Group 1 - The core argument of Citrini Research's post is that AI agents could potentially disrupt traditional payment networks by rerouting transactions to stablecoin systems, which may eliminate interchange fees [2] - Following the release of this scenario, major companies in the payment processing sector, including Mastercard, Visa, and American Express, experienced stock declines ranging from 4% to 6% [3] - The analysis emphasizes that issuers, rather than payment networks, are the more vulnerable entities in this scenario, as the majority of interchange fees are collected by issuers and intermediaries [4] Group 2 - The economic rationale behind the shift towards stablecoins is that AI agents will prioritize cost efficiency, leading to a preference for cheaper transaction methods, which could significantly impact traditional interchange fees [5] - The transition towards software-controlled transactions is expected to reshape transaction economics, as companies explore stablecoins and alternative payment rails to achieve cost savings, particularly in low-margin sectors [6]

2028 年全球情报危机 --- THE 2028 GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE CRISIS substack.com/home/post/p-188821754 Substack Preface 序言 What if our AI bullishness continues to be right...and what if that's actually bearish? 倘若我们对人工智能的乐观情绪持续正确 …… 而这种 " 正确 " 本身反而预示着悲观前景，又当如 何？ What follows is a scenario, not a prediction. This isn't bear porn or AI doomer fan-fiction. The sole intent of this piece is modeling a scenario that's been relatively underexplored. Our friend Alap Shah posed the question, and together we brainstormed the answer ...

This story was originally published on Payments Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Payments Dive newsletter. Update: Feb. 25, 2026: Bloomberg News reported Tuesday that the fintech Stripe may be interested in buying PayPal, or some of its assets. A spokesperson for Stripe declined to comment. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- There aren’t many companies in the payments sphere that could digest a $40-billion market-cap company lik ...

Core Viewpoint - The ongoing tech sell-off in the U.S. is significantly influenced by developments in AI, with IBM experiencing its steepest drop in history, reflecting broader market concerns about the tech sector's sustainability amidst AI advancements [1][5]. Group 1: Market Dynamics - The tech sector is under pressure, with a notable sell-off driven by fears that AI advancements are cannibalizing traditional tech stocks [2][3]. - FAANG ETFs and software stocks like Salesforce and Adobe are among the first to feel the impact, indicating a broader trend of U.S. investors divesting from tech [3][9]. - The consumer discretionary, tech, and financial sub-indices of the S&P 500 remain negative year-to-date, highlighting the rapid growth of investor fears [9]. Group 2: AI Developments - IBM's recent price action is linked to the emergence of AI programs like Anthropic's 'Claude,' which are seen as potential competitors to existing software solutions [5][9]. - Agentic AI, which can autonomously create code and fulfill roles traditionally held by humans, poses a significant threat to companies like Adobe and Salesforce, potentially reducing their revenue from SaaS contracts [6][9]. - The speculative nature of AI's impact on the economy is underscored by a report suggesting that AI could lead to a 'Ghost GDP,' where economic activity does not translate into consumer spending [14][15]. Group 3: Speculative Insights - A speculative blog post titled "The 2028 Global Intelligence Crisis" has contributed to market panic, suggesting that AI disruption could lead to a collapse in labor GDP and the mortgage market [11][12]. - The report's narrative resonates with existing market fears, indicating a consensus view among investors regarding the potential negative implications of AI on the economy [12][15]. - The concept of a 'Ghost GDP' suggests that while investments in AI may increase, they do not benefit the workforce, leading to decreased consumer spending and economic downturn [14][15].

In a Sunday macro note framed explicitly as a thought exercise, Citrini Research modeled a speculative scenario in which AI-driven commerce structurally undermines card network economics. Interchange in the CrosshairsThe central payments argument: AI agents optimizing consumer transactions around the clock would eventually identify the 2-3% card interchange rate as an obvious cost to eliminate. “Once agents controlled the transaction, they went looking for bigger paperclips,” wrote Citrini. In the scenario, ...

Mastercard's growth potential is highlighted by a stock price growth potential of 26.71%, indicating strong market confidence.The company's Piotroski Score of 8 underscores its robust financial health and operational efficiency.With a target price set at $667, Mastercard presents a substantial upside, making it an attractive investment opportunity.Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is a global technology company in the payments industry. It connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments, ...

When Jeff Bezos said that one breakthrough technology would shape Amazon’s destiny, even Wall Street’s biggest analysts were caught off guard. Fast forward a year and Amazon’s new CEO Andy Jassy described generative AI as a “once-in-a-lifetime” technology that is already being used across Amazon to reinvent customer experiences. At the 8th Future Investment Initiative conference, Elon Musk predicted that by 2040 there would be at least 10 billion humanoid robots, with each priced between $20,000 and $25,000 ...

