Congratulations to our partner @ADIChain_ for their partnership with @Mastercard.This signals a new era for regulated digital payment infrastructure in MENA and we are proud to power this by providing scalable and compliant onchain rails that institutions and users can trust.ADI Chain (@ADIChain_):ADI signed a strategic partnership with @Mastercard 🤝A global payments network in 210+ countries is partnering with @ADI_Foundation to deploy blockchain-based payment rails across the Middle East.Real-world adopti ...

Mastercard and LoanPro plan to launch a program that will enable lenders to deliver installment loans through virtual and physical cards.By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions .Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.The Loan on Card program is s ...

Core Viewpoint - Increased merchant surcharges on American Express credit card purchases would negatively impact consumers, according to Amex's CEO Steve Squeri [1]. Group 1: Industry Context - The discussion around surcharges arose following a proposed lawsuit settlement by Visa and Mastercard with merchants, which could lead to more surcharging when premium cards are used [2]. - Visa and Mastercard's settlement involves ending the "honor all cards" rule, which previously required merchants to accept all cards from these networks, potentially leading to surcharges for premium credit cards [3][4]. Group 2: Company Position - Squeri emphasized that Amex aims to prevent discrimination against card members and views surcharging as detrimental to customer experience [5]. - American Express typically charges higher interchange fees, averaging between 1.43% to 3.3%, compared to Visa and Mastercard's average fees of 1.15% to 2.6% [5]. - The end of the "honor all cards" rule may not lead to merchants refusing expensive credit cards but could result in additional costs for customers using these cards at checkout [6]. Group 3: Potential Implications - The settlement could pose challenges for American Express due to its higher interchange fees compared to Visa and Mastercard, which may affect its competitive position in the market [7].

Group 1: Investment Potential - Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is considered one of the most profitable stocks to buy currently, with Evercore ISI raising its price target to $610 from $600 while maintaining an In Line rating [1] - The stock has been added to Evercore ISI's "Tactical Outperform" list, indicating potential for higher investor interest and valuation reversion as fiscal Q4 earnings season approaches [1] Group 2: Dividend and Share Repurchase - Mastercard announced a 14% increase in its quarterly dividend, raising it from 76 cents to 87 cents per share, with the dividend to be paid on February 9, 2026 [2] - The company approved a new share repurchase program allowing for the repurchase of up to $14 billion of its Class A common stock, effective after the completion of the current $12 billion program [3] Group 3: Financial Performance - In fiscal Q3 2025, Mastercard reported a net revenue growth of 17% year-over-year, or 15% on a currency-neutral basis, with net income reaching $3.9 billion and diluted earnings per share at $4.34 [4] - The Q3 net revenue also increased by 17%, or 15% on a currency-neutral basis, totaling $8.6 billion, driven by strong performance in differentiated services and robust consumer and business spending [4]

Core Viewpoint - Merchant groups are opposing a settlement aimed at resolving long-standing litigation regarding interchange fees set by Visa and Mastercard, claiming it grants excessive legal immunity to these networks [1][4]. Group 1: Settlement Details - The settlement proposed would reduce posted credit interchange rates by ten basis points for five years and impose a 1.25% rate for standard consumer cards over an eight-year period [4]. - Merchants would gain the right to refuse certain higher-cost Visa and Mastercard-branded credit cards, deviating from the networks' "honor all cards" policy, and would be allowed to impose surcharges on specific cards [4]. Group 2: Merchant Objections - Merchants, including major organizations like the National Restaurant Association and Walmart, argue that the settlement resembles a previously rejected agreement and does not enforce significant changes in how interchange fees are determined [2][3]. - The objections highlight concerns over the temporary nature of the fee caps and the lack of fundamental reforms in the fee-setting process, which they believe undermines antitrust laws [3][4]. Group 3: Legal and Class Action Implications - The settlement is criticized for providing Visa and Mastercard with immunity from future litigation regarding their fees, which some merchants argue perpetuates an antitrust violation [4]. - Walmart has requested the court to decertify the class action, allowing large merchants to opt out or redefine the class to exclude them, claiming that the settlement primarily benefits a smaller subgroup of merchants [5].

Core Viewpoint - Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is recognized as one of the 14 most promising fintech stocks to invest in, with an upgraded rating from HSBC from Hold to Buy and an increased price target from $598 to $633, indicating a favorable investment opportunity due to the stock's recent weak performance [1][2] Financial Performance and Growth Outlook - HSBC analysts project low double-digit revenue growth and mid-teen earnings per share growth for Mastercard, supported by strong financial results and attractive stock valuation, despite challenges from Capital One's debit migration [2] - The company is experiencing strong demand for its services and faster growth in markets outside of the US, contributing to its optimistic growth outlook [2] New Product Launch - Mastercard and L'Oreal are launching a joint business card, the L'Oréal Mastercard BusinessCard, aimed at beauty salon operators in Latin America and the Caribbean, with an initial launch in Mexico through corporate card provider Clara [3][4] - There are plans to expand this card to other markets in Latin America and the Caribbean with additional financial partners [4]

