Ad tech’s economy depends on float — and it’s getting pricier to keep it moving

October 28, 2025 Presented by The long tail of payments isn't new. It’s how the machine has always worked. Advertisers push out payment terms. Agencies pass the delay downstream. From there, ad tech vendors draw on credit lines to keep publishers paid. Everyone finances everyone else. And as rates rise, the cost of keeping that wheel spinning climbs with it. Advertisement TOP STORY Navigating Economic Instability Ad tech's economy depends on float — and it's getting pricier to keep it moving The crunch has created an opening for a small set of financiers built specifically for ad tech's quirks. OTHER THINGS TO KNOW Join this virtual event on Nov. 18 at 1 p.m. ET to hear a guest speaker from Forrester unpack how marketers can measure what matters to better optimize their digital media investments. Partner insights from Epsilon. The digital landscape is flooded with content, creating a challenge for brands to provide effective customer experiences. But leveraging technology like AI and composable CMS can help marketers deliver personalized experiences. Partner insights from Contentful. Join us December 1-3 in New Orleans for the Digiday Programmatic Marketing Summit, where attendees will be able to lock in months' worth of meetings over the span of just three days. Secure your seat while passes remain. MEDIA & PLATFORMS Marketing on Platforms Confessions of a crypto strategy exec who wants to spend ad money on X, but can't When not even the bigger spenders on X can give their ad dollars to the platform, that's a concern. Publishing in the Platform Era Ringier's editorial advisor says the next editors-in-chief might come from audience development As Ringier rethinks what its future newsrooms should look like, a provocative idea is on the table A MESSAGE FROM MASTERCARD COMMERCE MEDIA Prove ROI with every ad Marketers face tighter budgets and rising expectations, but Mastercard Commerce Media is helping brands rise to the challenge. With rich data-driven insights and precise card-linked attribution, advertisers can confirm their budgets are being well spent. The result? Up to 22x return on ad spend across retail, dining, travel and more.   Built with privacy by design and fit for scale, Mastercard Commerce Media delivers personalized experiences, smarter placements and measurable results across the full funnel. Learn more PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM BLOCKBOARD How programmatic CTV achieves measurable outcomes that boost growth Marketers are driving growth through smarter, more accountable programmatic buys on CTV. MARKETING The Creator Economy How Kalen Allen navigates brand safety and cultural polarization in the creator economy As the line between politics and culture becomes more blurred, creators and influencers more often find themselves caught in the crosshairs.  Modern Retail How retail execs will evaluate ChatGPT checkout this holiday season After OpenAI revealed a new feature where users can purchase products directly inside ChatGPT and landed partnerships with Etsy, Shopify and Walmart, other retailers will be watching closely to consider whether to get on board. Advertisement PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM ADSTRA Why identity stack consolidation is more than a procurement task Identity provider consolidation is not simply a procurement task. It's a broader business shift in approach to data management, performance measurement and activation. Effective consolidation depends on the provider offering both coverage and composability. PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM VISTAR MEDIA Why trust is the metric that moves product Building brand trust requires more than frequently exposing shoppers to a brand's messaging. Consumer trust is earned through meaningful connections. OOH naturally builds brand connections and adds brand relevance to a given moment in time. DIGIDAY + Member exclusive Ad Tech Briefing: The Open Internet's factions spar, as Big Tech players are in a dead heat for gold Amazon and Google are (literally) competing on another level while the Open Internet's most prominent names fight for the rest. Written by Jim Cooper and Sara Jerde Were you forwarded this email? Sign up to get it daily. Advertise | Digiday+ | Events | Awards Update your email | Unsubscribe | Privacy policy