Core Insights - Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) and American Express Company (AXP) operate in different segments of the payments ecosystem, with both companies positioned at the intersection of consumer spending and credit [1] - The evolving payment preferences and financing models are leading investors to compare traditional card-based companies with newer embedded-finance disruptors [2] Affirm's Position - Affirm is a key player in the buy now, pay later (BNPL) model, integrating into digital checkout experiences, and has reported a 33.6% year-over-year revenue growth in its last quarter [4][10] - The company has 24.1 million active consumers and a 96% repeat transaction rate, indicating strong user engagement [4][10] - Affirm's technology-first underwriting model utilizes real-time data and machine learning for credit risk assessment, which has stabilized credit performance [5] - The company has a growing merchant ecosystem with 420,000 partners, including major brands like Shopify and Amazon, enhancing its market presence [6] - Affirm's long-term debt-to-capital ratio stands at 70.6%, higher than AmEx's 64.1%, reflecting its growth-stage profile [7] - The company is diversifying its funding sources through securitizations and bank partnerships, which is expected to improve profitability over time [8] American Express's Position - American Express is recognized as a leading operator in traditional payments, benefiting from a loyal customer base and strong brand equity, with an 11% revenue growth in its latest quarter [9][10] - The company's revenue mix is heavily reliant on lending and interest income, which may limit its agility in adopting new payment technologies [11] - Growth for AmEx is more incremental due to its deep market penetration, making it challenging to achieve outsized growth without increasing credit risk [12] - Innovation at AmEx is characterized as measured rather than disruptive, which may restrict its competitive edge against faster-moving fintech companies [13] Comparative Analysis - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates a projected 560% year-over-year earnings surge for Affirm in fiscal 2026, compared to a 15.4% increase for American Express [14][15] - Affirm trades at a higher price-to-sales multiple of 5.58X, reflecting its growth profile, while AmEx's multiple is 3.33X, indicative of its maturity [16] - Over the past month, Affirm has outperformed American Express, with a 14% increase compared to AmEx's 5.8% rise [18] Conclusion - While American Express provides stability and reliable cash flows, Affirm is positioned as the more attractive growth opportunity for 2026, driven by rapid revenue growth and an expanding merchant ecosystem [21]

Core Insights - PayPal is expanding its small business lending efforts by establishing PayPal Bank, a proposed Utah-chartered industrial loan company, to enhance its lending capabilities and support small business growth in the U.S. [2][3] Group 1: Business Strategy - The establishment of PayPal Bank aims to improve efficiency in lending to small businesses, reducing reliance on third parties and strengthening PayPal's overall business model [3] - PayPal has provided over $30 billion in loans and working capital to more than 420,000 business accounts globally since 2013, indicating a strong track record in supporting small businesses [3] Group 2: Product Offerings - In addition to small business lending, PayPal Bank plans to offer interest-bearing savings accounts and seek direct membership with U.S. card networks to enhance its processing and settlement services [4] - If approved, customer deposits at PayPal Bank would be eligible for FDIC insurance, adding a layer of security for depositors [4] Group 3: Leadership - Mara McNeill has been appointed as the president of PayPal Bank, bringing experience from her previous role as president and CEO of Toyota Financial Savings Bank [5] Group 4: Market Context - A report highlighted that half of small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) rely on daily sales or existing bank balances for operations, with many turning to personal credit cards when traditional financing is unavailable [6] - PayPal's third-quarter earnings indicated that its capital programs are integral to its merchant ecosystem, with significant purchases of merchant receivables amounting to approximately $1.6 billion and $1.2 billion in the respective nine months ended September 30 and in 2024 [7] - PayPal has over 35 million active merchant accounts, showcasing the growing trend of embedded finance as a mainstream credit channel [7]

