Watercooler - 2026

[Changaco]

This is Liberapay's "what's up?" thread. Previous: #659.

[Changaco]

I've paid out €1651.20 from Liberapay's Stripe account to reimburse myself for the expenses of 2025 (https://liberapay.com/LiberapayOrg/invoices).

[Changaco]

I've just noticed that Liberapay's alternative Mastodon account is gone. Apparently it was deleted automatically due to inactivity. I didn't receive any email warning.

[Changaco]

For some reason the PostgreSQL used in production was stuck a couple of minor versions behind the latest release. I initiated a manual upgrade in response to a notification from AWS. There was a bit of downtime, but it was less than a minute.

[Changaco]

Chad Whitacre, the creator of the project which Liberapay was a fork of, has quit his job at Sentry and is going offline: https://openpath.quest/2026/i-am-retiring-from-tech-to-live-offline/

Earlier this year he released a beautiful one-hour documentary about open source, partly filmed in Ukraine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOn-L3tGKw0

[Changaco]

Instant currency conversion, a new Stripe feature announced last year (#659 (comment)), has landed. This has enabled me to eliminate the biggest negative balance of Liberapay's Stripe account. Three much smaller negative balances remain, because the currencies aren't supported by the conversion feature.

[Changaco]

Email from Stripe:

Updates to Stripe pricing for your accounts

We're writing about upcoming Stripe pricing changes for your connected accounts. Most of your connected accounts will only be affected by one of these changes, and we wanted to let you know before we start sharing relevant updates with them on 29 July 2026.

Radar

As fraud on the internet has accelerated over the past few years, we've been rapidly adding to Radar, our fraud prevention product. Last year, we blocked $110B in fraud and shipped dozens of new features. We're now introducing new Radar plans (Lite, Standard, Plus and Pro), expanding coverage across more transaction types and updating pricing.

New Radar Plans

The version of Radar most of your standard connected accounts have been using is closest to Radar Standard, and they've been receiving it for free. Starting 22 January 2027, accounts with standard payments pricing will be charged €0.05 per screened transaction for Radar Standard, which includes broad protection across all payment methods powered by Stripe's industry-leading AI models trained on more than $1.9T in annual payment volume.

Accounts on standard payments pricing that are currently using Radar for Fraud Teams will be automatically upgraded to Radar Plus. Starting 22 January 2027, they will be charged €0.07 per screened transaction.

If you or your connected accounts prefer to get fraud protection for card payments for free, you can downgrade to Radar Lite in one click in the Dashboard starting 29 July 2026.

Expanded coverage

Radar now blocks high-risk transactions across all Stripe-supported payment methods, including digital wallets, bank debits, and Buy Now, Pay Later options. Starting 21 October 2026, Radar pricing will apply to all payment methods, not just cards.

Radar now also protects all transactions in a subscription. Starting 21 October 2026, Radar pricing will apply to all transactions in a subscription, not just the first payment. If your connected accounts prefer not to screen subsequent recurring transactions, that change can be made in the Dashboard.

You can learn more about all the Radar changes here.

Multi-currency settlement

Multi-currency settlement (MCS) allows businesses to settle payments in multiple currencies instead of converting them into their account's default currency, avoiding unnecessary foreign exchange fees. Starting 21 October 2026, MCS fees for US businesses on standard payments pricing will decrease from 1% to 0.5%, and fees for EEA/UK/CH businesses on standard payments pricing will be standardised at 1%. MCS fees will now be applied at the time of settlement instead of at payout. Learn more.

Card payments in the UK and EEA

Starting 21 October 2026, we're updating pricing for premium and international card transactions for connected accounts on sticker pricing in the UK and EEA. Premium cards will increase from 1.9% + €0.25 to 2.8% + €0.25 and international cards will decrease from 3.25% + €0.25 to 3.15% + €0.25. These pricing changes will also apply to Link. There's no change to pricing for standard domestic cards, which make up the majority of volume for most businesses. Learn more.

Card payments in Australia

The Reserve Bank of Australia is reducing caps on interchange fees for card transactions, so we're lowering pricing for eligible Australian connected accounts on sticker pricing. Starting 1 October 2026, the price for domestic cards will decrease from 1.70% + A$0.30 to 1.65% + A$0.30 for online payments, and from 1.70% + A$0.10 to 1.65% + A$0.10 for in-person payments. Starting 1 April 2027, the price for international cards will decrease from 3.50% + A$0.30 to 2.80% + A$0.30 for online payments and from 3.50% + A$0.10 to 2.80% + A$0.10 for in-person payments. These pricing changes will also apply to Link. Learn more.

What happens next

We'll automatically email connected accounts about the price changes that are relevant to them on 29 July. The relevant changes will also apply to direct processing you have with Stripe. No action is required from you.

If you have any questions or would like to manage or close your account, please visit our support site.

– The Stripe team

[jorgesumle]

Patreon lays off 20% of its workforce

source: https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/23/patreon-lays-off-off-20-of-its-workforce/

[Changaco]

PayPal in Talks to Sell Itself to Stripe, Private-Equity Firm Advent

[Changaco]

An Italian nonprofit which used Liberapay to collect donations has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States. Stripe and PayPal have blocked the accounts of that nonprofit, so making a donation to it through Liberapay has become de facto impossible.

[Changaco]

Starting tomorrow, invoices sent to businesses and some other organizations in France must be sent electronically through government-approved platforms. I've signed up to https://www.superpdp.tech/ for myself and added Liberapay to the same account.