Core Insights - Visa Inc. and Mastercard Incorporated maintain a strong duopoly in the digital payment industry, characterized by scale, network effects, and ongoing growth in digital payments [1] Company Overview - Visa and Mastercard are both large-cap companies, with Mastercard showing faster growth and a tendency to innovate more than Visa [1] Industry Dynamics - The digital payment sector is experiencing secular growth, which benefits both Visa and Mastercard as they leverage their established networks and scale [1]

Core Insights - TechCreate Group Ltd. reported a 10.4% increase in total revenues to S$1.9 million (US $1.5 million) for the first half of 2025, driven by growth in professional services and hardware solutions [3][8] - The company achieved a significant reduction in cost of revenue by 22.7%, resulting in a gross profit margin increase to 70.5% [4][5] - Net loss decreased to approximately S$20,000 (US $16,000) from S$0.4 million in the same period last year, reflecting improved profitability metrics [7] Financial Performance - Total revenues rose to S$1.9 million (US $1.5 million) from S$1.8 million in the previous year, attributed to new projects and enhanced services [3] - Cost of revenue decreased to S$0.6 million (US $0.4 million) from S$0.7 million, mainly due to lower sales of software maintenance licenses [4] - Gross profit increased to S$1.3 million (US $1.0 million), with gross profit margins improving from 57.8% to 70.5% [5] - Total operating expenses slightly increased by 2.2% to S$1.3 million (US $1.0 million), primarily due to higher administrative and selling expenses [6] Operational Highlights - The company secured notable contracts, including a new Real-Time Engine project in Singapore and enhancements for a Brunei customer [8][10] - The Cambodian team successfully launched the QR Soundbox Terminal Business Line, contributing to revenue growth [3][10] - TechCreate completed an IPO in October 2025, raising gross proceeds of S$11.73 million (US $8.8 million) [10] Cash Position - As of June 30, 2025, cash and cash equivalents stood at approximately S$1.3 million (US $1.0 million) [7]

Core Insights - Walmart continues to avoid NFC-based payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay, despite the growing trend among other retailers to adopt such technologies [1][2] - The company promotes its own payment solutions, such as the Walmart Pay app and the Scan and Go feature, which allow customers to bypass traditional checkout methods [2][4] - Younger consumers increasingly expect digital payment options, leading to frustration when retailers do not offer them [3] Payment Strategy - Walmart's avoidance of NFC payments aligns with its broader retail strategy, as upgrading to NFC-compatible hardware incurs costs that can be significant given the number of stores and terminals [4] - The company focuses on providing its own contactless payment alternatives through its apps, which it believes are sufficient for customer needs [5] - Walmart's preference for its own payment tools allows it to gather valuable customer data, enhancing its understanding of shopping habits [6] Competitive Landscape - Other major retailers, including Amazon, Target, and Costco, also utilize their own apps and membership programs to collect customer data [7] - While Walmart may reconsider its stance on NFC payments in the future, it currently benefits from its unique approach in the retail market [7]

The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and the Securities and Futures Commission take no responsibility for the contents of this Application Proof, make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaim any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this Application Proof. Application Proof of XGD INC. 深 圳 市 新 國 都 股 份 有 限 公 司 (A joint stock company incorporated in the People's Republic of China with limited ...

Core Insights - Visa and Mastercard are integrating stablecoins into their transaction processing systems, marking a significant shift in the digital payments landscape [1][5] - The initial expectation that cryptocurrencies would disrupt credit card companies is being re-evaluated as these companies embrace stablecoins [2][9] Group 1: Visa's Initiatives - Visa initiated its stablecoin project in April 2025, partnering with a Stripe subsidiary called Bridge to link Visa cards to users' stablecoin holdings, particularly targeting Latin America [6] - The focus on stablecoins is seen as a response to the slow banking systems in certain regions, where stablecoin ownership is more prevalent [6] Group 2: Mastercard's Developments - Mastercard followed Visa's lead in June by integrating four leading stablecoins into its global settlement systems, collaborating with issuers like Circle Internet, Fiserv, Paxos, and PayPal [7] - This integration reflects a strategic move to enhance payment solutions without creating proprietary cryptocurrencies [8] Group 3: Market Dynamics - Both companies are not attempting to disrupt existing stablecoins but are instead partnering with established issuers to promote coins like USDC and PayPal USD for broader consumer use [9] - Mastercard emphasized that stablecoins will not disrupt the current payment dynamics but will reinforce the convenience and security that consumers and merchants seek [9]