Core Insights - The trading landscape is evolving towards embedded finance, where traders expect seamless access to multiple asset classes, including crypto, forex, and commodities, within a single platform [1][2][4] - Eightcap Embedded offers a multi-asset trading capability through a single API, allowing brokers, exchanges, and wallets to integrate diverse trading options while maintaining compliance [3][6][12] - The integration of stablecoins is enhancing the efficiency of fiat-crypto transactions, although regulatory challenges remain regarding their treatment as client money [9][10][11] Group 1: Market Trends and Client Needs - Traders are increasingly valuing experience alongside execution, seeking real-time access to markets and diversified asset options [1] - A convergence of client needs across various financial platforms indicates that users prefer to trade multiple asset classes without switching providers, which is crucial for user retention [2][4] - The shift towards embedded finance is seen as a natural progression from payments and lending to trading, with platforms needing to adapt to these expectations to remain competitive [4][12] Group 2: Compliance and Infrastructure - Eightcap's embedded trading API incorporates compliance measures such as KYC, AML, and licensing logic, allowing partners to launch services without building separate compliance systems [6][7] - The challenge of integrating regulated derivatives with crypto trading requires careful consideration of infrastructure and regulatory requirements [4][7] - A 'compliant-by-design' approach is essential for maintaining trust with clients and regulators while enabling rapid scaling of trading services [7][12] Group 3: Educational Engagement and User Retention - Simulated trading environments, like Eightcap Tradesim, have shown that traders gain confidence and develop discipline when they can practice in realistic conditions without real-world consequences [8] - Educational engagement is directly linked to trading longevity, with users who engage in simulated trading more likely to transition to active trading [9] Group 4: Future Outlook and Technological Shifts - The next two years are expected to see a significant shift towards on-chain assets, including tokenized gold, equities, and cash equivalents, fundamentally changing capital usage [11][12] - Eightcap is positioning itself to lead this transition by partnering with technology firms to offer compliant, capital-efficient trading experiences that bridge traditional finance and the emerging on-chain economy [12][13]

Core Insights - The company has undergone a significant transition from a direct-to-consumer model to a B2B offering focused on embedded finance, targeting Tier 1 and Tier 2 banks [2] - The acquisition of Radical DBX has been pivotal, providing not only customers and revenue but also a superior distribution channel [3] Group 1 - The year 2025 has been marked as a massive year for the company, highlighting a strategic pivot and growth [2] - The company is concentrating on expanding its presence in the U.S. market through a distribution-first acquisition strategy [3] - The product has been consolidated and modularized into what is now referred to as Stakk [3]

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 ...

Summary of Marqeta 2025 Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Marqeta (NasdaqGS:MQ) - **New CEO**: Mike Milotich has been appointed as CEO and CFO, focusing on strategic initiatives and growth [1][3] Key Industry Insights - **Platform Differentiation**: Marqeta operates a full modern platform that supports both credit and debit transactions across over 40 markets, which is a key driver for future growth [4][5] - **Scalability**: The company plans to add approximately $100 billion in volume to its platform, emphasizing the importance of scalability for large enterprises and financial institutions [5] Business Performance - **Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)**: - BNPL business saw a 33% growth in total payment volume (TPV) in the last quarter, with lending and BNPL use cases growing over 60% [8][9] - Adoption of Visa's Flexible Credential has significantly improved the value proposition for BNPL services [9][10] - European operations are also growing rapidly, particularly with Klarna migrating millions of cards to Marqeta's platform [12][30] - **On-Demand Delivery**: This segment has seen a resurgence, doubling its growth rate and expanding into new merchant categories and markets [14] - **Gross Profit Growth**: - The company expects gross profit growth to exceed 20% this year, driven by strong performance in BNPL and on-demand delivery [20][21] - International business, particularly in Europe, is growing over 100% in TPV, contributing to overall growth [22] Customer Relationships and Contract Renewals - **Major Customer Updates**: - Two major contract renewals are pending, expected to impact growth by about 2 percentage points each [18][19] - Block, Marqeta's largest customer, is diversifying processors, which may impact gross profit by approximately 200 basis points in 2026 [23][24][26] - **Klarna Partnership**: The Klarna Card has launched in 15 new countries, showcasing Marqeta's ability to support rapid expansion and innovation [30] Operational Efficiency - **Cost Management**: - The company has improved operational efficiency, with adjusted EBITDA expected to exceed $100 million this year, up from $29 million last year [36] - Stock-based compensation is projected to stabilize around $110 million annually, essential for attracting and retaining talent [40] Strategic Acquisitions - **TransactPay Acquisition**: This acquisition enhances Marqeta's ability to serve multinational customers consistently, allowing for seamless processing and program management across regions [42][44] Future Outlook - **Growth Strategy**: Marqeta aims to continue expanding its platform capabilities and customer base, particularly in the embedded finance sector, targeting large multinational companies [45][46] Conclusion - Marqeta is positioned for significant growth through its scalable platform, strong performance in BNPL, and strategic partnerships, while also focusing on operational efficiency and customer retention strategies.

