Visa has launched Visa Intelligent Authorisation (VIA) in Europe, less than two weeks after introducing this new capability on the Visa Acceptance Platform.By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions .Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.VIA enable ...

🔎 RESEARCH: Could blockchain become the infrastructure for global aid?The United Nations Development Programme is testing 40+ blockchain pilots globally, using stablecoins, digital wallets and smart contracts to move aid, remittances and climate funding onchain. https://t.co/EFobOzS4rP ...

Core Insights - Digital wallets from Apple and Google are expected to evolve into comprehensive commerce platforms, enhancing consumer brand engagement through loyalty and marketing initiatives [2] - The future of wallets will see them becoming more dynamic and interactive, moving beyond just digitizing physical loyalty and gift cards to include a wider array of digital needs [3] Company Overview - Badge, a San Francisco-based startup founded in 2023, positions itself as the operating platform for mobile wallets, enabling features like push notifications, real-time updates, and geofencing for merchants [4] - Badge has raised a total of $17.1 million in funding, with a recent $13.8 million round led by TTV Capital, which will also see Lynne Laube join its board of directors [5] Industry Relationships - Badge maintains close relationships and formal partnerships with Apple and Google, providing customer feedback and suggestions for wallet functionalities [6] - The interaction between Badge and the tech giants involves a collaborative feedback loop, where suggestions from merchants are communicated to Apple and Google [7]

Core Insights - Stripe's interest in acquiring PayPal has emerged, indicating a potential shift in the payments industry landscape, with both companies operating at intersecting layers of the payments economy [2][3] - The focus of a potential deal would be on achieving scale, as both companies have significant but different strengths in the payments ecosystem [4] Stripe's Performance - Stripe reported that businesses using its platform generated $1.9 trillion in total volume, reflecting a 34% increase from 2024, which is approximately 1.6% of global GDP [4] - Stripe's digital wallet, Link, is utilized by over 200 million people, showcasing its extensive reach [4] PayPal's Position - PayPal's total payments volume for the full year reached $1.79 trillion, with 439 million active accounts, indicating a reset phase amid slowing growth [5] - Venmo, a PayPal asset, surpassed 100 million active accounts and generated $1.7 billion in revenue, highlighting its consumer engagement [6] Complementary Strengths - Stripe's platform serves as merchant infrastructure, focusing on payment acceptance, fraud prevention, and financial capabilities, while PayPal excels in consumer-facing networks [6] - A merger could integrate Stripe's optimization systems with PayPal's consumer identity and funding networks, enhancing overall performance [9] Digital Wallets and Checkout Dynamics - Digital wallets are becoming essential for identity management and funding orchestration, with Stripe's ecosystem supporting over 110 million programmable wallets [8] - PayPal's wallet engagement metrics show that users who recently interacted with the app are 40% more likely to choose PayPal at checkout, emphasizing the importance of wallet engagement [9] Checkout as a Competitive Arena - Checkout mechanics are critical for merchant economics, with both Stripe and PayPal focusing on optimizing conversion rates and authentication processes [14][15] - A combined entity could leverage Stripe's infrastructure for routing and authorization while utilizing PayPal's wallet systems for consumer authentication and funding choices [16][17] Overlap and Integration - There is unavoidable overlap between Stripe and PayPal in online payments and fraud management, suggesting potential rationalization of services if a merger occurs [18] - Key assets for potential acquisition could include Venmo, enterprise payments, and branded checkout capabilities [19] Competitive Implications - A merger would reshape competitive dynamics in the FinTech sector, potentially increasing pricing pressure on independent processors and enhancing the scale of the combined platform [20] - For consumers, wallet functionality and payment choices may remain stable initially, but integration could lead to reduced friction and improved funding flexibility over time [21]

