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]

【12月26日Visa数据：近三成美国成年人盼收加密货币圣诞礼】12月26日，Visa最新数据披露，28%的 美国成年人期望收到加密货币作为圣诞礼物。其中，18至25岁的Z世代群体意愿更强烈，高达45%。 Bitget交易平台表示，这意味着加密文化正逐步融入主流。在预算紧缩情况下，数位资产因灵活性与轻 量化，获得大家青睐。 分析人士称，年轻一代把加密货币看作兼具礼物和投资属性的资产，在当前币 价低迷时，被视为"逢低布局"良机。 ...

Core Insights - American consumers are increasingly interested in receiving cryptocurrency as Christmas gifts, reflecting a shift in consumer behavior amid rising inflation [1][5] - Despite inflation pressures, the desire for digital assets as gifts is growing, particularly among younger demographics [3][4] Consumer Behavior - 28% of Americans would be excited to receive crypto as a holiday gift, with this figure rising to 45% among Gen Z, indicating a strong preference for flexible and digital-first assets [3] - 47% of US shoppers are utilizing AI tools for holiday purchases, focusing on optimization rather than excess spending [3] Demographic Trends - Younger shoppers, especially Gen Z, show higher adoption rates of crypto payments, digital wallets, and biometric authentication compared to other age groups [4] - The trend suggests that crypto gifting is not replacing essential purchases but is instead taking the place of traditional discretionary items [4] Cultural Shift - The acceptance of cryptocurrency as a gift signifies a cultural normalization rather than mere speculative interest, potentially influencing future gifting and holiday spending patterns [5] - The growing comfort with digital assets among younger consumers may shape future consumer spending and investment habits [6]

Core Insights - Ripple (CRYPTO: XRP) has processed a total of $95 billion in payments, but the correlation between price and adoption has weakened in 2025 [1][2] Group 1: Adoption and Market Dynamics - The XRP investment thesis was primarily based on adoption, with expectations that increased bank participation in RippleNet would lead to higher XRP prices [2] - Despite over 4 billion XRP Ledger transactions and more than 300 banking partners, XRP's price did not see a meaningful increase [2][4] Group 2: Ripple's Strategic Positioning - Ripple Labs has shifted from being a software provider to a regulated financial institution, securing approval to operate Ripple National Trust Bank and raising approximately $500 million at a valuation near $40 billion [4] - The focus of banks on Ripple's licenses and compliance tools has not translated into increased XRP prices, indicating a disconnect between Ripple's growth and XRP's market performance [4][5] Group 3: Cost Efficiency and Market Adoption - RippleNet partners utilize XRP not for speculation but for its efficiency in reducing costs and speeding up settlement times, with cross-border payments settling in minutes and avoiding high SWIFT fees [5][6] - The importance of XRP's price is diminished for banks, as their primary concern is lowering operating costs and reducing counterparty risk [6] Group 4: Competitive Moat and Switching Costs - The integration of 300 banks into RippleNet creates significant switching costs, making it difficult for them to migrate to competitors like SWIFT or Stellar [7][9] - Ripple's structural advantage in 2025 was not merely an increase in XRP's price but the establishment of barriers that complicate banks' exit from the network [9]

IPO Overview - The Indian primary market is expected to be busy in 2026, with over 190 companies either cleared or in the approval queue, aiming to raise more than Rs 2.5 lakh crore [11] - Reliance Jio is anticipated to dominate the IPO calendar, with a valuation between Rs 11 lakh crore to Rs 12 lakh crore, potentially becoming India's largest IPO [11] - The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) is gaining momentum for its IPO, having set aside Rs 1,300 crore to settle regulatory matters, with expectations for a no-objection certificate from Sebi soon [11] Consumer Internet and Technology Companies - Flipkart is preparing for a 2026 listing, targeting a valuation of $60 billion to $70 billion, and is expected to be one of the largest technology offerings from India [3][11] - PhonePe has filed confidential draft papers for a $1.5 billion IPO, valuing the company at around $15 billion, marking a significant milestone for India's fintech sector [4][11] Hospitality and Financial Services - OYO is preparing for an IPO that could raise up to $800 million, focusing on stabilizing its business and improving profitability [6][11] - SBI Funds Management is considering raising up to $1.2 billion through an IPO in the first half of 2026, backed by State Bank of India and Amundi [7][11] Lending and Fintech - Hero Fincorp plans to raise Rs 3,668.13 crore through its IPO, consisting of a Rs 2,100 crore fresh issue and an offer for sale by existing shareholders [7][11] - Navi Technologies is targeting a listing in the second half of FY26, expanding across personal loans, home loans, and insurance [8][11] Quick-Commerce and Consumer Electronics - Zepto is preparing to refile its draft papers, looking to raise $450 million to $500 million (approximately Rs 4,000 crore to Rs 4,440 crore) [9][11] - boAt aims to raise $300 million to $500 million at a valuation of over $1.5 billion, having finalized major investment banks for its IPO [10][11]

