Against this background, it makes sense that SoFi hasn’t got a physical presence – in this day of social media, an online-only bank, without brick-and-mortar physical branches, shouldn’t be a surprise. SoFi’s customers access their services online, via smartphones and tablets or laptops and PCs, on the bank’s mobile app or website. Also unsurprisingly, SoFi orients itself toward the younger generation, customers who grew up in the digital world, and are comfortable navigating a digital-only bank as they sta ...

In a world racing toward digital payments, stablecoins were supposed to be the reliable bridge between crypto and traditional finance. As the name suggests, stablecoins are designed to maintain a stable value for payments and trading. They are pegged 1:1 with assets considered stable like fiat or gold. But new research from Moody’s Investors Service warns that what looks stable might be cracking underneath. Related: Explained: What is a stablecoin? Cracks in the $300 billion stablecoin market The cred ...

Core Insights - PayPal is replacing CEO Alex Chriss with Enrique Lores due to unmet expectations regarding the pace of change and execution over the past two years [1] - Lores, who has been a board member for nearly five years and board chair since July 2024, aims to accelerate innovation in the rapidly evolving payments industry [1] - The company reported fourth-quarter results showing an adjusted profit of $1.23 per share on revenue of $8.68 billion, which fell short of analyst expectations [1] Leadership Changes - Enrique Lores will officially take over as CEO on March 1, with Jamie Miller serving as interim CEO until then [1] - David Dorman has been appointed as independent chair effective immediately [1] Financial Performance - PayPal's fourth-quarter adjusted profit was $1.23 per share, while revenue reached $8.68 billion [1] - These results did not meet the expectations of analysts, who anticipated a profit of $1.29 per share and revenue of $8.77 billion [1]

Visa Inc. (V), based in San Francisco, is a global payment technology company with a market cap of $599.2 billion. Operating in over 200 countries, it facilitates secure, fast transactions through its advanced technology and global infrastructure, enabling digital money movement and supporting commerce worldwide. Despite its reputation as a global payments powerhouse, Visa has struggled to keep pace with the broader market over the past year. Visa has declined 4.9% over this time frame, while the broader ...

PayPal (NASDAQ:PYPL), a digital payments platform for merchants and consumers worldwide, closed Tuesday at $41.70, down 20.31%. The stock fell after Q4 2025 earnings and 2026 profit guidance missed expectations, while investors are watching how new leadership and capital-return plans reshape growth and margins.Trading volume reached 139 million shares, coming in about 792% above its three-month average of 16 million shares. PayPal IPO'd in 2015 and has grown 10% since going public. How the markets moved t ...

Core Viewpoint - PayPal is undergoing a leadership change with the appointment of Enrique Lores as CEO and President, following disappointing financial results and a need for improved execution in line with market expectations [2][4]. Group 1: Leadership Change - Enrique Lores, previously the chair of PayPal's board, will replace Alex Chriss as CEO and President [2]. - Jamie Miller, the current CFO and COO, will serve as interim CEO until Lores officially joins [3]. Group 2: Financial Performance - PayPal reported lower-than-expected revenue and profit for the fourth quarter, attributed to decreased consumer spending amid a cost of living crisis and a softening labor market [4]. - The company has forecasted a decline in full-year profit, which surprised investors who anticipated growth [4]. - Following the announcement, PayPal's shares fell approximately 17.9% in premarket trading [4]. Group 3: Strategic Focus - Lores emphasized the importance of product innovation and accountability in delivering quarterly results as part of his leadership approach [5]. - He acknowledged the rapid changes in the payments industry driven by new technologies, evolving regulations, and increased competition, expressing a commitment to lead PayPal in accelerating innovation in digital payments [6].

Core Viewpoint - PayPal Holdings Inc. has appointed Enrique Lores as President and CEO, effective March 1, 2026, succeeding Alex Chriss, to lead the company through its next phase of transformation in a rapidly changing payments industry [1][2]. Group 1: Leadership Transition - Enrique Lores has been on the PayPal Board for nearly five years and served as Board Chair since July 2024 [1]. - Jamie Miller will serve as Interim CEO until Lores officially takes over [1]. - David W. Dorman has been appointed as Independent Board Chair immediately [1]. Group 2: Board Evaluation and Expectations - The Board conducted a detailed evaluation of the company's position relative to competition and the industry landscape, noting that the pace of change was not meeting expectations [2]. - The Board believes Lores' extensive experience in technology and commercial sectors will provide the necessary leadership for PayPal's future [2]. Group 3: Lores' Background and Vision - Lores previously served as President and CEO of HP Inc., where he led significant strategic transitions and innovations, including expanding into AI-enabled offerings [3]. - Lores aims to strengthen PayPal's culture of innovation while ensuring timely execution and accountability for consistent quarterly performance [4]. Group 4: Industry Context - The payments industry is evolving rapidly due to new technologies, regulations, and competitive pressures, with AI reshaping commerce [4]. - PayPal's long-term success is believed to be rooted in its global scale, data, and strong relationships with consumers, merchants, and partners [4]. Group 5: Acknowledgment of Previous Leadership - The Board expressed gratitude to Alex Chriss for his contributions, including monetizing Venmo and growing the BNPL business [5]. - Chriss emphasized the importance of transitioning to a seasoned leader for the company's next phase [6].

