[throwaway2245]

Regulation by who?

Since the UK is now isolated (and has spent its goodwill in the EU), MasterCard may reasonably believe they have power enough to do this.

Will the UK government regulate this? A government which is scarcely managing its current responsibilities.

[bArray]

> MasterCard may reasonably believe they have power enough

> to do this.

The UK is still a large economy and there are quite a few other big players in the transactions handlers market. Given how several large companies are looking to setup micro-transactions with zero-cost transaction overheads, they might be shooting themselves in the foot.

The reason the UK should fight this is that they obviously currently have a lot of outgoings and very little income (like every Country during COVID). They will already have to raise taxes - if MasterCard are also raising their own form of tax this will even more greatly increase living costs.

> A government which is scarcely managing its current

> responsibilities.

I don't want to get into politics on HN.

[throwaway2245]

> I don't want to get into politics on HN.

Your original suggestion of regulation is politics. It's a political decision. When you say "the UK should fight this", you mean: "UK politicians should actively decide to act".

MasterCard making this move forces the UK government to show their hand - and it's not that MasterCard has made this decision without that in mind. It indicates that MasterCard thinks* there's a good chance UK government won't do anything.

(*or knows - they spend plenty on lobbying and will have spoken directly to decision-makers)