RT The Rollup (@therollupco)"Blockchains like Polygon enable faster, cheaper transactions with higher throughput, sometimes even higher than Visa and Mastercard."@rodrifernandezt explains why the MoneyGram's @crossmint partnership happens now, and not years ago. https://t.co/c1fQQR75Hb ...

Core Insights - The analyst has a strong focus on the gaming industry and consumer-facing stocks, with notable work on companies like Nintendo and GameStop, and is expanding coverage to publishers such as Capcom and Take-Two to identify long-term value in gaming franchises [1] Group 1: Industry Focus - The gaming sector is highlighted as a key area of interest, with an emphasis on iconic franchises and the potential for durable growth stories [1] - The approach combines disciplined valuation methods like DCF and relative multiples with narrative context, aiming to clarify complex valuations for long-term investors [1] Group 2: Company Analysis - The analyst has also evaluated companies outside of gaming, including Monster Beverage, Sprouts, Macy's, and Live Nation, where brand strength, narrative, and consumer behavior significantly influence valuation [1] - The focus is on sectors where culture, technology, and financials intersect, which helps in positioning early in companies with sustainable growth potential [1]

Core Insights - The DISRUPT 2025 TechCrunch List serves as a vital resource hub for entrepreneurship and technology, featuring influential figures in startup technology, venture capital, AI, Web3, financial innovation, and social impact [3][4] - The list includes a diverse array of resources, such as keynote speakers, panels, investment groups, and platform companies, highlighting the global innovation ecosystem [4][6] Speaker and Talent Lineup - The event showcases dynamic leaders and founders who are pushing the boundaries of entrepreneurship across various sectors, including Web3, AI, fintech, and platform economics [5][11] - Notable participants include Visa Inc., Character.AI, Kindred, and Chess.com, which are recognized for their contributions to the digital economy and community engagement [11][22] Impact and Social Innovation - The DISRUPT 2025 list emphasizes a holistic vision that integrates technological progress with equity, diversity, mental health, education, climate sustainability, and global wellness [8][16] - Founders leverage their platforms to address broader social needs, such as health equity and financial inclusion, fostering systemic shifts toward inclusion and allyship [16][20] Tech and Web3 Convergence - The community is positioned to accelerate Web3 adoption, bridging traditional enterprises with decentralized platforms and regulatory domains [12][23] - Key participants are focused on building the infrastructure and protocols necessary for a decentralized internet [12][23] Community Engagement - The DISRUPT 2025 List invites collaboration among founders, developers, investors, and enthusiasts, promoting dialogue, mentorship, and investment opportunities [9][17] - It serves as a strategic starting point for entrepreneurs seeking capital and expertise, while also providing investors with a resource-rich map to identify emerging opportunities [10][18]

8 new bounties in the Solana x402 Hackathon were just added 🔥From @Visa, @Phantom, @coinbase, and more below👇Solana (@solana):The x402 Solana Hackathon is live 🔥It’s time to build at the frontier of payments: internet native, designed for AI$50,000 in prizes across 5 tracks 👇 https://t.co/wEaS4AuY4P ...

Group 1 - Visa Inc. has launched a scam disruption initiative this year [1] - The adoption of Visa's "Tap to Phone" technology has significantly increased [1] - Visa has presented its vision for artificial intelligence (AI) in commerce [1] - The company has expanded its capabilities in the digital currency space [1]

Group 1 - Coinbase is in acquisition talks with BVNK, a London-based stablecoin infrastructure startup, with a deal valuation of approximately $2 billion, currently in the late stages of due diligence [1] - The acquisition aligns with Coinbase's strategy to diversify its business, as about 20% of its revenue now comes from stablecoin-related activities, moving beyond reliance on crypto trading fees [2] - The potential acquisition follows the recent passing of the first stablecoin regulatory bill in the U.S., which has sparked a wave of mergers and acquisitions in the crypto payment sector [1][2] Group 2 - BVNK, founded in 2021, focuses on enabling businesses to accept various digital asset payments, including stablecoins, and has raised $90 million from investors like Citi Ventures and Visa [2] - Coinbase has reportedly won exclusive negotiation rights for the acquisition, indicating that both parties may be moving towards a signing phase [3] - If the deal is finalized, it could provide Coinbase with a competitive edge in the stablecoin commercial payment space against rivals like Binance Pay and PayPal [3]

Core Insights - Visa's data indicates that one in five travellers visiting Singapore continued their journey to other destinations after the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, with popular locations including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, and Japan [1][10] Travel Trends - On average, travellers extended their trips by 3.5 days post-Grand Prix and spent 40% more per person than they typically would at home [4][10] - Long-haul travellers from outside Asia showed a notable trend, with about 35% visiting at least one other country after the race, surpassing the average [10] Spending Patterns - The highest spending was observed among travellers from the United States, Australia, Mainland China, Germany, and France, with restaurants and eateries being the primary spending category in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand, while retail spending was higher in Australia and Japan [10] - Affluent travellers were particularly significant, with 25% making further travel plans post-event, spending about 20% more per person than other travellers, and contributing to a surge in travel spending [10] Payment Preferences - A strong preference for contactless payments was noted, with 85% of face-to-face transactions made via contactless cards by travellers visiting other countries after the race [11] - In markets like Australia and the UK, contactless payment usage reached nearly 95%, while countries with developing contactless acceptance, such as Japan and Indonesia, exceeded 80% [11][12] Strategic Insights - Visa's findings suggest that major events like the Grand Prix not only drive tourism but also create positive spillover effects in neighboring regions, highlighting the evolving preferences of travellers [9] - The data emphasizes the importance of understanding affluent travellers' behaviors to tailor strategies that capture a larger share of tourism [9]

Core Insights - Consumer spending remains strong globally, with Mastercard and Visa reporting positive growth metrics in their recent earnings calls for Q3 2025 [1][3][7] Mastercard Insights - Management indicates that consumer and business spending is healthy, supported by steady inflation, a balanced labor market, wage growth, and rising financial markets, despite some macroeconomic uncertainties [3][4] - Worldwide gross dollar volume (GDV) increased by 9% year-on-year in constant currency; cross-border volume rose by 15%, driven by both travel and non-travel spending [4][5] - In Q3 2025, Mastercard's card growth was 6%, with 3.6 billion cards in circulation; domestic assessments were up 6%, while cross-border assessments increased by 16% [4][5][6] Visa Insights - U.S. payments volume grew by 8% in Q3 2025, with e-commerce outpacing physical spending; both credit and debit volumes were up 8%, indicating resilient consumer behavior [7][8] - Visa's cross-border volume growth was strong at 11% year-on-year in Q3 2025, with e-commerce up 13% and travel improving to 10% [8] - Payments volume on Visa's network continued to grow in October 2025, with U.S. payments volume up 7% and cross-border volume up over 12% [9]

Stablecoin & Blockchain - Visa announces expansion to four blockchain networks for stablecoin transactions [1] - Visa's Q4 spending quadrupled, potentially related to stablecoin or blockchain initiatives [1]

Find Polygon on the EF's new site.We're proud to scale institutional adoption for the Ethereum ecosystem.Ethereum Foundation (@ethereumfndn):@BlackRock @Visa @eToro @coinbase @chainlink @RAILGUN_Project @aztecnetwork @zama_fhe @LineaBuild @Starknet @base @inkonchain @unichain @Scroll_ZKP 8/ Development frameworks are accelerating custom L2 deploymentTeams like @arbitrum @Optimism @0xPolygon and @zksync are pushing the frontiers of scaling Ethereum securely, allowing businesses to launch specialized chains i ...