Company Overview - Brazilian FinTech PicPay has successfully raised $434 million in its U.S. initial public offering (IPO) [1] - The company sold 22.8 million shares at $19 each, achieving the high end of its target price range, and is set to begin trading on Nasdaq [2] - The IPO values PicPay at $2.5 billion, marking a significant move for its owners, Wesley and Joesley Batista, who are also looking to list their global meatpacking business JBS in the U.S. market [2] Industry Context - The IPO occurs during a resurgence of funding in the Latin American FinTech space, particularly from venture capital, which has facilitated ongoing financial innovation [4] - Digital wallets, account-to-account transfers, and real-time payment systems are increasingly replacing cash, modernizing commerce and enhancing access to formal financial services [5] - By 2030, digital payments are expected to account for approximately two-thirds of eCommerce transaction value and nearly half of point-of-sale value in Latin America, indicating a structural shift in consumer behavior [5] Brazil's Digital Payment Landscape - Brazil is leading the region in digital payments, with 61% of Brazilian consumers using mobile phones for retail purchases, the highest rate among surveyed countries [5] - The infrastructure supporting this behavior includes Pix, Brazil's government-backed real-time payment system, which processed 64 billion transactions in 2024, surpassing combined debit and credit card volumes [6] - Additionally, Brazil-based digital bank Inter has received regulatory approval to operate in the U.S., further expanding the country's financial services landscape [6]

Core Insights - PayPal Holdings, Inc. has a market capitalization of $51.9 billion and operates a two-sided technology platform for digital payments, connecting merchants and consumers [1] Performance Overview - Over the past 52 weeks, PayPal's stock has decreased by 38.5%, while the S&P 500 Index has increased by 16.1% [2] - Year-to-date, PayPal shares are down 4.9%, compared to a 1.9% gain in the S&P 500 [2] - PayPal has also underperformed the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF, which returned 3.1% over the same period [3] Recent Developments - On October 28, PayPal's shares rose by 3.9% following the release of strong Q3 2025 results, reporting adjusted EPS of $1.34 and revenue of $8.42 billion, both exceeding expectations [4] - The company announced a partnership with OpenAI, allowing ChatGPT users to purchase products through its platform, which positively influenced investor sentiment [4] - PayPal raised its full-year adjusted EPS forecast to a range of $5.35 to $5.39 [4] Earnings Expectations - Analysts project PayPal's adjusted EPS to grow by 15.3% year-over-year to $5.36 for the fiscal year ending December 2025 [5] - PayPal has a history of earnings surprises, having beaten consensus estimates in the last four quarters [5] Analyst Ratings - Among 44 analysts covering PayPal, the consensus rating is a "Hold," with eight "Strong Buy," two "Moderate Buy," 29 "Hold," one "Moderate Sell," and four "Strong Sell" ratings [5] - The current analyst configuration is less bullish than three months ago, when there were 13 "Strong Buy" ratings [6] Price Targets - Susquehanna lowered its price target on PayPal to $90 while maintaining a "Positive" rating [7] - The mean price target of $72.72 indicates a 31% premium to current price levels, while the highest price target of $105 suggests an upside potential of 89.2% [7]

Core Viewpoint - Stablecoins are transitioning from experimental phases in cryptocurrency to becoming integral components of trusted financial infrastructure, as highlighted by OKX's launch of a new debit card in Europe [1]. Group 1: Regulatory Environment - European regulators are enhancing the momentum for stablecoins through the implementation of the EU's Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) framework, which standardizes regulations for stablecoin issuers and crypto service providers across the bloc [1]. Group 2: Product Launch - OKX has introduced a new crypto payments card in Europe, enabling users to spend stablecoins directly at merchants that accept Mastercard [2]. - The OKX Card connects self-custody wallets to real-world payments, offering fee-free spending with a 0.4% market spread applied at the point of conversion [2]. Group 3: User Experience - Unlike traditional crypto cards that require manual conversions or preloading, the OKX Card allows users to pay with stablecoins directly from their wallets, converting assets only at the time of purchase [3]. - Users can earn crypto rewards of up to 20% during a limited promotional period [3]. Group 4: Functionality and Integration - The card supports tap-to-pay functionality through mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, and is usable at over 150 million locations globally [4]. - Designed to integrate with OKX's onchain infrastructure, the card emphasizes user control and avoids centralized custody [4]. Group 5: Compliance and Future Outlook - OKX issues the card through a licensed European payments provider, adhering to anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) regulations [5]. - The expansion of stablecoins into the financial mainstream is supported by Mastercard, with expectations that stablecoins will soon see widespread adoption for instant, low-cost global payments [5].