Core Insights - Visa and fintech DealMe have launched NanuPay, enabling Vietnamese Visa credit cardholders to select installment plans while shopping abroad, starting in South Korea [1][2] - The service aims to simplify international spending for Vietnamese consumers, supporting the country's digital transformation and promoting cashless transactions [2][4] Company Overview - Visa is a leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions globally and focusing on innovative, secure payment solutions [9] - DealMe, established in 2022, focuses on cross-border installment payments and has partnered with Lotte Card to enhance its service offerings [10][11] Market Context - The launch of NanuPay coincides with increasing travel and commerce between Vietnam and South Korea, making it a relevant solution for Vietnamese consumers [2] - Vietnamese consumers, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, show a strong intent for big-ticket purchases, especially in healthcare and travel, making NanuPay's offerings particularly appealing [3][6] Service Features - NanuPay allows eligible Techcombank and Sacombank cardholders to choose interest-free installment plans at checkout without needing additional apps or new cards [1][2] - The pilot program will be available at select duty-free stores and medical tourism providers in Seoul and Gangnam, with plans for future expansion to other global markets [2][5] Strategic Goals - Visa aims to enhance cross-border payment flexibility and security, aligning with Vietnam's ambition for a cashless economy and sustainable economic growth [4][6] - DealMe emphasizes reducing operational burdens for merchants while expanding its coverage to improve convenience for international visitors [5]

These robust businesses can stand the test of time in your portfolio.Growth stocks with strong fundamentals and the ability to maintain or increase pricing power even during inflationary periods are attractive to investors seeking to outperform the market over the long run. However, it bears mentioning that investing in growth stocks, particularly during periods of uncertainty, requires a long-term investment horizon, as well as patience because market fluctuations are both normal and inevitable.With that i ...

Core Insights - Visa Inc. reported strong fiscal Q4 2025 results, with net revenue increasing by 12% to $10.7 billion, and a full-year net revenue of $40 billion, up 11%, indicating robust consumer spending and a resilient business model [1][2] Financial Performance - Q4 GAAP net income was $5.1 billion, or $2.62 per share, while non-GAAP net income reached $5.8 billion, or $2.98 per share. For the full year, GAAP net income totaled $20.1 billion, or $10.20 per share, and non-GAAP net income was $22.5 billion, or $11.47 per share [1] - Operating expenses for Q4 were $4.6 billion, a 40% increase, primarily due to litigation provisions and personnel expenses. For the full year, GAAP operating expenses were $16.0 billion, a 30% increase [3] Key Business Drivers - Payments volume increased by 9% in Q4 and 8% for the full year. Cross-border volume, excluding transactions within Europe, rose by 11% in Q4 and 13% for the full year [2] - Total processed transactions reached 67.7 billion for Q4, a 10% increase, and 257.5 billion for the year, also a 10% increase [2] - By segment, service revenue was $4.6 billion (up 10%), data processing revenue rose 17% to $5.4 billion, and international transaction revenue grew 10% to $3.8 billion [2] Capital Management - Visa repurchased approximately 54 million shares of class A common stock at an average cost of $335.44 per share for a total of $18.2 billion. The board also increased the quarterly cash dividend by 14% to $0.670 per share [3] - At the end of the quarter, Visa had cash, cash equivalents, and investment securities totaling $20.0 billion, with net cash provided by operating activities amounting to $23.1 billion [3] Strategic Focus - CEO Ryan McInerney emphasized Visa's commitment to innovation and product development, positioning the company to lead in the evolving payments ecosystem, particularly with advancements in AI-driven commerce, real-time money movement, tokenization, and stablecoins [1][3]

Core Insights - The merger between Brag House Holdings, Inc. and House of Doge Inc. aims to create a comprehensive financial infrastructure company focused on digital payments, asset management, RWA tokenization, and digital media, leveraging Brag House's "Cultural Capital Playbook" on a global scale [1][2]. Group 1: Strategic Vision - The combined entity's strategy is anchored by a "Culture to Capital" approach, which has successfully engaged the Gen Z demographic and secured partnerships with Fortune 500 companies [2]. - The vision emphasizes the cultural significance of Dogecoin, which has over 6.1 million holders and a market capitalization exceeding $30 billion, positioning it as a major player in the cryptocurrency space [3]. Group 2: Leadership and Experience - Marco Margiotta, CEO of House of Doge, will lead the combined entity, bringing extensive experience from the payments and finance industry, including founding PayFare, a global payments solution provider with over $15 billion in annual processing [3]. Group 3: Core Verticals - The strategy will focus on four core verticals: 1. Digital Payments: Developing institutional-grade payment systems to facilitate everyday commerce using Dogecoin [6]. 2. Asset Management & RWA Tokenization: Creating regulated financial products and tokenizing high-value assets [6]. 3. Brand & Licensing: Leveraging Dogecoin's global recognition to establish a culture-driven financial brand [6]. 4. Digital Media & Data Insights: Utilizing Brag House's expertise to introduce new financial products to the Gen Z audience [6]. Group 4: House of Doge's Commitment - House of Doge is dedicated to advancing Dogecoin as a decentralized global currency, investing in infrastructure to integrate it into everyday commerce and leading the next era of crypto utility [4].

