Swatch has unveiled plans to release a smartwatch in the next three months with the capacity for mobile payments, ready to go head to head with the Apple Watch after its release in April.

CoinJar has released a new mobile app for iOS with more user-friendly features aimed to speed up bitcoin payments and attract new users to the crypto-currency.

Orange has rolled out a service that will enable Orange Money subscribers who also have bank accounts with pan-African banking group Ecobank to transfer money between their respective accounts.

Last year saw a number of high-profile thefts of payment data from major companies and banks, but research shows that smaller firms are hardest hit.

British shoppers trebled their use of contactless payment cards in 2014, bringing total contactless spending to £2.32 billion.

Mobile payments platform provider Mozido has made a $2.5 million investment in HCE specialist SimplyTapp, raising the company’s Series B funding round to £10.1 million.