How nonpayments became big business at Visa and Mastercard

Core Insights - Mastercard's value-added services, including the Mid-Market Accelerator, generated $3.4 billion in net revenue, a 25% increase year-over-year, constituting about 40% of total revenue [1] - Visa's value-added services revenue reached $17.5 billion in fiscal 2025, up 9% from the previous year, representing a significant portion of its $40 billion total revenue [4] Value-Added Services Strategy - Analysts highlight that value-added services (VAS) enhance competitiveness for networks like Mastercard and Visa, allowing them to maintain pricing power while embedding themselves with global issuers [2] - The strategy is described as a "virtuous cycle," where improved services lead to better payment flows and richer data, further enhancing solutions [4] Partnerships and Collaborations - Mastercard and Visa have formed partnerships to support mobile wallets globally, responding to regulatory pressures and competition from alternative payment methods [3] - Collaborations with fintech and traditional financial institutions are deemed essential for adapting to evolving payment models and consumer expectations [3] Technological Advancements - Visa upgraded Authorize.net to include AI models and support for in-person card readers, with international rollout planned for 2026 [5] - The acquisition of AI firm Featurespace has enabled Visa to develop a risk hub for identifying risky transactions and improving transaction vetting [6] Global Expansion and Market Reach - Visa Direct connects to over 12 billion endpoints across cards, accounts, and wallets in more than 195 countries, highlighting its extensive market reach [8] - The integration of various platforms enhances choice and flexibility for clients and consumers, contributing to Visa Direct's global expansion [9] Future Growth Projections - Analysts project that value-added services for Visa and Mastercard will grow in the high teens to low 20s percentage range by 2026, outpacing overall business growth [11] - This growth is expected to bolster investor confidence, especially as payment volume growth slows in mature markets [11]