The author clearly has little knowledge on the subject of payments. He's likely a consumer. Getting this "duopoly" right is very hard. Payments has a number of

The author clearly has little knowledge on the subject of payments. He's likely a consumer. Getting this "duopoly" right is very hard. Payments has a number of actors, and the label is there to ensure fair play between acquirer and card issuer. While mastercard and visa controls the market, it's not like there isn't competition: Amex, discovery, etc., are all labels that compete with the so-called duopoly.