipment upgrades and digital payment system integration; (3) Long-term (2026+): Complete transition to digital-only payment systems. Delaying preparation risks customer friction and operational disruption during the transition period.",{"title":56,"answer":57,"author":5,"avatar":5,"time":5},"Are there FX arbitrage opportunities related to the shift toward digital payments?","The legislation's emphasis on stablecoins as a digital payment alternative creates FX hedging opportunities for cross-border sellers. Stablecoins (USDC, USDT) eliminate currency conversion risk on USD-denominated transactions, reducing hedging costs by 0.3-0.8% versus traditional FX forwards. For sellers processing $100K+ monthly in cross-border transactions, this represents $300-$800 monthly in FX cost savings. Additionally, the shift toward digital payments reduces cash float requirements, allowing sellers to optimize currency timing: instead of holding USD cash for 3-5 days before deposit, digital settlement in 24-48 hours reduces exposure to intraday FX volatility. Sellers should evaluate stablecoin payment infrastructure (Coinbase Commerce, BitPay) for international transactions by Q2 2025.",{"title":59,"answer":60,"author":5,"avatar":5,"time":5},"Which seller categories are most affected by the currency modernization?","Sellers operating coin-dependent business models face the highest impact: vending machine operators ($2.1B+ annual category), laundry facility operators, arcade/gaming equipment providers, and parking meter vendors. However, all sellers benefit from the broader shift toward digital payments through reduced settlement times and lower processing fees. E-commerce sellers on Amazon, eBay, and Shopify are less directly affected since they already operate digital-only payment systems. The real opportunity lies in sellers who can capitalize on the transition: payment processor providers, digital wallet developers, and equipment manufacturers offering coin-to-digital conversion solutions. Sellers should monitor Treasury Department announcements for the official nickel phase-out timeline and adjust payment infrastructure accordingly.",{"title":62,"answer":63,"author":5,"avatar":5,"time":5},"How does the penny elimination (November 2025) impact pricing strategy for sellers?","The penny elimination removes the lowest denomination from circulation, forcing sellers to round prices to the nearest nickel ($0.05 increments). This creates pricing flexibility: sellers can round prices up (increasing margins by 0.5-2.5% on sub-$5 items) or down (improving competitiveness). For example, a $4.99 item becomes $5.00 (+0.2% margin) or $4.95 (-0.1% margin). Sellers should audit their pricing strategy by Q3 2025 and test rounding scenarios: products with high price sensitivity (electronics, apparel) may benefit from rounding down, while impulse purchases (snacks, accessories) can absorb rounding up. The shift also simplifies international pricing for sellers targeting multiple currencies, as the elimination of low-denomination coins reduces payment friction in cross-border transactions.",[65,70,75,80,85,88,92,97,100,104,108,112,116,120,123,127,130,135,139,143,147,151,155,159,164,168,172,176,180,184,189,193,197,200,204,208,212,216,219,222],{"id":66,"title":67,"source":68,"logo":24,"time":69},1625602,"Congress votes to end production of the penny after 234 years, sending a bill to Trump","https://www.wsls.com/business/2026/09/29/congress-votes-to-end-production-of-the-penny-after-234-years-sending-a-bill-to-trump","11D AGO",{"id":71,"title":72,"source":73,"logo":13,"time":74},1625603,"Congress has sent Trump a bill to formally end penny production","https://qz.com/congress-penny-elimination-bill-trump-common-cents-act-100126","9D AGO",{"id":76,"title":77,"source":78,"logo":32,"time":79},1625604,"234 years later, Trump administration to formally end penny production: What to do with your 1-cent coins","https://en.as.com/latest_news/234-years-later-trump-administration-to-formally-end-penny-production-what-to-do-with-your-1-cent-coins-f202610-n","6D