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Core Insights - The upcoming merger between Roundtable and fintech firm RYVYL Inc. is seen as a pivotal moment for blockchain in the media sector, emphasizing real operational utility over speculative token investments [1][2] - Roundtable's $75 million merger with RYVYL is positioned to differentiate genuine innovation from the recent influx of crypto treasury companies attempting to go public [2][4] Company Developments - Roundtable has successfully achieved NASDAQ's required shareholder equity threshold, alleviating delisting risks for RYVYL ahead of the merger [4][5] - A direct, fully funded equity investment from Roundtable into RYVYL was made to bolster the fintech firm's balance sheet prior to the merger's completion [5][6] - The merger is part of Roundtable's strategy to redefine the potential of a blockchain-powered media company [6][7] Industry Context - There has been significant activity among crypto and treasury companies attempting to go public on NASDAQ, but many have faced challenges, including delisting [3][4] - The SEC has been cautious in approving mergers that do not involve actual operating companies, which has impacted the market dynamics for smaller cap companies [4][6]

Core Insights - Affirm is currently trading at $73.28, showing a slight increase of 0.5% and is attempting to maintain its breakeven level for the quarter [1] - The stock has faced resistance at the $80 level but has found support around the $70 mark, indicating potential for a breakout [1] - A bullish signal suggests that a breakout could be imminent for Affirm's stock [1] Technical Analysis - Affirm's stock is within 0.75 of the 100-day moving average's 20-day average true range (ATR), having spent over 80% of the last 10 days and two months above this level [2] - Historical data shows that similar conditions have led to a 60% chance of the stock being higher one month later, with an average gain of 20.5%, which could push the stock above $88 [2] Market Sentiment - There has been a notable increase in put options, with a 50-day put/call volume ratio of 1.28, ranking higher than 99% of readings from the past year, indicating bearish sentiment [4] - If this bearish sentiment begins to reverse, it could provide positive momentum for Affirm's shares [4] Short Interest - Short interest in Affirm has decreased by 8.9% over the last two reporting periods, accounting for 5.8% of the stock's total float [5] - The current short interest indicates that it would take more than two days for short sellers to cover their positions [5]

Girzadas: I think some of the areas that are particularly exciting is in the agricultural space, when Earth observation data can be used to monitor the stress on crops and different weather cycles. I think, also, very complex supply chains that may have operations and hard to access, or more distant elements of supply chains, whether it’s in utilities or in oil and gas, that’s opening up a whole new frontier for cost effective, insightful data that can be used to innovate as well as to achieve cost leadersh ...

Core Insights - The fintech landscape in 2025 is dynamic, with PayPal and Upstart leading in digital payments and AI-driven lending respectively [1][2] PayPal Overview - PayPal is expanding its ecosystem through strategic partnerships, new payment features, and increased adoption of Venmo, with Venmo revenues rising over 20% and total payment volumes growing 12% [4][6] - The company is integrating AI-driven commerce tools through collaborations with Google, Salesforce, and Anthropic, and is positioning itself for emerging digital commerce trends with the PYUSD stablecoin and crypto payment options [5][6] - PayPal's BNPL partnership with Blue Owl Capital and holiday promotions offering 5% cashback illustrate its innovative approach to boosting transaction volume [6] Upstart Overview - Upstart's AI-powered lending platform has led to significant revenue growth, with Q2 2025 revenues reaching $257 million, more than double year-over-year, and loan originations at $2.8 billion, the highest in three years [7][8] - The company returned to GAAP profitability with $5.6 million in net income, compared to a $54.5 million loss in the prior year, and contribution profit rose 85% to $141 million [8][9] - Upstart is diversifying beyond personal loans, with auto originations growing sixfold and home segment nearly ninefold, representing over 10% of total loan volume [9][10] Financial Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PayPal's 2025 sales and EPS implies year-over-year increases of 3.92% and 12.47% respectively, with EPS estimates trending upward [12] - Upstart's 2025 sales are expected to rise by 51.36%, although EPS estimates for 2025 and 2026 have been revised downward [13] Valuation Comparison - PayPal shares are trading at a low valuation with a Value Score of A, while Upstart shares are considered overvalued with a Value Score of F [16] - PayPal's forward Price/Sales ratio is 1.91X, below its three-year median of 2.16X, while Upstart's is 3.98X, also below its three-year median of 4.08X [16] Performance Analysis - Over the past six months, Upstart shares have outperformed PayPal, which has underperformed the S&P 500 composite [17] Conclusion - PayPal combines scale, diversified products, and strong user engagement, making it a more reliable choice for investors seeking lower volatility [21][22] - Upstart's rapid growth in AI-driven lending is notable, but its exposure to credit-sensitive borrowers introduces volatility [20][22]

