RT BSCN (@BSCNews)🚨 @Tempo is a new blockchain purpose-built for payments and its testnet just went live.Tempo already boasts some of blockchain's most impressive partnerships ( @Kalshi, @Mastercard, @AnthropicAI and a lot more) and now that testnet is live...Companies across the globe can start building with Tempo's architecture.Payments is a sector that touches every aspect of modern day life and Tempo is building the future of it. This is one to watch... ⬇️https://t.co/5tt4s9kFR8 ...

Stripe’s rollout of stablecoin payment processing has ignited fierce debate after the payments giant announced it would charge businesses 1.5% to transfer digital dollars that cost fractions of a cent on blockchain networks. The company now supports USD-settled stablecoin payments across Ethereum, Base, and Polygon, with USDC, USDP, and USDG available through its platform, marking a significant expansion of its crypto infrastructure following its $1.1 billion acquisition of Bridge earlier this year. Cri ...

Core Insights - The FIFA 2026 World Cup is anticipated to attract millions of visitors and boost consumer activity, creating investment opportunities in sectors related to travel, payments, hospitality, and consumer spending [1] Company Analysis Visa (NYSE: V) - Visa is expected to benefit from increased payment volumes due to the World Cup, as global events typically enhance consumer spending [2] - The tri-nation format of the tournament is likely to increase cross-border transactions, with international fans relying on card-based payments for various expenses [2][3] - Visa's historical involvement in handling payments at previous tournaments positions it well to capture increased transaction activity, with cross-border payments yielding high margins [3] YETI Holdings (NYSE: YETI) - YETI is poised to benefit from heightened consumer behavior associated with travel and outdoor events, despite not being a tournament sponsor [5] - The World Cup's spread across 16 host cities is expected to drive demand for YETI's products, such as travel gear and lifestyle accessories [5][6] - YETI's strong brand presence in North America enhances its ability to meet the anticipated demand linked to World Cup activities [7]

Core Insights - Visa Inc.'s cross-border business is a significant growth driver, fueled by increased international travel and a rise in global e-commerce, with cross-border volume excluding Europe up 11% year over year in Q4 fiscal 2025 [1][9] - The company is enhancing its cross-border portfolios and expanding into high-potential verticals, focusing on product capabilities like multi-currency payment credentials [2] - Visa is integrating stablecoin functionality into Visa Direct to improve cross-border money movement efficiency, with international transaction revenues increasing by 10% year over year in Q4 [3][4] Cross-Border Performance - Cross-border volume for Visa rose 11% year over year in Q4, with e-commerce transactions growing by 13% and travel-related volume increasing by 10% [9] - Competitors such as Mastercard and PayPal are also seeing growth in their cross-border businesses, with Mastercard's volumes up 15% and PayPal's total payment volume increasing by 8% year over year in Q3 2025 [5][6][7] Strategic Developments - Visa's strategy includes incorporating multi-currency features and stablecoin options to create new cross-border opportunities and strengthen its long-term growth strategy [4] - The company aims to adapt to evolving travel trends and enhance security measures to maintain competitiveness in the digital commerce landscape [4] Financial Performance - Visa's stock has increased by 4.5% over the past year, contrasting with a 13% decline in the industry [8] - The forward price-to-earnings ratio for Visa is 24.89, above the industry average of 19.97, indicating a higher valuation [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Visa's fiscal 2026 earnings suggests an 11.7% increase from the previous year [12]

Klarna Group (NYSE:KLAR) is one of the best new tech stocks to buy right now. Earlier on November 20, UBS analyst Timothy Chiodo lowered the firm’s price target on Klarna to $46 from $48 and kept a Buy rating on the shares. This sentiment came out when Klarna showed strong Q3 2025 results, with both Gross Merchandise Volume/GMV and revenue growing by more than 20% year-over-year and exceeding expectations due to factors like the expansion of the merchant network, the forging of key retail partnerships, suc ...

Tempo, a payments-focused blockchain backed by Stripe and crypto investment firm Paradigm, has launched its public testnet, a key step in its effort in making stablecoin payments for mainstream use. Tempo has also unveiled a roster of new additions to the network’s partner group, including buy-now-pay-later firm Klarna, predictions market Kalshi, payments giant Mastercard and Swiss global bank UBS. They join a group of earlier design partners such as Deutsche Bank, Visa, Shopify, OpenAI and Nubank. Initi ...

