Stablecoin startup BVNK has drawn the attention of major players in crypto and payments, including Coinbase, Mastercard, Visa and Citi. | Credit: NurPhoto / Getty Images. Key Takeaways Coinbase and Mastercard are reportedly in talks to acquire BVNK. The stablecoin startup previously received investments from Citi and Visa. BVNK’s infrastructure bridges fiat and blockchain payment rails. Stablecoin startup BVNK has become one of the hottest properties in financial technology. Existing investors in ...

Core Insights - ClearBridge Investments reported modest gains in its "ClearBridge Mid Cap Growth Strategy" for Q3 2025, outperforming the Russell Midcap Growth Index which returned 2.8% [1] - The strategy is positioned to benefit from a fundamental, bottom-up investment philosophy despite near-term volatility [1] Company Overview: Corpay, Inc. (NYSE:CPAY) - Corpay, Inc. is a payment company focused on managing vehicle-related expenses for businesses and consumers [2][3] - As of October 9, 2025, Corpay's stock closed at $290.85 with a market capitalization of $20.538 billion [2] - The stock experienced a one-month return of -5.37% and a 52-week decline of 14.28% [2] Performance Analysis - Corpay's performance was negatively impacted by macro volatility and company-specific issues, leading to a decision to exit the position [3] - Concerns regarding Corpay's exposure to South American economies and the increasing presence of stablecoins contributed to its underperformance [3] Hedge Fund Interest - Corpay, Inc. was held by 42 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q2 2025, an increase from 40 in the previous quarter [4] - Despite its potential, the company is not among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds, with some analysts suggesting that certain AI stocks present greater upside potential [4]

Coinbase and Mastercard are reportedly in advanced talks to acquire London-based stablecoin firm BVNK, in what could become the largest stablecoin acquisition to date, according to Fortune. Key Takeaways: Coinbase and Mastercard are in advanced talks to acquire UK-based stablecoin firm BVNK. BVNK, founded in 2021, provides stablecoin infrastructure for payments and cross-border transactions. The talks come amid a stablecoin boom, with the market surpassing $300 billion. The deal, estimated between ...

Super.money, a financial service platform spun off last year by Walmart-owned Flipkart, has quietly partnered with payments infrastructure firm Juspay as it expands into direct-to-consumer (D2C) checkout and targets $100 million in annual revenue by 2026. The partnership comes as Juspay works to rebuild momentum after facing pushback from major payment companies earlier this year — a dispute that complicated its fundraising efforts. Last week, Super.money launched its D2C checkout product, Super.money B ...

Core Insights - Visa Inc. is shifting its strategy to embrace stablecoins, positioning itself as a leader in the evolving payments landscape rather than resisting disruption [1][3] - The company is building infrastructure for stablecoin-powered payments, which could redefine global commerce and enhance liquidity management for businesses [2][5] Visa's Strategic Initiatives - Visa plans to enable businesses to prefund Visa Direct using stablecoins, treating them as cash reserves, with a limited rollout expected in April 2026 [3] - The stablecoin initiative allows Visa to leverage its extensive banking and payout network to ensure recipients receive local fiat currency while using stablecoins for transactions [4] - This system unlocks capital for companies with high cross-border payment volumes, offering a faster and more flexible solution [5] Regulatory Environment - The recent passage of the GENIUS Act provides regulatory clarity around digital assets, benefiting Visa as it integrates stablecoins into its settlement network [6] - Traditional banks, especially smaller ones, may struggle with compliance costs and digital infrastructure, making Visa's ecosystem crucial for their survival [6] Competitive Landscape - Retail giants like Walmart and Amazon are exploring their own USD-pegged stablecoins to control payment ecosystems and reduce interchange fees [7] - Visa is responding by expanding its stablecoin settlement capabilities through partnerships with blockchain firms like Paxos, supporting multiple stablecoins and blockchains [8][9] Financial Performance - Visa shares have increased by 11.2% year-to-date, trading at 27.27X forward earnings, reflecting strong investor confidence [10][11] - The company's market cap is currently $645.9 billion, and it has consistently outperformed competitors like Mastercard and American Express in share performance [14][18] Long-Term Growth Prospects - Visa's strong network effects and cash flows support ongoing investment in infrastructure and innovation, reinforcing its market dominance [18] - The company reported $2.8 billion in revenues from value-added services, a 26% year-over-year increase, highlighting growth in digital payment adoption [19] - Visa returned $6 billion to shareholders in the latest quarter, with a dividend yield of 0.67%, slightly above the industry average [20] Analyst Sentiment and Valuation - Analyst estimates suggest a 13.7% and 12.3% increase in EPS for fiscal 2025 and 2026, respectively, with revenue growth projected at 10.9% and 10.8% [22] - Visa trades below its average analyst price target of $398.16, indicating a potential 13% upside from current levels [23] Conclusion - Visa's proactive approach to stablecoin infrastructure and strong liquidity management solutions position it well for long-term growth despite regulatory challenges [25] - The company's robust fundamentals and continuous valuation support indicate a favorable outlook in the evolving payments landscape [26]