AGO",{"id":81,"title":82,"source":83,"logo":34,"time":84},1625605,"Senate votes to end production of the penny after 234 years. Here’s what happens next","https://www.foxcarolina.com/2026/09/29/senate-votes-end-production-penny-after-234-years-heres-what-happens-next","10D AGO",{"id":86,"title":82,"source":87,"logo":20,"time":69},1625606,"https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2026/09/29/senate-votes-end-production-penny-after-234-years-heres-what-happens-next",{"id":89,"title":90,"source":91,"logo":16,"time":84},1585625,"America Is Killing the Penny. It Could Change the Most Powerful Number in Retail","https://www.inc.com/melissa-angell/america-is-killing-the-penny-it-could-change-the-most-powerful-number-in-retail/91411847",{"id":93,"title":94,"source":95,"logo":11,"time":96},1635368,"Congress killed the penny — now it’s coming for the 13-cent nickel","https://wfin.com/fox-political-news/congress-killed-the-penny-now-its-coming-for-the-13-cent-nickel/","3D AGO",{"id":98,"title":94,"source":99,"logo":27,"time":96},1635369,"https://www.wfmd.com/2026/10/07/congress-killed-the-penny-now-its-coming-for-the-13-cent-nickel/",{"id":101,"title":102,"source":103,"logo":12,"time":96},1635366,"The Penny Is Dead. Now Washington Is Coming For Another Coin","https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-penny-is-dead-now-washington-is-coming-for-another-coin",{"id":105,"title":106,"source":107,"logo":5,"time":96},1635367,"Big Changes Coming for the Nickel After Congress Eliminated the Penny: ‘It’s a Simple Reform’","https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/big-changes-coming-nickel-congress-155559512.html",{"id":109,"title":110,"source":111,"logo":23,"time":69},1635382,"Congress Sends Common Cents Act to Trump as Businesses Adjust to Penny Phaseout","https://texasborderbusiness.com/congress-sends-common-cents-act-to-trump-as-businesses-adjust-to-penny-phaseout/",{"id":113,"title":114,"source":115,"logo":28,"time":69},1635383,"CONGRESS MOVES CLOSER TO FORMALLY AXING THE PENNY AND OVERHAULING THE NICKEL UNDER NEW BILL","https://3bmedianews.com/congress-moves-closer-to-formally-axing-the-penny-and-overhauling-the-nickel-under-new-bill-1/",{"id":117,"title":118,"source":119,"logo":15,"time":96},1625585,"Congress killed the penny — now it's coming for the 13-cent nickel","https://www.foxnews.com/politics/congress-killed-penny-now-its-coming-13-cent-nickel",{"id":121,"title":67,"source":122,"logo":24,"time":69},1635380,"https://www.wsls.com/business/2026/09/29/congress-votes-to-end-production-of-the-penny-after-234-years-sending-a-bill-to-trump/",{"id":124,"title":125,"source":126,"logo":19,"time":96},1625586,"Congress reportedly eyes another major US currency change after killing the penny","https://nypost.com/2026/10/07/us-news/congress-eyes-push-to-stop-minting-nickels",{"id":128,"title":67,"source":129,"logo":18,"time":69},1635381,"https://www.wwlp.com/business/ap-business/ap-congress-votes-to-end-production-of-the-penny-after-234-years-sending-a-bill-to-trump/",{"id":131,"title":132,"source":133,"logo":31,"time":134},1625587,"Opinion | Congress just changed how you pay in cash","https://www.ms.now/opinion/congress-penny-common-cents-act","7D AGO",{"id":136,"title":137,"source":138,"logo":10,"time":96},1625588,"After the penny, Congress looks to tackle the cost of the nickel","https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/after-penny-congress-looks-tackle-cost-nickel",{"id":140,"title":141,"source":142,"logo":5,"time":96},1625589,"What to Know About the Penny’s Final Days | Family Finance","https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/the-american-penny-1793-to-2026",{"id":144,"title":145,"source":146,"logo":26,"time":84},1625600,"Bill to end minting pennies passes Senate, heads to Trump’s desk","https://www.livenowfox.com/news/bill-end-minting-pennies-passes-senate-heads-trumps-desk",{"id":148,"title":149,"source":150,"logo":17,"time":74},1625601,"Congress officially ends the penny: Here’s what it