[tc_contributor_byline cb_profile=”https://www.crunchbase.com/person/Dana-Stalder” slug=”Dana-Stalder”]

While the war to control mobile payments has been broadly covered over the last several years, it seems that the tactical warfare that has been at play is less understood by most observers.

It’s been a tale of conflict, closed door bargaining, and one with a David vs Goliath subplot and huge fortunes at stake. Many watched and waited as PayPal and Google battled the oligopoly of the Networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex), only to be surprised by a twist ending.

PayPal’s Attempts To Move Offline

For PayPal, the smartphone revolution presented the entry point into offline sales that it had been waiting for. The PayPal wallet, previously limited to use via a web browser, could potentially be in every consumer’s pocket (a la the mobile phone).  In 2010, PayPal seized on the opportunity and began a series of strategic moves to extend their online payment network into…