Core Insights - Afriex has partnered with Visa to enable real-time cross-border payments to over 160 markets, enhancing the speed and accessibility of international transactions [1][4]. - The integration of Visa Direct through Afriex's platform allows for seamless fund delivery to eligible Visa endpoints, connecting to billions of accounts globally [1][2]. - The collaboration aims to address the increasing demand for faster payment solutions, particularly for remittances, which reached $669 billion in 2023 according to the World Bank [3][4]. Company Overview - Afriex's platform now provides immediate access to international payment capabilities via its mobile app, allowing users to send, receive, and store money in multiple currencies with near-zero fees and instant transfers [2][4]. - The partnership with Visa is expected to enhance the reliability and reach of Afriex's services, making it easier for individuals and businesses to manage cross-border transactions [2][3]. Market Expansion - Afriex has expanded its network to include countries in Europe, allowing users to send funds to more than eight African countries, with the new additions being the Netherlands, Romania, Germany, Ireland, Italy, France, Belgium, and Spain [4][5]. - The collaboration with Visa Direct is part of Afriex's strategy to meet the growing demand for efficient cross-border payment solutions, ensuring that vital funds reach their destinations quickly [4].

Core Insights - Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is highlighted as a strong investment opportunity following its robust third-quarter performance [1] Financial Performance - The company reported non-GAAP earnings of $4.38 per share, surpassing analyst expectations by $0.07 [2] - Revenue increased by 16.7% year-over-year to $8.6 billion, exceeding forecasts by $70 million [2] - Mastercard processed $2.7 trillion in payments during the quarter, reflecting a 10% increase in switched transactions [2] - As of September, there were 3.6 billion cards in circulation under the Mastercard and Maestro brands [2] Strategic Initiatives - Mastercard has established a strategic partnership with Kyivstar to enhance payment solutions in Ukraine [3] - The collaboration aims to improve access to financial services and includes testing Starlink Direct to Cell satellite technology for payment infrastructure [4] - The partnership will utilize Big Data and analytics to develop financial products and services, focusing on e-commerce and promoting cashless payments among small and medium-sized businesses [5][6] - Inga Andreieva, Country Manager of Mastercard in Ukraine and Moldova, emphasized the importance of this partnership for strengthening payment infrastructure and accelerating the digital economy [6]

Core Insights - The DISRUPT 2025 TechCrunch List serves as a vital resource hub for entrepreneurship and technology, featuring influential figures in startup technology, venture capital, AI, Web3, financial innovation, and social impact [3][4] - The list includes a diverse array of resources, such as keynote speakers, panels, investment groups, and platform companies, highlighting the global innovation ecosystem [4][6] Speaker and Talent Lineup - The event showcases dynamic leaders and founders who are pushing the boundaries of entrepreneurship across various sectors, including Web3, AI, fintech, and platform economics [5][11] - Notable participants include Visa Inc., Character.AI, Kindred, and Chess.com, which are recognized for their contributions to the digital economy and community engagement [11][22] Impact and Social Innovation - The DISRUPT 2025 list emphasizes a holistic vision that integrates technological progress with equity, diversity, mental health, education, climate sustainability, and global wellness [8][16] - Founders leverage their platforms to address broader social needs, such as health equity and financial inclusion, fostering systemic shifts toward inclusion and allyship [16][20] Tech and Web3 Convergence - The community is positioned to accelerate Web3 adoption, bridging traditional enterprises with decentralized platforms and regulatory domains [12][23] - Key participants are focused on building the infrastructure and protocols necessary for a decentralized internet [12][23] Community Engagement - The DISRUPT 2025 List invites collaboration among founders, developers, investors, and enthusiasts, promoting dialogue, mentorship, and investment opportunities [9][17] - It serves as a strategic starting point for entrepreneurs seeking capital and expertise, while also providing investors with a resource-rich map to identify emerging opportunities [10][18]