Transaction Overview - CommerceOne Financial Corporation (C1) will acquire Green Dot Corporation (GDOT), and then sell GDOT's Embedded Finance business (OpCo) to affiliates of Smith Ventures LLC[14] - GDOT shareholders will receive $811 per share in cash plus 02215 shares of C1 for every share of GDOT, with an illustrative total value per share of $1423 – $1918[14] - The OpCo will be sold for $690 million in cash, including $65 million of Unsecured Notes, with $155 million contributed to BankCo for regulatory capital purposes[14] Financial Highlights and Synergies - The transaction unlocks significant value for shareholders by realizing upfront value for embedded finance assets and providing upside potential via participation in the bank sponsorship platform[18] - GDOT shareholders will have approximately 72% ownership in the combined BankCo, sharing in the value creation opportunity[10, 20] - The combined BankCo is projected to have approximately $490 million in tangible book value (TBV)[10, 20] - The long-term commercial arrangement allows the combined BankCo to benefit from the Embedded Finance OpCo via an attractive, recurring fee structure, projected at ~$30 million+ annually[42, 44] Pro Forma Institution and Market Opportunity - The pro forma institution aims to create a balanced, multi-faceted banking platform combining CommerceOne's relationship-driven origination with Green Dot Bank's (GDB) efficient deposit strategy[24, 30] - The embedded finance market presents a $230 billion+ opportunity, with a 20% CAGR projected from 2023A to 2027E[36, 39]

Core Viewpoint - Green Dot Corporation has announced strategic transactions involving the acquisition of its non-bank financial technology business by Smith Ventures and the acquisition of Green Dot Bank by CommerceOne Financial Corporation, leading to the formation of a new publicly traded bank holding company [1][2][7] Summary by Sections Transaction Details - Smith Ventures will acquire Green Dot's non-bank financial technology assets for $690 million in cash, with $470 million distributed to Green Dot shareholders, $155 million invested into the bank for regulatory capital, and $65 million allocated to pay off current debts [3][5] - Upon completion, each Green Dot share will be exchanged for $8.11 in cash and 0.2215 shares of the new bank holding company, with former Green Dot shareholders owning approximately 72% and former CommerceOne shareholders owning about 28% of the new entity [2][5] Strategic Rationale - The transactions aim to create a growth-focused fintech company and a new bank holding company that will serve as the exclusive issuing bank for the fintech's digital banking platform, enhancing market share and partnership opportunities [4][15] - The implied value to Green Dot shareholders is estimated between $14.23 and $19.18 per share, with an aggregate value of approximately $825 million to $1.1 billion [5][12] Company Backgrounds - Smith Ventures, founded in 2017, specializes in investing in high-potential businesses in financial services and consumer technology, focusing on long-term growth [6][22] - CommerceOne Financial Corporation, established in 2022, aims to deliver long-term shareholder value through disciplined growth and exceptional client service [8][24] Future Outlook - The transactions are expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, pending shareholder and regulatory approvals [12][16] - The strategic review process that led to these transactions evaluated various alternatives to enhance shareholder value [16]

Core Viewpoint - Block stock (NYSE: XYZ) is down 16% this month due to disappointing Q3 results, but it presents a potential investment opportunity due to its strong historical support level [2]. Support Level Analysis - XYZ is currently trading within a key support range of $58.90 to $65.10, having tested this range 12 times over the last decade, leading to an average peak return of 75.5% after each rebound [3]. Rebound Potential - The likelihood of a rebound is enhanced by Block's Investor Day forecast, which projects mid-teens growth in gross profit and 30% adjusted operating income/EPS growth through 2028, alongside a $5 billion share repurchase plan [4]. - Q3 EPS exceeded expectations, and analysts highlight significant undervaluation with considerable upside targets, driven by growth catalysts such as Cash App's lending and Square's recovering momentum [4]. Financial Performance - XYZ's revenue growth stands at 0.5% for the last twelve months (LTM) and an average of 12.6% over the past three years [10]. - The company has a free cash flow margin of nearly 7.6% and an operating margin of 9.6% LTM [10]. - The stock is currently trading at a PE multiple of 12.1 [10].

Core Insights - Stakk has signed a three-year contract with SoFi Technologies to deliver its Stakk IQ modular embedded finance solution, which will enhance deposit acceptance features for over 12.6 million customers via the SoFi app [1] - The revenue model for Stakk will include a monthly platform fee and usage-based transaction fees, with revenue expected to start in December and accelerate throughout the 2026 financial year [2] - The agreement with SoFi, along with a recent contract with Chime Financial, is projected to add approximately $4.7 million to Stakk's annual recurring revenue (ARR), exceeding the previous ARR forecast of $8 million by year-end [3] Company Overview - SoFi, with a market capitalization of approximately $51 billion, operates under a branch-less business model, offering a range of financial products and services while aiming to keep customers within its digital ecosystem [5] - SoFi is recognized as the official banking partner for the National Basketball Association and is the premium sponsor of SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles [6] Strategic Importance - The chair of Stakk, Nikhil Ghanekar, emphasized the significant growth in ARR and the importance of the technology provided, which serves a diverse clientele including small financial institutions and multinational corporations [4] - The selection of Stakk by SoFi after a rigorous selection process highlights the company's innovative potential and the opportunity for collaboration with a leading fintech [4]