Newark, New Jersey, Dec. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BlackBird Financial LP, a value-focused hedge fund founded by Judah Spinner, today announced that it has accumulated a significant ownership position in PayPal Holdings, Inc., the global payments platform serving more than 400 million consumer and merchant accounts and processing roughly $1.7 trillion in annual payment volume.  Alex Chriss, President and CEO of Paypal “PayPal is a classic case of a dominant, cash-generative franchise that has fallen out ...

Core Insights - American Express Company (AmEx) operates a unique business model by carrying loans on its own balance sheet, unlike Visa and Mastercard, which utilize asset-light networks. This allows AmEx to leverage borrowed capital to enhance earnings while maintaining a significant liquidity reserve for protection during tighter credit conditions [1][2] Financial Metrics - AmEx's long-term debt-to-capital ratio is 64.1%, exceeding the industry average of 43.5%. As of September 30, 2025, long-term debt was $57.8 billion, with short-term borrowings of $1.4 billion. Cash and cash equivalents increased to $54.7 billion from $40.6 billion at the end of 2024, indicating a strong liquidity position [2] - The forward price-to-earnings ratio for AmEx is 20.80X, lower than the industry average of 24.32X. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AmEx's 2025 earnings is $15.43 per share, reflecting a 15.6% increase from the previous year [9][10] Customer Acquisition Strategy - AmEx is focusing on acquiring Gen Z and Millennial customers, issuing 3.2 million new proprietary cards in the third quarter, with 64% of these going to younger demographics. This strategy aims to cultivate future premium cohorts with higher lifetime values rather than pursuing mass volume [3][7] Risk Management - The company employs a risk management strategy that includes lower initial credit limits, leveraging behavioral data from its closed-loop network, and gradual underwriting processes. This approach allows AmEx to treat slightly higher seasoning losses as investments in long-term customer value [4] Competitive Advantage - AmEx differentiates itself from Visa and Mastercard by deeply integrating into the hospitality journey, enhancing customer experiences through partnerships and curated services. This strategy fosters emotional loyalty among consumers, particularly younger ones, strengthening AmEx's premium brand identity [5][7] Stock Performance - AmEx shares have increased by 22.1% year-to-date, contrasting with a 3.7% decline in the industry [6]

Following the launch of its innovative $WLFI Treasury strategy, ALT5 now operates across three distinct segments: its $WLFI Treasury, an established and revenue generating Fintech & Payments business, and its legacy Biotech business. With a focus on disciplined capital allocation and long-term decision-making, management believes each segment has unique value drivers and viable strategies designed to drive growth and success. $WLFI Treasury LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ALT5 Sigma Corporation (the "Company†or ...

Core Insights - OBOOK Holdings Inc. (OwlTing) is launching OwlPay Cash, a mobile-first remittance app developed in collaboration with Visa, aimed at facilitating payments abroad in local currencies to eligible bank accounts in 26 key regions worldwide [2][3][5] - The app leverages Visa Direct, connecting to over 11 billion endpoints globally, which helps reduce hidden fees and provides greater transparency on foreign exchange rates [3][4] - OwlPay Cash is designed to significantly lower costs, offering transfers up to 70% cheaper than traditional SWIFT options, with no monthly fees [5][8] Company Overview - OBOOK Holdings Inc. operates as the OwlTing Group, a blockchain technology company headquartered in Taiwan, with subsidiaries in multiple countries including the U.S., Japan, and Singapore [6] - The company focuses on a diversified ecosystem across payments, hospitality, and e-commerce, and was ranked among the top 2 global players in the "Enterprise & B2B" category for stablecoins in 2025 [6] - The mission of the company is to utilize blockchain technology for reliable data management and to transform global fund flows for businesses and consumers [6] Market Context - Global remittances are projected to reach $905 billion in 2024, with $230 billion expected to flow from the U.S. alone, highlighting the significant demand for cost-effective remittance solutions [4][11] - The U.S. has nearly 48 million immigrants, many of whom rely on remittances for essential expenses such as housing and education [4][11] - Current cross-border transfer fees average around 6.6%, which is above the UN's target of 3% set in the Sustainable Development Goals [4][12]