Google Wallet Merges Identity and Payment in EU Push — But the Hard Part Is Getting Everyone Else On Board (opens in new tab)

Google announced at Money20/20 Europe that Google Wallet will bring digital ID passes to select EU countries this summer, while a new Direct Checkout feature and upgraded authentication system aim to eliminate one-time passcodes from online purchases. The announcements signal Google's ambition to make identity and payment inseparable — a bet that depends entirely on whether governments, banks, and retailers follow.