Jack Dorsey is now steering Block’s Cash App to support stablecoins, marking a sharp break for a company that built its crypto identity around Bitcoin purity https://t.co/VUj7teAsXz ...

"A Custodian-to-Custodian Digital Gold System"? 🤨Couldn't be us. We actually read the whitepaper.Square (@Square):@dangerblue As you receive bitcoin it will be stored in your Square bitcoin wallet. If you'd like to move it into self custody, you'll be able to do so manually (max $15k per day or $50k per week). ...

Bitcoin Integration - Square adds new Bitcoin payment feature [1] - Feature updates 4 million business merchant devices [1]

4 Million Businesses Across America Can Accept Bitcoin Payments Starting Today Using Squarehttps://t.co/9a2hxRJfqD ...

Core Insights - Bitcoin is moving closer to becoming a mainstream currency with new payment capabilities introduced by Block for merchants [2][3] Company Developments - Block has launched a bitcoin payment feature for 4 million merchants through Square, allowing instant settlement and no transaction fees until 2027 [2] - The new platform was first demonstrated at Compass Coffee in Washington, D.C., and aims to make bitcoin payments as seamless as card payments [3] - Merchants can convert a portion of their daily card sales into bitcoin, providing increased flexibility and exposure to cryptocurrency [3] Payment Flexibility - Sellers can accept payments in various configurations: bitcoin to bitcoin, bitcoin to fiat, fiat to bitcoin, or fiat to fiat [4] - The Square Bitcoin feature utilizes the Bitcoin Lightning Network for rapid transaction settlement and low fees, reducing credit card processing costs [4] Strategic Direction - Block is shifting its identity from a small merchant enabler to a comprehensive business operating platform that integrates commerce, customer relationships, and financial services [5] - Recent innovations also include bitcoin mining hardware and software, as well as a Cash App feature to locate global merchants accepting bitcoin [5]

Core Insights - H&R Block, Inc. reported an adjusted loss of $1.20 per share in Q1 of fiscal 2026, which was better than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $1.40 per share and a year-ago loss of $1.17 per share [1][8] - Total revenues reached $203.6 million, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.1% and reflecting a year-over-year increase of 5.03% [1][8] Financial Performance - Revenues from U.S. tax preparation and related services were $100.19 million, up 6.9% year over year [3] - Financial services revenues totaled $7.85 million, marking a year-over-year decline of 11.04% [3] - International revenues increased by 1.2% to $65.7 million, while Wave revenues jumped 13% to $29.85 million [3] Guidance and Outlook - H&R Block expects fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS in the range of $4.85-$5.00, with the midpoint of $4.925 below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.94 [2] - The company anticipates revenues for fiscal 2026 to be between $3.875 billion and $3.895 billion, with the midpoint of $3.885 billion slightly above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.88 billion [5] - Expected EBITDA for fiscal 2026 is between $1.015 billion and $1.035 billion, with an effective tax rate of approximately 25% [5] Balance Sheet - H&R Block ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $376.4 million and long-term debt of $1.73 billion, up from $1.14 billion at the end of June 2025 [4] - The company utilized $356.8 million in cash for operating activities, with capital expenditures of $13.19 million [4]

Payments firm Block is enabling no-fee Bitcoin payments for sellers worldwide via Square's point-of-sale platform. https://t.co/3aEg7jGJOR ...

4 Million Businesses Across America Can Accept Bitcoin Today Using Square With No Payment Feeshttps://t.co/9a2hxRIHB5 ...

JUST IN: Jack Dorsey & Square tease launching an in app map showing where you can spend #Bitcoin at local merchants 🙌Adoption is accelerating 🚀 https://t.co/mmXFSMHGvQ ...

Market Overview - Wall Street experienced a weaker close due to concerns over stretched tech valuations, policy paralysis, and deteriorating consumer sentiment, with the Nasdaq 100 down 0.6% [1] - After a year of AI-related optimism, markets are showing signs of valuation fatigue, with analysts noting a fading enthusiasm for AI monetization and corporate cost-savings [2] - The VIX climbed to a two-week high, reflecting increased hedging demand, despite 83% of S&P 500 companies beating Q3 earnings estimates, the highest since 2021 [3] Policy and Macro Backdrop - The longest U.S. government shutdown has created a data vacuum, leaving the Federal Reserve and markets without crucial employment figures, leading to uncertainty ahead of the December FOMC meeting [4] - Consumer sentiment has collapsed to 50.3, the weakest since mid-2022, as households express growing pessimism about job security and inflation [5] Sector and Flow Dynamics Analysis - Institutional investors are rotating into defensive sectors such as utilities, staples, and healthcare, while high-beta tech names and consumer cyclicals are experiencing net outflows [6] - Airline stocks like AAL, DAL, and UAL fell sharply due to a directive to reduce flights amid air-traffic controller shortages, highlighting the shutdown's impact [6] Company-Specific Insights - Tesla's stock fell despite shareholder approval of Elon Musk's pay package, indicating valuation pressures even among established companies [7] - Block's stock plunged 14% after missing profit expectations, suggesting that fintech growth companies are also facing valuation compression [7] Forward View - Upcoming $125 billion Treasury supply will test market risk appetite as yields remain near recent lows, with potential Supreme Court rulings on tariffs possibly affecting Treasury issuance schedules [8] - Until the government reopens, risk-taking is likely to remain constrained, with macro funds preserving cash and favoring quality and duration in their portfolios [8]