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Fiserv and Major Fuel Retailers Warn U.S. Stores Over Illegal Vape Sales

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Fiserv and several major fuel retailers, including BP, are warning U.S. merchants to stop selling unauthorized vaping products or face significant financial penalties, reflecting an expanding nationwide effort to disrupt the illegal vape market through the payment system rather than traditional enforcement alone.

According to notices sent to retailers, businesses that continue processing sales of unauthorized electronic nicotine products could face substantial fines, payment network investigations, or even the loss of card processing services. The warnings follow increasing pressure from a coalition of state attorneys general and local authorities seeking to curb a market estimated to generate billions of dollars annually.

Rather than focusing solely on manufacturers or distributors, regulators are increasingly targeting the financial and commercial infrastructure that enables illegal sales. Payment processors, fuel retailers, e-commerce platforms, and logistics providers are all being encouraged to prevent transactions involving products that lack authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

BP informed its service station operators that selling unauthorized vaping products may violate both payment network compliance rules and retailer agreements. Similar guidance has reportedly been issued by Marathon Petroleum and Valero, while Fiserv subsidiary CardConnect warned merchants that non-compliance could trigger corrective action.

The regulatory strategy has already expanded beyond physical retail. Shopify recently prohibited sales of unauthorized vaping products on its platform, while Mastercard has indicated it may investigate merchants that facilitate illegal vape transactions.

Only a limited number of vaping products currently have FDA authorization for legal sale in the United States, yet unauthorized brands remain widely available through convenience stores, online marketplaces, and independent retailers.

The coordinated enforcement campaign signals a broader evolution in regulatory policy: instead of relying exclusively on criminal enforcement, authorities are increasingly using payment networks and commercial partnerships as tools to restrict access to regulated products.

For retailers, the message is becoming increasingly clear—compliance is no longer simply a legal obligation but also a condition for maintaining access to essential payment infrastructure.

Neuralink Plans High-Volume Brain Implant Production by 2026, Musk Says

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Neuralink will begin “high-volume production” of its brain–computer interface implants and shift to a fully automated surgical procedure in 2026, according to a statement by Elon Musk.

Musk shared the update on the social media platform X on Wednesday. Neuralink did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

The Neuralink implant is designed to help people with neurological conditions such as spinal cord injuries by enabling direct communication between the brain and computers. The company’s first patient has demonstrated the ability to play video games, browse the internet, post on social media and control a laptop cursor using only their thoughts.

Neuralink began human trials of its brain implant technology in 2024, after resolving safety concerns raised by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The regulator had initially rejected the company’s application in 2022, citing risks related to the device and surgical process.

In September, Neuralink said that 12 people worldwide with severe paralysis had received its implants and were using them to control both digital and physical tools through neural signals. The company has positioned the technology as a potential breakthrough for restoring independence to patients with limited mobility.

The startup has also attracted strong investor interest. In June, Neuralink raised $650 million in a funding round, providing capital to scale manufacturing, expand clinical trials and advance automation plans ahead of its targeted 2026 production push.

FDA clears Apple Watch hypertension detection feature

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given Apple the green light to introduce a hypertension detection feature on its latest smartwatch models. The approval marks another step in Apple’s push to expand its footprint in digital health technology.

Apple showcased the feature during its September 9 launch event, alongside a new iPhone lineup. The feature will be available later this month on the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, Series 11, and the Ultra 2 and Ultra 3 models, with plans to roll out in 150 countries and regions, including the U.S. and EU.

Using the watch’s optical heart sensor, the system analyzes how blood vessels respond to heartbeats. Instead of taking single-time readings like a traditional cuff monitor, the algorithm works passively, reviewing data across 30-day periods. If it finds consistent signs of hypertension, the watch sends the user an alert.

Apple emphasized the tool is not meant to diagnose or capture every case of high blood pressure, but could warn an estimated one million users worldwide.

Bloomberg had earlier reported the feature would begin rolling out as soon as next week. Apple has not commented further on the timeline.