PayPal, Stripe and other fintech giants flex crypto muscles — ‘2026 is going to be massive’

Core Insights - Fintech firms are significantly increasing their investments in the crypto market, which is valued at $3 trillion, with expectations for substantial growth in 2026 [1] PayPal - PayPal is integrating blockchain solutions to remain relevant in the evolving payment landscape, with CEO Alex Chriss emphasizing the need for innovation in the payments ecosystem [3] - The company is expanding its crypto team and is actively seeking a senior manager for crypto business development to advance its initiatives [3] - PayPal launched its stablecoin, PYUSD, in 2023, which saw a 600% increase in circulation to $3.6 billion by 2025, representing 1.6% of the stablecoin market [4] Stripe - Stripe plans to launch its layer 1 blockchain, Tempo, in 2026, following a public testnet launch in December [5] - The company previously acquired stablecoin startup Bridge for $1.1 billion in 2024, indicating its strong commitment to the crypto space [5] - Stripe is collaborating with various partners, including Deutsche Bank and Visa, to enhance Tempo, although the exact mainnet launch date remains unconfirmed [6] Klarna - Klarna is set to launch its own stablecoin in 2026, marking a significant shift from its previous stance in 2022 when it rejected the idea of engaging with cryptocurrencies [7]