White Paper - Monetizing Consumer Financial Data - Part 2
- Bryan Hahn
- Sep 17
- 2 min read
Collecting fees for the use of infrastructure is not a new concept. Genghis Khan modernized the once-dangerous Silk Road by introducing the Yam system, a relay network that guaranteed safe passage for travellers and goods. Authorized messengers carried a paiza (passport) granting access to resources and protection, with severe penalties for interference.
In medieval and early modern Europe, rulers collected tolls at mountain passes, bridges and rivers—remnants of which still stand today. Later, turnpike trusts in the United Kingdom and toll road companies in the United States institutionalised the model, laying the groundwork for modern toll roads and bridges still in use worldwide.
The lesson is straightforward: societies have long understood that infrastructure needs sustainable funding mechanisms and governance. Open Banking rails are no different—reasonable fees for premium capacity, reliability and value-added services are the contemporary equivalent of tolls that maintain the road and ensure orderly access.
Just recently Volvo and Mastercard have announced a collaboration with the North Carolina Turnpike Authority to pilot an in car toll payment program, which bring us a bit closer to the topic of our series. The full white paper - part 2 can be downloaded below.
According to a joint press release on September 16th, JPMorgan Chase (JPMC) and Plaid announced a renewed data access agreement that will continue to allow their shared customers to safely and securely access products they rely on for their financial needs and ensure continued innovation within the open banking ecosystem. It won't come as a surprise should others follow.
Stay tuned for Part 3 where we will examine pricing archetypes, partner incentives, and case studies—showing how premium reliability and analytics translate into durable revenues without undermining mandated baseline access.
