This story was originally published on Payments Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Payments Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: The Federal Reserve Board on Friday voted to seek public comment on what would be a new, limited-use bank payment account that could be used by eligible banks and credit unions, according to a press release from the central bank that day. The vote in favor was 6-1, with a dissenting vote from Federal Reserve Gov. Michael Barr, who said in a separate ...

Core Insights - Visa and Mastercard will pay $167.5 million to settle a lawsuit regarding ATM fees, which accused them of conspiring to inflate access fees for ATM users [1][2][3] Settlement Details - The settlement will provide compensation to millions of ATM users who incurred unreimbursed access fees at independent, non-bank ATMs since October 2007, with Visa contributing approximately $88.8 million and Mastercard around $78.7 million [3][4] - The lawsuit was initiated in 2011, challenging the companies' rules that allegedly restricted independent ATM operators from offering lower fees [4] Legal Context - The companies have denied any wrongdoing, and previously settled related claims for $197.5 million concerning overcharges at bank-operated ATMs [4] - Plaintiffs' attorneys described the settlement as a favorable outcome given the risks of ongoing litigation and plan to request up to 30% of the fund, approximately $50 million, for legal fees [5] Industry Outlook - Visa's 2026 outlook indicates that approximately $11 trillion in cash remains in circulation globally, suggesting that cash will continue to play a significant role in economies for the foreseeable future [5][6] - The company anticipates that 2026 will mark the first year when half of the world's consumer payments will be made using card credentials, indicating a shift towards digital payments [6] Cash Usage Trends - Cash remains integral to informal economies and small-value transactions, particularly in regions with limited banking access, while also being used for budgeting and privacy in advanced economies [7]

According to the latest 13F filings, several top investors increased their holdings in Fiserv Inc. (FISV) this quarter, underscoring rising confidence in the company’s payments ecosystem, sticky recurring revenue, and durable free-cash-flow profile. Below are the most notable additions from the period:AQR Capital Management LLC (Cliff Asness)Shares: 1,560,988  Change: +1,166,433  Value: $0.20BCliff Asness made the largest move among superinvestors this quarter, adding more than 1.16 million shares. The scal ...

Key Takeaways SoFi is gaining from rising digital banking demand and Galileo's traction with financial institutions.XYZ's Cash App and Square units fuel growth despite macro headwinds and stiff fintech competition.CRCL expands via USDC, planned partnerships and early traction for its Circle Payments Network and Arc chain.In today’s fast-moving digital economy, traditional payment methods are increasingly seen as slow, fragmented and inefficient. Consumers and businesses are gravitating toward payment soluti ...

Investors should no longer ignore the ongoing AI boom.There hasn't been a more notable trend in markets and the economy in recent years than the artificial intelligence (AI) craze. This technology is being seen as a game changer that could fundamentally alter society, with huge gains in productivity that will lead to incredible economic growth. Businesses are investing hundreds of billions of dollars to be leaders in the space, and governments are supporting this activity.Investors should always be looking ...

The Swiss city that lets you pay for most things with bitcoin https://t.co/Ol1fTMcl3n ...

Core Insights - OBOOK Holdings Inc. (OwlTing) is launching OwlPay Cash, a mobile-first remittance app developed in collaboration with Visa, aimed at facilitating payments abroad in local currencies to eligible bank accounts in 26 key regions worldwide [2][3][5] - The app leverages Visa Direct, connecting to over 11 billion endpoints globally, which helps reduce hidden fees and provides greater transparency on foreign exchange rates [3][4] - OwlPay Cash is designed to significantly lower costs, offering transfers up to 70% cheaper than traditional SWIFT options, with no monthly fees [5][8] Company Overview - OBOOK Holdings Inc. operates as the OwlTing Group, a blockchain technology company headquartered in Taiwan, with subsidiaries in multiple countries including the U.S., Japan, and Singapore [6] - The company focuses on a diversified ecosystem across payments, hospitality, and e-commerce, and was ranked among the top 2 global players in the "Enterprise & B2B" category for stablecoins in 2025 [6] - The mission of the company is to utilize blockchain technology for reliable data management and to transform global fund flows for businesses and consumers [6] Market Context - Global remittances are projected to reach $905 billion in 2024, with $230 billion expected to flow from the U.S. alone, highlighting the significant demand for cost-effective remittance solutions [4][11] - The U.S. has nearly 48 million immigrants, many of whom rely on remittances for essential expenses such as housing and education [4][11] - Current cross-border transfer fees average around 6.6%, which is above the UN's target of 3% set in the Sustainable Development Goals [4][12]

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 8, 2025. Registration No. 333-_______ UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM S-1 Cayman Islands 6770 N/A (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) 13 Stamford Road, #02-11, Singapore 178905 +65 8768 8988 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AfterNext Acquisition I Corp. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) (State or ...

Core Thesis - Visa Inc. is viewed positively due to its strong financial performance, operational efficiency, and growth potential in the digital payments sector [1][2][6] Financial Performance - Visa reported Q4 and full-year FY2025 results with net revenue of $10.7 billion and non-GAAP EPS growth of 13% to $2.98 [2] - The company experienced a 9% increase in payment volume, indicating a shift from cash to digital payments [2] - Despite a $899 million litigation provision, non-GAAP operating expenses increased by only 8%, showcasing Visa's cost discipline [2] Growth Drivers - Cross-border transactions, Visa's most profitable segment, grew by 12% year-over-year, benefiting from increased international travel and e-commerce [3] - New payment flows and value-added services surged over 20%, contributing to Visa's "second growth curve" and expanding its integration with fintechs and enterprises [3] Capital Strategy - Visa maintained a shareholder-friendly capital strategy with $13.7 billion in buybacks and a 14% increase in dividends, supported by $23.9 billion in free cash flow for FY2025 [4] - Management has guided for low double-digit revenue and EPS growth for FY2026, indicating sustained earnings visibility [4] Valuation - Valuation frameworks suggest a forward P/E of 29–35x and a DCF-based intrinsic value of $315–$355, indicating that the stock is reasonably priced given Visa's growth and profitability [5] - Visa's scale, network effects, and role in global commerce position it as a valuable infrastructure provider in digital payments [5]

Core Insights - The 2025 holiday season is projected to generate approximately $1 trillion in retail sales, marking a 4.2% increase from $976 billion in 2024 [1][2] - The banking and payments sector is expected to benefit significantly from this surge, particularly through digital payments and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services [2][3] Digital Payments Industry - The holiday season is a critical period for digital payment providers, with transaction volumes expected to spike, testing the resilience of their infrastructure [3][5] - Digital payments are projected to continue their steady growth, with November and December accounting for about 15-20% of total retail sales globally [4][5] Key Companies to Watch - **Visa (NYSE:V)**: Strong fundamentals with a 3.5% year-to-date increase; operates like a digital toll road, benefiting from inflation as transaction fees rise [7][8] - **PayPal (NASDAQ:PYPL)**: Positioned to benefit from holiday-driven transaction increases; currently down over 27% in 2025 but has a strong user base and partnerships with major companies [10][11] - **Block (NYSE:XYZ)**: Plans for a $5 billion share buyback and aims for $32.8 billion in revenue by 2028; combines various payment services and is seen as a resilient disruptor in the payments industry [12][13][14]