"Swipe fees are the engine that powers the whole credit card rewards game"

"Between 2010 and 2016, the nations largest card issuer's more than doubled their spending on rewards, according to one study published last year. Most of those perks were funded through increases in the fees the banks and card networks charge the retailers that accept credit cards."

"All told, the four major credit card networks collect more than $80 billion per year from merchant fees"