Core Insights - Blend Labs, Inc. has introduced Intelligent Origination, an AI-powered system designed to transform the lending process by embedding intelligence directly into the core of lending operations [2][3][6] - The new model aims to reduce the high costs associated with traditional lending, which average over $11,000 per mortgage and $2,000 per home equity loan, while also addressing lengthy cycle times of 20 to 30 days [4][10] Intelligent Origination Overview - Intelligent Origination represents a shift from traditional AI tools to a system that executes decisions autonomously, enhancing speed, accuracy, and oversight in lending [3][6][8] - The system integrates data, documents, and product rules, allowing for contextual awareness and the ability to handle complex decisions in real time [7][10] Implementation and Impact - The initial focus of Intelligent Origination is on back-office use cases that are labor-intensive, such as data validation and pre-funding quality control, which can significantly reduce processing times and costs [10][11] - Early pilot partners have reported substantial improvements, with tasks that previously took analysts 20 minutes now completed in seconds, leading to potential cost savings and enhanced quality control [11] Future Developments - Starting in 2026, Blend plans to expand Intelligent Origination to include additional use cases such as fraud detection and borrower communication across various lending products [10]

Backpack exchange announced a partnership with fintech company Superstate to integrate its on-chain stock platform, Opening Bell. This will allow Backpack users to trade SEC-registered public company stocks on the platform. These stocks have the same CUSIP codes as those listed on Nasdaq or NYSE and are issued by Superstate as the transfer agent, giving investors direct ownership and related rights. The first supported tokenized stocks and launch date will be announced in the coming weeks.https://t.co/JcslO ...

Core Insights - Sezzle Inc. is enhancing its buy now, pay later (BNPL) platform to help retailers attract more shoppers during the 2025 holiday season, particularly for Black Friday and Cyber Monday [1][2] Group 1: Consumer Insights - A Sezzle survey from July 2025 indicated that 47% of shoppers are concerned about rising prices, and 78% stated that extended payment options influence their purchasing decisions [2] - Nearly 60% of shoppers have begun or plan to start their holiday shopping earlier than previous years, indicating a longer and more competitive holiday shopping season [2] Group 2: Sezzle's Offerings - Sezzle provides tools such as Sezzle Up for building credit history, Wishlist for saving items, Price Drop Alerts for deals, and delivery protection for lost or damaged packages, enhancing the shopping experience [3][6] - Monthly Subscribers and On-Demand shoppers increased by 62% year-over-year in Q2 2025, reflecting a growing acceptance of Sezzle's flexible payment ecosystem [3] Group 3: Retailer Benefits - Retailers using Sezzle are experiencing larger basket sizes, higher conversion rates, and improved customer loyalty [4] - Retailers like Bealls have reported that Sezzle helps attract younger customers and reduces cart abandonment through features like Express Checkout [5] Group 4: Market Impact - BNPL shoppers tend to spend approximately $150 more per order compared to non-BNPL shoppers, highlighting the financial impact of Sezzle's services on retail sales [8] - A Forrester TEI Study commissioned by Sezzle found that merchants offering Sezzle experienced a lift of over 45% in average order value [8]

Grow Capital, Inc. (OTCID: GRWC) Promotes Brock McKinley to PresidentGrow Capital, Inc. (OTCID: GRWC) (“Grow Capital” or the “Company”) a Nevada-based fintech company, today announced the promotion of Brock McKinley to President of Grow Capital, Inc., marking a major step in the Company’s strategic realignment to become a full-scale recordkeeping and financial technology firm.McKinley has been a driving force in Grow Capital’s transformation over the past several years, bringing deep experience in financial ...

Core Insights - Athena Bitcoin Global has been awarded the 2025 Fintech & Payments Gold Award for Digital Currency Innovation by Juniper Research [1] - The award recognizes pioneering fintech companies that are transforming digital payments, banking, and fraud prevention [1] Company Summary - Athena Bitcoin Global is the third largest global operator of Bitcoin kiosks and digital asset fintech solutions [1] - The company is focused on innovation in the digital currency space [1] Industry Context - The award is part of Juniper's Future Digital Awards, which celebrates advancements in fintech [1] - The fintech industry is increasingly focused on enhancing digital payments, banking, and fraud prevention solutions [1]