Core Insights - The president of Visa's global market group, Oliver Jenkyn, anticipates that "AI-assisted shopping" will become mainstream by 2026 as collaborations between payment giants and AI companies accelerate [1][2] - Jenkyn highlights that while chatbot-based shopping features will be launched in 2025, the real turning point will occur next year, making interactive shopping through platforms like ChatGPT a common practice for consumers [2] - The transition from "AI-assisted decision-making" to a more advanced "Agentic Commerce," where AI robots fully handle payments and purchases, will take time due to consumer psychological inertia [2] Industry Trends - Global payment giants are rapidly positioning themselves to capitalize on the upcoming paradigm shift as consumers turn to chatbots for shopping [3] - Visa is currently in discussions with all major industry players, while Mastercard has partnered with Microsoft, and PayPal has signed an agreement with OpenAI to integrate its digital wallet into OpenAI's chatbot [3]

Key insights: Pushback on fees, BNPL and new technology are shifting how consumers shop and make payments. What's at stake: Swipe fees for credit cards and debit cards totaled $187.2 billion in 2024, up from $172 billion in 2023. Forward look: Agentic commerce and crypto will also draw consumers to new payment options in the new year. Consumer payment trends such as pushback on interchange fees, the rise of buy now/pay later, crypto payments and agentic commerce are set to shape payments in 2026. Th ...

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The report highlights the increasing adoption of stablecoins in cross-border payments, driven by regulatory frameworks in developed economies and the active involvement of global payment and fintech companies [3] - Stablecoins are expected to innovate the cross-border payment ecosystem through blockchain technology, creating a new payment paradigm that encompasses multiple currencies, regions, and scenarios [3] Summary by Sections Traditional Non-Bank Financial Institutions' Multi-Dimensional Layout - Traditional remittance institutions are integrating stablecoins into their business models, enhancing cross-border payment systems through various methods such as self-built applications and open APIs [5] - Major remittance companies like MoneyGram and Western Union are launching stablecoin projects, with MoneyGram introducing a stablecoin mobile app in Colombia and Western Union exploring its own USD stablecoin [5][6] International Card Organizations' Stablecoin Strategies - Visa and Mastercard have significantly increased their investments in stablecoin cross-border payment services since 2025, focusing on integrating blockchain technology with real-world payment systems [6][12] - Visa aims to create a stablecoin-based ecosystem, enhancing its payment network and introducing a programmable digital currency platform for financial institutions [7][11] - Mastercard is developing a distributed network for stablecoin transactions and has launched various initiatives to integrate stablecoins into its payment ecosystem [12][15] SWIFT's Strategy and Initiatives - SWIFT is building a blockchain-based shared ledger to support stablecoin and tokenized asset transactions, aiming to maintain its central role in cross-border settlements [16][17] Third-Party Internet Payment Platforms - Third-party internet payment platforms are rapidly developing stablecoin capabilities, with companies like PayPal and Worldpay enhancing their services to include stablecoin payments [19][20] - PayPal plans to expand its stablecoin, PYUSD, to over 20 million small and medium-sized merchants, significantly reducing cross-border payment costs [20] Native Blockchain Companies - Native blockchain companies are pushing for the practical application of stablecoins in cross-border payments, with Ripple and Paxos leading initiatives to integrate stablecoins into traditional financial systems [22][26] Growth of Stablecoin Transactions - The total transaction volume of stablecoins is rapidly increasing, with an estimated $5.7 trillion in transactions in 2024, primarily serving as a payment tool within the cryptocurrency ecosystem [27] - B2B cross-border payments represent a significant opportunity for stablecoins, with potential market sizes reaching $18.8 trillion in non-G10 markets [29]

Core Insights - Mastercard has partnered with TerraPay to enhance digital payment capabilities for its wallet partners, including mobile money wallets, FinTechs, and banks [2][3] - The collaboration aims to provide global payment interoperability, allowing wallet customers to transact at over 150 million Mastercard acceptance locations using NFC payments [3][4] Group 1: Partnership Details - The partnership will enable wallet customers to transact seamlessly at more than 150 million Mastercard acceptance locations [3] - The collaboration is expected to empower users to move and pay safely, instantly, and without borders [2] Group 2: Market Trends - 70% of in-person Mastercard transactions are now contactless, which are up to 10 times faster than other payment methods [4] - In-store usage of mobile wallets surged to 31% as of summer 2023, a significant increase from 14% the previous year, driven primarily by millennials [4][5] Group 3: Consumer Behavior - Ease of use is the primary motivator for adopting mobile wallets, especially among Gen Z, while older users prioritize security [6] - 82% of merchants plan to expand the use of digital wallets this year, indicating a growing trend in both consumer and B2B spaces [6][7]