Tempo, a payments-focused blockchain backed by Stripe and crypto investment firm Paradigm, has launched its public testnet, a key step in its effort in making stablecoin payments for mainstream use. Tempo has also unveiled a roster of new additions to the network’s partner group, including buy-now-pay-later firm Klarna, predictions market Kalshi, payments giant Mastercard and Swiss global bank UBS. They join a group of earlier design partners such as Deutsche Bank, Visa, Shopify, OpenAI and Nubank. Initi ...

Core Insights - The San Francisco Downtown Development Corporation (SFDDC) has raised over $60 million in early commitments from major donors, including Google and OpenAI, to revitalize San Francisco's downtown area [3][6] - The initiative, led by Mayor Daniel Lurie, aims to enhance street safety, support small businesses, and improve the overall cleanliness of the city [1][5] - Significant funding will be allocated for direct grants to businesses, marketing support, and the development of a new Embarcadero Park, inspired by successful models from New York City [5][6] Funding and Financials - SFDDC has successfully raised $50 million, an increase from $40 million since its inception [2] - The organization plans to provide below-market capital from lending partners to renovate vacant retail spaces [5] - The venture funding in San Francisco is expected to surpass the record set in 2021, driven by investments in artificial intelligence [8] Economic and Social Impact - The city has seen a 30% decrease in crime rates compared to 2024, contributing to a rise in event bookings and tourism [8] - The upcoming Super Bowl LX and FIFA World Cup in 2026 are anticipated to further boost economic activity in the area [6] - Mayor Lurie emphasizes that a thriving downtown benefits residents, families, and small business owners, highlighting the importance of public safety and cultural engagement [7]

Core Insights - OBOOK Holdings Inc. (OwlTing) is launching OwlPay Cash, a mobile-first remittance app developed in collaboration with Visa, aimed at facilitating payments abroad in local currencies to eligible bank accounts in 26 key regions worldwide [2][3][5] - The app leverages Visa Direct, connecting to over 11 billion endpoints globally, which helps reduce hidden fees and provides greater transparency on foreign exchange rates [3][4] - OwlPay Cash is designed to significantly lower costs, offering transfers up to 70% cheaper than traditional SWIFT options, with no monthly fees [5][8] Company Overview - OBOOK Holdings Inc. operates as the OwlTing Group, a blockchain technology company headquartered in Taiwan, with subsidiaries in multiple countries including the U.S., Japan, and Singapore [6] - The company focuses on a diversified ecosystem across payments, hospitality, and e-commerce, and was ranked among the top 2 global players in the "Enterprise & B2B" category for stablecoins in 2025 [6] - The mission of the company is to utilize blockchain technology for reliable data management and to transform global fund flows for businesses and consumers [6] Market Context - Global remittances are projected to reach $905 billion in 2024, with $230 billion expected to flow from the U.S. alone, highlighting the significant demand for cost-effective remittance solutions [4][11] - The U.S. has nearly 48 million immigrants, many of whom rely on remittances for essential expenses such as housing and education [4][11] - Current cross-border transfer fees average around 6.6%, which is above the UN's target of 3% set in the Sustainable Development Goals [4][12]

This story was originally published on Payments Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Payments Dive newsletter. When buy now, pay later giant Klarna said two weeks ago that it’s testing a stablecoin, the firm joined a growing roster of payments processors, card networks, banks and other financial technology companies embracing such digital assets.  More major payments players are leading their customers to stablecoins as the form of digital currency becomes increasingly popu ...

This story was originally published on Payments Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Payments Dive newsletter. Since card giant Visa instituted a new program for assessing credit card interchange fees in October, some merchants have been blind-sided by higher expenses. While the card network, bank issuers and processors have been preparing for Visa’s new Commercial Enhanced Data Program all year, consultants say many merchants were unprepared for the change. As a result, th ...

12月9日金融一线消息，随着主要经济体居民收入的稳健增长，亚太地区高端消费市场持续扩容，消费结构不断演进，呈 现出多元化、层次化的发展特征。Visa最新发布的《亚太消费洞察》显示，中国市场高端消费需求稳步释放，在区域内发挥重 要增长引擎作用。 中国市场成为亚太高端消费的重要支点 Visa分析显示，新兴高净值人群，以及消费弹性强、受文化因素影响显著的"渴望型"消费者，正逐步成长为高端消费市场的重 要驱动力。这些收入逐步提升、对高端产品和服务充满兴趣的群体，正成为品牌关注的焦点。为其提供更具可及性的入门级高 端产品与服务，有助于品牌提前积累忠诚度。其中，在中国市场，随着消费者可支配收入增加，他们对高端品牌商品的购买意 愿较强，展现出良好的消费弹性。 出境游喜好变化，体验型消费崛起 与亚太其他市场相比，中国消费者在高端消费中呈现出鲜明的"体验导向"特征。Visa的研究显示，中国消费者出境旅游的消费 结构正在发生明显变化——从以购物为主，逐步转向文化体验、体育赛事、休闲娱乐等场景。这一趋势不仅反映出消费者对高 品质生活方式的关注度提升，也为品牌围绕场景创新和体验升级提供了新的空间。 数据驱动与本地化服务，成为企业把握 ...