Core Insights - Zacks Premium offers various tools for investors to enhance their stock market strategies, including daily updates, research reports, and stock screens [1][2] Zacks Style Scores - Zacks Style Scores rate stocks based on value, growth, and momentum characteristics, providing a framework for investors to identify securities likely to outperform the market in the short term [2][3] - Stocks are rated from A to F, with A indicating the highest potential for outperformance [3] Value Score - The Value Score identifies attractive stocks based on valuation ratios such as P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, and Price/Cash Flow, appealing to value investors seeking undervalued opportunities [3] Growth Score - The Growth Score focuses on a company's financial health and future outlook, analyzing projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks with sustainable growth potential [4] Momentum Score - The Momentum Score helps investors capitalize on price trends, using metrics like one-week price changes and monthly earnings estimate changes to identify optimal entry points [5] VGM Score - The VGM Score combines the Value, Growth, and Momentum Scores, serving as a comprehensive indicator for investors who utilize multiple investment styles [6] Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that uses earnings estimate revisions to simplify portfolio building, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks historically yielding an average annual return of +23.86% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [7][8] Stock Selection Strategy - Investors are encouraged to select stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B to maximize upside potential [9][10] Company Spotlight: Mastercard (MA) - Mastercard Inc. is a leading global payment solutions provider, currently rated 3 (Hold) by Zacks, with a VGM Score of B [11] - The company has a Momentum Style Score of A, with a recent 0.1% increase in share price over the past four weeks and an upward revision of earnings estimates by 13 analysts [12]

Core Insights - Ericsson and Mastercard have announced a collaboration to enhance global digital money movement and financial inclusion, particularly targeting unbanked and underbanked communities [1] - The integration of Ericsson's Fintech Platform with Mastercard Move aims to simplify access to advanced money movement solutions for telecom service providers, banks, and fintechs [1] Group 1: Collaboration Details - The collaboration will empower telecom service providers, banks, and fintechs to expand digital wallet capabilities and launch new payment services [1] - Ericsson's pre-integrated APIs and cloud-native infrastructure will reduce technology complexity and lower operational barriers, accelerating time to market for new payment services [1] - The partnership is expected to create new revenue streams and strengthen digital ecosystems across both emerging and developed markets [1] Group 2: Financial Inclusion Focus - Financial inclusion and accessibility are key focuses, with Mastercard Move enabling money movement across 200 countries and territories, connecting over 17 billion endpoints and supporting transactions in 150 currencies [1] - Ericsson's fintech platform operates in 22 countries, serving over 120 million active users and processing more than 4 billion transactions monthly across various services [1] - The global rollout will begin in the Middle East and Africa, where there is strong demand for mobile money and interoperable payment services [1] Group 3: Leadership Statements - Pratik Khowala from Mastercard emphasized that the integration opens new pathways for telecom operators and financial institutions to scale innovative payment services and reach underserved communities [1] - Pavan Bachwal from Ericsson highlighted that the collaboration marks a significant step toward the future of money movement, driving financial inclusion and creating new growth opportunities globally [1]

Core Viewpoint - Visa's exclusive partnership with the Olympics highlights the challenges Europe faces regarding payment systems, particularly the dominance of foreign payment providers and the declining use of cash [1]. Group 1: Visa's Role and Market Dynamics - Visa has been the sole card provider for the Olympics since 1986, with a sponsorship deal extended to 2032, emphasizing its monopoly in this high-profile event [1]. - Approximately two-thirds of card transactions in the euro area are processed by international card schemes like Visa and Mastercard, indicating a significant reliance on foreign payment systems [1]. - A spokesperson for Visa stated the company's commitment to enhancing the purchasing experience for Olympic products, despite the growing trend of consumers not carrying cash [1]. Group 2: European Central Bank (ECB) Initiatives - The ECB aims to launch a digital euro by 2029, which is seen as crucial for Europe's economic security and to reduce dependency on non-EU payment providers [1]. - The digital euro is intended to be available for both wholesale and retail payments, functioning offline like cash and online, to maintain control over monetary policy [1]. - Legislative proposals for the digital euro have faced delays in the European Parliament, but recent endorsements from the European Council and Parliament have strengthened the ECB's position [1]. Group 3: Cash Payment Acceptance - Cash payments are still accepted at Olympic venues, with ATM machines available for cash withdrawals, although the trend shows a significant preference for card payments [1]. - The Esselunga grocery chain, located in the Olympic press center, initially did not accept cash but announced it would start accepting cash payments to improve service [1].