TikTok Signs Deal to Spin Off U.S. Business

PayPal has submitted applications to establish "PayPal Bank," an industrial loan company. If approved, this would allow PayPal to offer interest-bearing savings accounts and, more importantly, lend directly to U.S. small businesses without relying on third-party partners, potentially opening a new lifeline of capital for e-commerce merchants. → via PayPal

Shopify has rolled out a redesigned dispute evidence form featuring optional AI tools. The update allows merchants to use AI to strengthen their cases by automatically combining submitted evidence with relevant Shopify data. The goal is to streamline the painful chargeback process and improve win rates for sellers. → via Shopify Changelog

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has introduced the "Buy Now, Pay Later Protection Act." The legislation aims to amend the Truth in Lending Act to extend credit card-style protections to BNPL loans. With over $1 billion spent via BNPL this holiday, the bill seeks to mandate clear fee disclosures and standardized dispute rights to prevent predatory practices. → via Gillibrand Senate Press

The shift to online grocery is accelerating. Sales reached $12.3 billion in November, a 28% jump year-over-year. This marks the fifth consecutive month sales have exceeded $10 billion, driven by higher order frequency and a consumer base that now views digital grocery as a habit, not a luxury. → via Digital Commerce 360

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is aggressively expanding its "Just Walk Out" technology beyond retail stores to stadiums, hospitals, and airports. By shifting to new camera "lanes" instead of full-store sensor setups, AWS has cut deployment costs by roughly 50%, making the autonomous checkout tech viable for a much wider range of venues. → via AWS

TikTok has reportedly signed a deal to spin off its U.S. assets into a new joint venture. The agreement would give American investors, including Oracle and Silver Lake, a 50% ownership stake. This move is a direct response to the divestiture law, aiming to keep the app operational in the U.S. and securing the future of the booming TikTok Shop economy. → via CNN Business

Walmart is making a massive play for the circular economy. Starting December 15, the retailer opened its "Pre-Owned" program to all Marketplace sellers. This allows merchants to sell used, open-box, and refurbished items across electronics and accessories, directly challenging eBay and Amazon Renewed. → via GeekSeller

TikTok Shop has introduced digital gift cards, a strategic move to lock in spend and facilitate easier gifting. By allowing users to buy credit for friends, TikTok is directly challenging the dominance of Amazon and eBay gift cards and further integrating commerce into its social ecosystem. → via TechCrunch

The era of "buy it, try it, return it for free" is ending. Major retailers including TJ Maxx, J.Crew, and Amazon are implementing stricter return policies, including shorter windows and potential restocking fees. As reverse logistics costs soar, brands are prioritizing profitability over lenient customer service. → via LinkedIn

Growth beyond Amazon is the goal. Losing control doesn’t have to be the cost. In this post, we’ll share practical ways ecommerce sellers can expand beyond Amazon while keeping their operations stable, predictable, and under control.

2025 didn’t break ecommerce. It exposed the limits of old playbooks and made it clear which sellers had the systems and discipline to adapt. In a year-end conversation with Liran Hirschkorn, Co-founder and CEO of Incrementum Digital, we break down what separates resilient sellers from reactive ones, and the strategies that will matter most going into 2026.

Consumers feel terrible, but they're spending anyway. Despite sentiment hitting a 3-year low, nearly 203 million shoppers turned out for the holiday season—the highest in nine years. The data suggests a decoupling of "economic vibes" from actual purchasing power. → via CNBC

A sobering new study from Johns Hopkins University links financial stress with mental health. Adults with depression or anxiety are nearly twice as likely to use Buy Now, Pay Later services. The data highlights a potential predatory risk in the BNPL model, which often targets financially vulnerable consumers. → via Payments Dive

Reports of the mall's death have been exaggerated. While overall foot traffic dipped slightly, premier destinations like the Mall of America saw an 8.5% increase in Black Friday traffic. The split suggests a "flight to quality" where experiential retail centers thrive while generic malls struggle. → via Modern Retail

Talk about aggressive tactics. PDD Holdings (parent company of Temu) has reportedly fired government relations staff after they got into a physical fistfight with regulators. It’s a bizarre and violent twist in the ongoing scrutiny of the Chinese e-commerce giant's operations. → via Caixin Global