Core Insights - Visa Inc. is a global leader in digital payments, operating in over 200 countries and providing secure payment solutions, with major competitors including Mastercard, American Express, and Discover [1] Institutional Investment Activity - Baker Avenue Asset Management LP increased its stake in Visa by 16.4%, now holding 17,563 shares valued at approximately $6.24 million [2][6] - Dnca Finance boosted its investment in Visa by 18.6%, making it the second-largest holding in their portfolio with 216,687 shares valued at approximately $76.9 million [3][6] - Cerity Partners LLC raised its investment in Visa by 1.5%, now holding 1,112,483 shares valued at nearly $395 million, representing 0.7% of its portfolio [4][6] Stock Performance - Visa's stock is currently trading at $327.09, experiencing a decrease of 1.25% with a price drop of $4.15, and has a market capitalization of approximately $634.7 billion [5]

Upgrades - HSBC upgraded Visa (V) to Buy from Hold with a price target of $389, up from $335, citing strong financial performance and growth in services [2] - BofA upgraded Synopsys (SNPS) to Neutral from Underperform with a price target of $500, down from $525, anticipating a positive outlook on its upcoming EPS call [3] - Morgan Stanley upgraded General Motors (GM) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $90, up from $54, reflecting a change in analyst coverage and a revised outlook for the auto sector [4] - TD Cowen upgraded Ulta Beauty (ULTA) to Buy from Hold with a price target of $725, up from $600, due to expectations of stronger merchandising and global growth under new management [4] - Truist upgraded Five Below (FIVE) to Buy from Hold with a price target of $216, up from $179, highlighting the significance of the company's Q3 report [5] Downgrades - Rosenblatt downgraded Netflix (NFLX) to Neutral from Buy with a price target of $105, down from $152, following a significant acquisition announcement [6] - Morgan Stanley downgraded Rivian (RIVN) to Underweight from Equal Weight with an unchanged price target of $12, expressing caution regarding the electric vehicle market [6] - Morgan Stanley also downgraded Lucid Group (LCID) to Underweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $10, down from $30, reflecting a similar cautious outlook [6] - Morgan Stanley downgraded Tesla (TSLA) to Equal Weight from Overweight with a price target of $425, up from $410, citing high valuation and a cautious industry outlook [6] - Deutsche Bank downgraded 3M (MMM) to Hold from Buy with a price target of $178, down from $199, indicating limited upside potential through 2028 [6] - Benchmark downgraded Marvell (MRVL) to Hold from Buy, removing the price target, due to competitive losses impacting growth projections [6]

If you have tapped to pay with a credit card, you’ve likely noticed that some merchants add a small fee for paying with credit instead of debit or cash. But what if the fee you paid depended on exactly what brand of credit card you had in your wallet? That’s a scenario consumers may face after a settlement between credit giants Visa and Mastercard and U.S. merchants was recently announced. The settlement has not been approved by the courts, and according to a Wall Street Journal report, it will likely be ...

Core Insights - Visa has partnered with Circle Asia Technologies and Pismo to enhance credit access for clients in Vietnam through an AI-enabled PayLater card [1][2] - The initiative aims to address Vietnam's low credit card penetration by providing instant credit approval and flexible payment options [2] - Pismo's technology integration with Visa is set to modernize banking and payment capabilities, allowing financial institutions and fintechs to scale effectively [3] Group 1: Strategic Collaboration - Visa's collaboration with Circle Asia Technologies focuses on launching an AI-enabled PayLater card to improve user experience in financial services [1] - The card will facilitate credit building and global payments without requiring a traditional bank account [2] Group 2: Technology and Infrastructure - Pismo, acquired by Visa, offers a resilient API and microservices platform that supports multiple card networks [3] - The integration of Pismo's technology with Visa's infrastructure aims to enhance core banking and payment capabilities through cloud-native APIs [3] Group 3: Stablecoin Payouts - Visa has initiated a pilot program allowing businesses to send payouts directly to recipients' stablecoin wallets, enhancing payout efficiency [4] - This service provides digital creators and freelancers with faster access to funds, especially in markets with currency volatility [5] - The launch of stablecoin payouts is intended to enable universal access to money quickly, improving financial inclusivity [5]