https://t.co/vCNztATkNg has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Travel Wallet to expand digital payment and cryptocurrency services in South Korea.Read more 👉 https://t.co/wQBl6LMnTq https://t.co/b4XtClhmM6 ...

Group 1: Industry Overview - The fintech industry is expected to experience rapid growth due to the shift to online commerce and increasing demand for digital payment methods [1] - Investing in companies like Block and PayPal, which are leaders in the fintech space, is considered a promising opportunity despite recent challenges [1] Group 2: Block Performance - Block's revenue decreased by nearly 2% year-over-year to $6.05 billion in Q2, but gross profit increased by 14% to $2.54 billion, and adjusted earnings per share rose by 32% to $0.62 [2] - The core businesses of Block, Square and Cash App, both showed significant growth, with Cash App expanding its services to compete with banks [4][5] - Cash App's buy-now-pay-later options have gained popularity, contributing to strong gross profit growth, and existing customers are increasingly engaging with more services [6] Group 3: Future Prospects - Block's focus on younger consumers, particularly through Cash App, is seen as a long-term growth opportunity as these customers mature and increase their spending [5] - Despite concerns over Block's reliance on Bitcoin trading, which impacted revenue in Q2, the core business remains strong and presents attractive long-term prospects [7] - The stock, having declined 14% this year, is viewed as a buy due to its solid core ecosystems [7]

Core Insights - Phoenix Motor Inc. is expanding its digital payment options to include Ethereum (ETH), BNB, and Solana (SOL) in addition to Bitcoin [1] - The company is implementing a comprehensive crypto treasury management plan to securely manage and optimize its digital asset holdings [1]

Group 1: PayPal - PayPal's second-quarter results met expectations, but a 49% drop in free cash flow caused a post-earnings dip, although the company did not change its free cash flow guidance for the fiscal year, suggesting a potential market overreaction [4][6] - The company ended the second quarter with 438 million active accounts, a 2% year-over-year increase, and reported a payment volume of $443.6 billion, a 5% increase compared to the same period last year [5] - PayPal's revenue grew 5% year over year to $8.3 billion, with non-GAAP EPS at $1.40, an 18% increase from the previous year [5] - The new CEO, Alex Chriss, is focused on improving profitability and has introduced new growth opportunities, including an advertising platform for businesses, leveraging PayPal's extensive user data [6][7] - The company is expected to benefit from the growing demand for digital payment methods, driven by the e-commerce industry's expansion and a strong network effect [7] Group 2: Fiverr - Fiverr's platform is facing challenges with a decline in active buyers, down 10.9% year over year to 3.4 million, but revenue increased by 14.8% year over year to $108.6 million [8][9] - Despite fewer buyers, the spend per buyer rose to $318, a 9.8% increase from the previous year, indicating that Fiverr is retaining high-spending customers [10] - Fiverr's non-GAAP EPS was $0.69, a 19% increase from the year-ago period, showcasing strong financial results [10] - The rise of AI poses a threat to some freelance specialties, but it also creates demand for AI-related services, which Fiverr is capitalizing on by connecting businesses with qualified freelancers [11] - The underlying business remains sound, and the growth of the gig economy presents promising opportunities for Fiverr despite its current market performance [11]

Payment Trends - Cash remains a popular payment method in America despite the rise of digital payment options [1] Consumer Behavior - Many Americans still use and prefer cash for various reasons [1]