Core Insights - The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly impacted various industries, particularly in technology and cloud services, with companies like Alphabet and Amazon leading the charge in AI integration and product offerings [1][2]. Alphabet - Alphabet's AI models, including Gemini, are processing 7 billion tokens per minute, with the Gemini App boasting 650 million monthly active users and a 3x increase in queries since Q2 2025 [3][6]. - The company has seen a 20x increase in monthly tokens processed, from 980 trillion in May 2025 to 1.3 quadrillion [3]. - Google Cloud's backlog grew 46% sequentially to $155 billion in Q3 2025, with a 34% year-on-year increase in new customers [6]. - Revenue from products built on Alphabet's generative AI models increased by over 200% year-on-year in Q3 2025 [6]. - AI is driving significant growth in Google Search, with AI Mode achieving 75 million daily active users and doubling queries since its launch [9][10]. - Alphabet's management plans to launch Waymo services in London and Tokyo by 2026, integrating AI to enhance user experience [14][15]. Amazon - AWS experienced a 20.2% year-on-year growth in Q3 2025, with a run rate of $132 billion and a backlog of $200 billion [22][23]. - The AI segment of AWS's growth is driven by both training and inference, with significant contributions from cloud migrations by enterprises [22]. - Amazon's AI shopping assistant, Rufus, has 250 million active customers, with a 140% year-on-year increase in monthly users and is projected to generate $10 billion in incremental annualized sales [35]. - AWS has launched several AI agents, including Strands and AgentCore, to facilitate the creation and deployment of AI solutions for businesses [24][26]. - Project Rainier, an AI compute cluster with 500,000 Trainium 2 chips, is now operational, supporting AI model development for companies like Anthropic [31][32]. Apple - Apple's management emphasizes the importance of its silicon, particularly the A19 Pro and M5 chips, in enhancing AI capabilities across its products [40]. - The company has introduced numerous AI features, including Live Translation and Visual Intelligence, and is working on a more personalized version of Siri [41][42]. - Apple is investing in its Private Cloud Compute (PCC) to support AI functionalities, including Siri's queries [41][42].

Core Insights - PayPal Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:PYPL) is highlighted as a top AI and non-tech stock following its partnership with OpenAI, allowing ChatGPT users to make purchases through its platform [1] - Analyst Dan Dolev from Mizuho indicates that Agentic AI could lead to a 20% increase in e-commerce consumption, which is significant for PayPal as it positions the company favorably within the e-commerce landscape [2] - Wedgewood Partners notes that despite an 18% growth in earnings per share and an 8% increase in adjusted transaction margin dollars, PayPal's stock has underperformed due to market shifts towards AI-focused tech and cryptocurrency [3] Group 1 - PayPal's shares surged after signing a deal with OpenAI, enhancing its payment platform for ChatGPT users [1] - The partnership with OpenAI is seen as a testament to PayPal's durability in the market, with analysts expressing bullish sentiments about the company's future [2] - PayPal has experienced double-digit growth in Venmo revenue and improved economics with its Braintree segment, which is expected to accelerate revenue growth [3] Group 2 - The potential of Agentic AI to boost e-commerce consumption by 20% is viewed as a major opportunity for PayPal, indicating a vast total addressable market [2] - Despite strong earnings growth, PayPal's stock trades at depressed multiples, reflecting market rotation towards AI and cryptocurrency sectors [3] - The company is strategically investing in emerging commerce areas, including partnerships with Google and expanding its stablecoin initiatives [3]

Core Insights - Visa Inc (NYSE:V) is highlighted as a top AI and non-tech stock to watch amid the latest earnings season, with a positive outlook extending into 2026 due to a strong consumer environment and rising transaction volumes [1] - Analysts suggest that Visa is currently undervalued compared to Mastercard, making it an attractive investment in the current macroeconomic environment [2] Group 1: Company Performance - Visa operates the world's largest retail electronic payment network, and despite a decline in share prices due to market selloffs, the company is expected to benefit from stablecoin proliferation, which could expand its addressable market [3] - The guidance for U.S. volumes is projected to improve by approximately 100 basis points, with expectations of high single-digit to low double-digit growth on an FX-neutral basis by 2026 [2] Group 2: Market Position and Competitive Landscape - Visa's value proposition in consumer-to-merchant payments remains strong, offering rewards, liquidity, and buyer protections, which are unlikely to be disrupted by stablecoins [3] - The company is seen as a key player in enhancing stablecoin adoption by providing necessary rules and protections for broader use [3]