Key Takeaways
What this is about
Link by Stripe is updating its Consumer Terms of Service and its Privacy Policy.
When it takes effect
The change is scheduled for January 16, 2026, which is still ahead as of December 13, 2025.
Two themes stand out
One theme is new payment method partners, including buy now, pay later and crypto wallets. Another theme is using Link inside shopping flows run by an Artificial Intelligence (AI) agent.
What stays in the user’s hands
People can review the public terms and privacy pages, and they can remove saved information or delete a Link account.
Story & Details
A wallet built for fast checkout
Link is a digital wallet built by Stripe. It stores payment details for quicker checkout on many sites, and it keeps pointing to the same promise: speed, security, and choice.
An annual policy refresh, now with new tools in mind
The updated Consumer Terms of Service are set to apply on January 16, 2026. The language around the update is simple: new features exist, so the rules and privacy text are being refreshed to match.
New partners, new data handoffs
One change is about extra payment options. If someone adds a “buy now, pay later” method or a crypto wallet, Link may ask that person to share data with the payment service provider behind that option. The reason is practical: the provider needs some information to deliver the service.
Link inside AI shopping
Another change is about “agentic” checkout. In plain terms, this is the idea that an AI agent can help a person buy something inside an AI platform. In this model, the person still chooses what to buy, and a checkout flow can happen without jumping to many separate pages.
OpenAI’s public description of Instant Checkout in ChatGPT places the idea in a wider frame: the chat is not only for shopping advice, but can also carry the steps of purchase, while merchants still run the order, payment, and fulfillment. Stripe is named as a partner in building the protocol behind that flow.
A brief Dutch moment for everyday tech talk
Dutch phrases can be short and practical in settings like support, billing, and account changes in the Netherlands (Europe).
A simple whole-sentence meaning comes first: “Kunt u mij helpen?” is a polite way to ask for help.
Now the word-by-word view: “Kunt” signals polite ability, “u” is a formal “you,” “mij” is “me,” and “helpen” is “help.” The tone is polite and common in customer support.
A natural close cousin is “Kun je mij helpen?” It is the same idea, but less formal. “Je” is an informal “you,” used with friends or in relaxed settings.
A second useful line: “Ik wil mijn gegevens verwijderen.” It is used to say a person wants their data removed.
Word-by-word: “Ik” is “I,” “wil” is “want,” “mijn” is “my,” “gegevens” is “data,” and “verwijderen” is “remove.” The tone is neutral. A close variant is “Ik wil mijn account verwijderen.” It swaps “gegevens” for “account.”
Where the company sits in Europe
The consumer-facing Link terms point to Stripe as the provider, and the public corporate identity for Stripe Payments Europe, Limited is in Dublin, Ireland (Europe). This matters because privacy language and legal entities often depend on where a person lives.
Conclusions
Link’s January 2026 update reads like a signpost for two currents moving at once: more payment partners in one wallet, and more shopping that can happen inside an AI agent flow. For people who use Link, the core question is simple: which options feel useful, and which data sharing choices feel worth it.
Selected References
[1] https://link.com/terms
[2] https://link.com/privacy/preview
[3] https://support.link.com/questions/why-did-i-receive-an-email-about-links-policy-updates
[4] https://support.link.com/questions/instant-checkout-in-chatgpt
[5] https://openai.com/index/buy-it-in-chatgpt/
[6] https://help.openai.com/en/articles/12440090-instant-checkout-buy-directly-from-merchants-through-chatgpt
[7] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6qcZdtIv54
Appendix
Agentic Commerce Protocol: An OpenAI-and-Stripe described standard that defines how an AI agent and a business can pass the needed information to complete a purchase.
Agentic payments: A purchase flow where an AI agent helps carry out steps of checkout, while the person remains the decision-maker.
AI agent: Software that can take actions on a user’s behalf inside a system, such as helping with purchase steps.
Buy now, pay later: A payment option that splits a purchase into installments, typically offered by a separate payment provider.
Consumer Terms of Service: The rules that explain how a consumer may use a service and what the service provider expects from the user.
Crypto wallet: A tool used to hold and use cryptographic keys that enable cryptocurrency-related transactions.
Instant Checkout: A shopping flow that lets eligible purchases complete inside an interface, with fewer redirects.
Link: A Stripe product that stores payment details to speed up checkout and can support new payment options.
Privacy Policy: A public document that explains what personal data is collected, how it is used, and what choices people have.
Stripe: A payments company that provides infrastructure for online transactions and related services.
Terms of Service: A contract-style set of rules that governs use of a service.
Verified domain: A domain name that is confirmed to belong to a real organization, used as a basic trust check.
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 