Gold Market Overview - Gold has increased by over 50% in 2025, currently holding above $4,000, driven by the debasement trade and central bank diversification [1][5] - Central banks, including those from China, India, and Turkey, are diversifying their reserves into gold due to geopolitical concerns, despite the dollar remaining the main reserve currency for the next decade [5] - The surge in gold prices is also attributed to FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and momentum trading, with a significant portion of the American population expressing fear regarding the current presidential administration and global stability [6][20] Trading Dynamics - Gold trading is characterized by cyclical patterns, with successful trading often occurring in only two out of ten years [3] - The trading strategy typically starts with gold bullion, followed by gold miners, which have seen a 100% increase this year, and then silver, which is viewed as a speculative asset [9][10] - The market for precious metals, including platinum and palladium, is also experiencing significant growth [11] Investment Sentiment - Younger investors are increasingly shifting their focus from Bitcoin to gold, viewing it as a hedge against potential dollar devaluation [15] - Despite the current enthusiasm for gold, there is skepticism regarding its long-term value, as it is often seen as a trade rather than a stable investment [17][18] - The volatility of gold prices can lead to significant losses for investors who enter the market during peaks, as gold often experiences prolonged periods of stagnation or decline after surges [19][20] Alternative Investment Opportunities - Companies like Trade Desk are highlighted as potential investment opportunities, particularly in the ad-supported streaming market, which has seen a significant decline in market cap [22] - The payments sector is also noted for its growth potential, with companies like Shift4 making strategic moves into European markets, capitalizing on the lack of innovation in the region [24][26]

Key Takeaways Square launched new tools like AI voice ordering, cost controls and bitcoin payments for restaurants.The platform unifies multichannel ordering, menu management and payouts for seamless operations.Square Banking supports zero-fee bitcoin payments and integrates sales, banking and treasury tools.Block’s (XYZ) Square recently announced the expansion of its food and beverage platform to aid restaurants of all sizes in scaling effectively through efficient process optimization. The new products la ...

Core Insights - PayPal (PYPL) stock shows stronger revenue growth, higher profitability, and a lower valuation compared to Block (XYZ), suggesting that investing in PYPL may be more advantageous [2][6]. Revenue and Profitability Comparison - PYPL's quarterly revenue growth was 5.1%, while XYZ experienced a decline of 1.6%. Over the last 12 months, PYPL's revenue growth was 4.1%, outperforming XYZ's 1.4% [6]. - PYPL has a last twelve months (LTM) margin of 19.1% and a three-year average margin of 17.8%, indicating superior profitability compared to XYZ [6]. Business Model Overview - Block offers payment solutions that include hardware for card and contactless transactions, reporting, analytics, and next-day settlement services [4]. - PYPL operates a global digital payments platform that facilitates transactions in approximately 200 markets and 100 currencies, showcasing its extensive reach [4].

Core Insights - PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL) shows stronger revenue growth and higher profitability compared to Block (NYSE: XYZ), suggesting that investing in PYPL may be more beneficial [1] Financial Performance - PYPL's quarterly revenue growth was 5.1%, while XYZ experienced a decline of 1.6% [3] - Over the last 12 months, PYPL's revenue growth was 4.1%, outperforming XYZ's 1.4% [3] - PYPL's last twelve months (LTM) profit margin stands at 19.1%, with a three-year average margin of 17.8% [3] Business Models - Block focuses on payment solutions that include hardware for card and contactless transactions, along with reporting and analytics services [5] - PYPL operates a global digital payments platform facilitating transactions in approximately 200 markets and 100 currencies [5]

Core Insights - Affirm announced its support for Google's Agent Payments Protocol (AP2), which is an open and payment-agnostic protocol designed to facilitate secure agent-led payments across various platforms [1] - This collaboration enhances Affirm's existing partnership with Google, which includes integrations with Google Pay and Chrome's autofill feature [1] Company Summary - Affirm is a payment network that aims to empower consumers while assisting merchants in driving growth [1] - The integration with Google's AP2 signifies a strategic move to broaden Affirm's payment capabilities and enhance user experience [1] Industry Context - The development of AP2 involves collaboration with leading payments and technology companies, indicating a trend towards more secure and versatile payment solutions in the industry [1] - The partnership reflects the growing importance of seamless payment systems in e-commerce and digital transactions [1]