Summary of BlackRock's 2026 Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: BlackRock (NYSE: BLK) - **Industry**: Asset Management - **AUM**: Over $14 trillion, making it the largest asset manager globally [3][4] Key Financial Performance - **Organic Base Fee Growth**: Achieved a record 12% in Q4 2025, with an annual growth of 9% for the year, significantly above market expectations [3][4] - **Sustainable Growth Projection**: Expected normalized organic base fee growth of 6%-7% moving forward [5][6] Strategic Priorities for 2026 - **Integration of Acquisitions**: Focus on integrating recent acquisitions, including Global Infrastructure Partners and HPS Investment Partners, to maximize synergies [11][12] - **Fundraising Goals**: Targeting $400 billion in growth fundraising by 2030, leveraging institutional relationships and wealth channels [12][13] - **iShares Growth**: Continued double-digit organic growth in ETFs, with $530 billion of organic asset growth in 2025 [13][14] - **Technology and Data**: Aiming for mid-teens annual contract value (ACV) growth in the Aladdin business, which finished 2025 at 16% ACV [14][15] - **Wealth Management Expansion**: Significant opportunities in wealth management, particularly in integrating private markets into wealth platforms [15][16] Market Trends and Opportunities - **Consolidation in Asset Management**: The top five asset managers are capturing approximately 80% of industry flows, indicating a trend towards consolidation [6][7] - **Digital Wallets and Crypto**: BlackRock sees digital wallets as a new distribution channel, with 820 million crypto wallets holding significant economic value [22][23][26] - **Tokenization of ETFs**: Plans to tokenize ETF offerings to tap into the growing digital wallet ecosystem [29][30] Systematic Active Equity Business - **Strong Demand**: Experienced $50 billion in inflows into systematic strategies, highlighting a shift in the perception of scale as a driver of alpha [40][43] - **Diverse Product Offering**: Growth across multiple products, including active ETFs and hedge funds, contributing to systematic flows [45][46] M&A Strategy - **Focus on Integration**: Current emphasis on integrating recent acquisitions rather than pursuing new large-scale M&A [66][67] - **Selective Acquisitions**: Open to smaller, accretive transactions that align with growth in private markets and technology [66][67] Operating Margins - **Current Margin Performance**: Achieved an adjusted operating margin of 45% in Q4 2025, with expectations to maintain or exceed this level [59][61] - **Long-term Margin Goals**: Potential to grow fully burdened operating margins above 45% through strategic investments and organic growth [61][62] White Space Opportunities - **Expansion Areas**: Identified opportunities in secondaries, investment-grade finance, and data completion related to Preqin [69][71] Conclusion - BlackRock is well-positioned for continued growth through strategic integration of acquisitions, expansion in wealth management, and leveraging technology in asset management. The focus on digital wallets and tokenization reflects a forward-looking approach to evolving market dynamics.

Core Insights - Adaptability is identified as a key competitive advantage in the payments industry, emphasizing the need for companies to be flexible in response to rapid changes [1][5] Industry Trends - The pandemic accelerated the shift towards digital and contactless payment methods, making speed and convenience essential expectations for consumers [3] - Global digital wallet transaction value reached $10 trillion in 2024, a significant increase from $3.9 trillion in 2020, driven by the dominance of mobile payments and Gen Z adoption [7] - AI-driven tools for fraud prevention, such as tokenization and multi-factor authentication (MFA), have reduced eCommerce fraud by up to 30%, with real-time detection processing over a billion transactions daily [7] - Embedded payments are projected to hit $6.5 trillion in volume by 2025, while open banking adoption is growing, albeit slowly in the U.S. due to regulatory challenges [7] - Cash usage has declined sharply in mature markets, yet it remains resilient globally, indicating diverse consumer preferences for payment methods [7] Merchant Needs - Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are increasingly seeking seamless financial management solutions, expecting immediate access to funds and a consolidated view of their performance [7] Payment Innovations - The anticipated rise of real-time payments has been validated, with UPI in India and Pix in Brazil leading the way, although the U.S. has not scaled as expected [7] - The rapid adoption of AI, particularly following the introduction of ChatGPT in November 2022, has shifted consumer behavior towards seeking advice from AI rather than traditional search engines [7]

🔥HUGE: @FTI_US PREDICTS DIGITAL WALLETS WILL HOLD ALL OF PEOPLE'S ASSETS!Major asset manager Franklin Templeton forecasts complete shift to digital asset storage, signaling institutional embrace of crypto infrastructure beyond traditional investments. https://t.co/OAlAP9bXq8 ...

The UK Treasury is drafting rules to bring cryptocurrencies and related services under FCA supervision from 2027, regulating exchanges and digital wallets like other financial products with transparency and compliance requirements. The government is also planning to ban political donations made using cryptocurrency. https://t.co/UlWrfXpmzM ...

RT Bloomberg Live (@BloombergLive)Digital wallets, instant transfers, AI—how we move money is changing fast.At #BloombergTech #BTechDigitalEconomy leaders in tech and finance unpack what this means for businesses of every size in San Francisco 12/10.💳 https://t.co/Tm5weXIKE8 https://t.co/SDi09iPQQN ...

Core Insights - Visa has launched three new digital wallets in Europe in collaboration with BBVA, Klarna, and Vipps MobilePay, with a pilot project with BANCOMAT planned for early 2026 [2][3] - The new wallets utilize near field communication (NFC) technology for host card emulation (HCE) on iOS wallets, marking a significant advancement in mobile payment options [2][3] Industry Trends - The EU's Digital Markets Act has facilitated a major regulatory shift, allowing third-party wallets to access NFC technology, which is expected to enhance competition and innovation in mobile payments [3] - Mobile payments currently account for 59% of all eCommerce transactions in Europe, projected to rise to 75% by 2030, with 32% of Europeans relying solely on mobile wallets for purchases [3] Company Developments - BBVA Pay in Spain is the first wallet globally to integrate Visa's Token Service using Visa's software developer toolkit, enhancing security by replacing sensitive card information with a secure digital token [4] - Klarna is expanding its app into 14 new European markets, enabling tap-to-pay capabilities through its collaboration with Visa [4] - Vipps MobilePay has launched a Visa co-badged wallet in Norway, with plans to expand to Denmark, Finland, and Sweden [5]