The Payments Giant That's Quietly Winning the Crypto War

Industry Overview - The lines between traditional banks, fintechs, and cryptocurrency companies are increasingly blurred, with new stablecoin legislation allowing crypto companies to offer bank-like services [1] - Banks and payment providers are racing to integrate cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology into their operations [1] Company Analysis: PayPal - PayPal launched cryptocurrency services in 2020 and has steadily integrated crypto and blockchain into its operations [2] - PayPal has over 430 million active customer and merchant accounts, providing a significant advantage in the crypto space [4] - Despite the surge in cryptocurrency prices, PayPal's stock is down over 20% year to date, while Coinbase is up over 30% and Bitcoin is up 25% [4] - PayPal has faced serious competition, regulatory challenges, and wider economic uncertainty [5] - Key milestones for PayPal in the crypto sector include launching services for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, and Litecoin in October 2020, introducing Checkout with Crypto in March 2021, launching its own stablecoin PayPal USD in August 2023, and planning to launch PayPal World in July 2025 [7] - PayPal's extensive network, user base, and infrastructure may provide a competitive edge as crypto projects need to deliver results [8]