Photo by BeInCrypto Americans are feeling the pressure of higher living costs, but they are not stepping away from crypto.  A new holiday spending survey from Visa Inc. shows a growing appetite for digital assets as gifts, even as inflation continues to limit disposable income and keep consumers cautious. The contrast highlights a deeper shift in how households adapt when money feels tight. Inflation Is Cooling, but Budgets Still Feel Tight Inflation has eased from its post-pandemic peak, but prices re ...

Core Insights - Mastercard's service business is becoming a crucial part of its long-term growth strategy, enhancing its core payments franchise and improving resilience and profitability [1][4] - The service segment, known as Value-Added Services (VAS), is driving sustainable revenue growth and competitive differentiation [1][8] Revenue Diversification - Mastercard generates revenues primarily from transaction volumes, but its service business diversifies these revenues, making them less dependent on consumer spending and economic cycles [2] - Services such as data analytics, cybersecurity, and fraud prevention focus on long-term client relationships, reducing earnings volatility and providing a steadier growth profile [2] Growth in Value-Added Services - Demand for Mastercard's service offerings surged during COVID-19, with revenues from Value-Added Services growing 17.7% in 2023, 16.8% in 2024, and 22% year-over-year in the first nine months of 2025 [3][8] - The growth is driven by increased demand for consumer acquisition, engagement, and business insights [3] Strategic Acquisitions and Partnerships - Mastercard's acquisitions and partnerships, including those with Recorded Future, Dynamic Yield, and the Monetary Authority of Singapore, are expanding its service business and enhancing cybersecurity capabilities [4] - These strategic moves support continued growth in the service segment as the payments business gains momentum [4] Competitive Landscape - Visa and American Express are also leveraging their service businesses to drive growth beyond transaction-based revenues, enhancing customer retention and diversifying revenue streams [5][6] - American Express, in particular, utilizes its closed-loop network to boost spending and customer loyalty through its service offerings [6] Stock Performance - Mastercard's shares have gained 9.5% year-to-date, outperforming the industry [7] Valuation Metrics - Mastercard trades at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 30.36, which is above the industry average of 21.07, indicating a relatively expensive valuation [9] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Mastercard's fourth-quarter 2025 EPS and first-quarter 2026 EPS has not changed in the last 30 days, with slight downward adjustments for 2025 and 2026 earnings [10][11]

Visa is the leader in the card payments industry, handling almost $17 trillion in total payment volume in fiscal 2025.Visa (V +0.43%) dominates the card payments industry. During fiscal 2025 (ended Sept. 30), it handled an unbelievable $16.7 trillion in payment volume. It has global reach, facilitating payments in more than 220 countries and territories. Most readers probably have a Visa-branded debit or credit card in their wallets right now. With this kind of market dominance, it's not surprising to learn ...

LATEST: 💳 South Korean payments giant BC Card has completed a pilot project that enabled foreign users to pay local merchants using stablecoins, as part of preparations to implement a stablecoin payment structure. https://t.co/MMfugenwbR ...

Key Takeaways V is driving growth from global payment volumes, cross-border strength and investments in AI and stablecoins.PayPal is boosting engagement via agentic commerce, Venmo monetization and expanding merchant services.PYPL trades at a lower valuation with faster projected EPS growth, pointing to stronger near-term upside.The global payments landscape continues to evolve as digital payments become more mainstream, regulatory scrutiny intensifies and platforms compete for dominance in terms of scale, ...