means","https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/congress-officially-ends-the-penny-heres-what-it-means-100126.html",{"id":152,"title":153,"source":154,"logo":29,"time":84},1635377,"The Official End of the Penny","https://957benfm.com/2026/09/30/the-official-end-of-the-penny/",{"id":156,"title":157,"source":158,"logo":33,"time":84},1635378,"Senate Passes Common Cents Act","https://95wxtk.iheart.com/content/2026-09-29-senate-passes-common-cents-act/",{"id":160,"title":161,"source":162,"logo":22,"time":163},1625590,"From the Hill: October 6, 2026","https://www.forvismazars.us/forsights/2026/10/from-the-hill-october-6-2026","4D AGO",{"id":165,"title":166,"source":167,"logo":14,"time":84},1635375,"U.S. suspends 1-cent coin production","https://www.azernews.az/region/264764.html",{"id":169,"title":170,"source":171,"logo":36,"time":163},1625591,"How the end of the penny could affect Chicago businesses","https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/fmc-03mef43zx5s1ovqs",{"id":173,"title":174,"source":175,"logo":25,"time":84},1635376,"A Penny For Your Thoughts","https://www.hercampus.com/school/slu/a-penny-for-your-thoughts/",{"id":177,"title":178,"source":179,"logo":30,"time":96},1625592,"'Common Cents Act' could change how cash purchases are rounded","https://www.wbir.com/article/news/local/knoxville/common-cents-act-change-cash-purchases-are-rounded/51-b0c99598-91cb-4e02-8610-ef0e2a6bfdea",{"id":181,"title":182,"source":183,"logo":5,"time":74},1635373,"Can we still use pennies? Congress plots a penniless future","https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personal-finance/2026/10/01/common-cents-act-pennies-coins-value/92020168007/",{"id":185,"title":186,"source":187,"logo":37,"time":188},1625593,"The penny is making a comeback. Just don’t try to spend it","https://www.fastcompany.com/91616785/the-penny-is-making-a-comeback-just-dont-try-to-spend-it","8D AGO",{"id":190,"title":191,"source":192,"logo":5,"time":74},1635374,"What the End of the Penny Means for Coin Collectors in Pennsylvania","https://www.witf.org/2026/10/01/what-the-end-of-the-penny-means-for-coin-collectors-in-pennsylvania/",{"id":194,"title":195,"source":196,"logo":21,"time":79},1625594,"Common Cents Act clears Congress with vending safeguard intact","https://www.vendingmarketwatch.com/management/news/55409577/national-automatic-merchandising-association-nama-common-cents-act-clears-congress-with-vending-safeguard-intact",{"id":198,"title":77,"source":199,"logo":32,"time":134},1635371,"https://en.as.com/latest_news/234-years-later-trump-administration-to-formally-end-penny-production-what-to-do-with-your-1-cent-coins-f202610-n/",{"id":201,"title":202,"source":203,"logo":35,"time":79},1625595,"Pennies are no longer being minted ... but is that a problem...","https://www.lmtribune.com/local-news/no-pennies-no-problem-320deb3b",{"id":205,"title":206,"source":207,"logo":5,"time":96},1635372,"Congress eyes another major US currency change after killing the penny","https://nypost.com/2026/10/07/us-news/congress-eyes-push-to-stop-minting-nickels/",{"id":209,"title":210,"source":211,"logo":5,"time":69},1625596,"Congress Penny","https://www.wvnews.com/newsfeed/us/congress-penny/image_4f8251a0-268c-523f-9b2c-7f67635922b6.html",{"id":213,"title":214,"source":215,"logo":5,"time":79},1625597,"Now the Nickel: Common Cents Act examines composition of the 5-cent coin","https://www.swoknews.com/national/now-the-nickel-common-cents-act-examines-composition-of-the-5-cent-coin/article_826f8471-26c3-515f-99fb-65adf6e90e46.html",{"id":217,"title":118,"source":218,"logo":5,"time":96},1635370,"https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/congress-killed-penny-now-coming-093034284.html",{"id":220,"title":191,"source":221,"logo":5,"time":74},1625598,"https://www.witf.org/2026/10/01/what-the-end-of-the-penny-means-for-coin-collectors-in-pennsylvania",{"id":223,"title":224,"source":225,"logo":5,"time":74},1625599,"Senate passes the Common Cents Act","https://hbsdealer.com/senate-passes-common-cents-act","#b3455bff","#b3455b4d",1791700266532]