Core Insights - Visa Inc. is expanding its crypto-related services by allowing stablecoin-based settlement across its US payments network, specifically using Circle's USDC stablecoin over the Solana blockchain [1][2] Group 1: Faster Settlement for U.S. Banks - The introduction of USDC settlement aims to provide faster funds movement for banks and fintechs, with seven-day availability and enhanced resilience during weekends and holidays [2] - Initial participants in this settlement process include Cross River Bank and Lead Bank, with plans for broader availability to U.S. institutions by 2026 [2] Group 2: Blockchain Infrastructure and Arc Partnership - Visa is enhancing its collaboration with Circle by becoming a design partner for Arc, a new Layer 1 blockchain currently in public testnet, which is intended to support large-scale commercial activities on-chain [3] - Visa plans to utilize Arc for USDC settlement and intends to operate a validator node once the blockchain is live, integrating blockchain infrastructure into its settlement processes [3] Group 3: Modernizing Treasury and Liquidity Management - The USDC settlement framework is designed to provide seven-day settlement windows, improved liquidity management, and greater automation for participating banks [4] - This framework aims to bridge traditional payment systems with blockchain infrastructure while adhering to Visa's security, compliance, and reliability standards [4] Group 4: Institutional Adoption of Stablecoins - Visa's USDC settlement initiative is seen as a significant step towards institutional adoption of stablecoins, with early banking partners noting benefits like clearer liquidity timing and API-driven settlement [6] - Visa has launched a Stablecoins Advisory Practice to assist financial institutions in assessing and implementing stablecoin strategies [6]

MassPay has announced the integration of Visa Direct into its proprietary orchestration platform, aiming to streamline and accelerate cross-border payouts for businesses. This move enables fast payments to cards, bank accounts, and digital wallets in over 200 markets. Traditionally, companies paying gig workers, marketplace sellers, or independent contractors across borders face a complex and slow process. Managing multiple relationships with banks, payment processors, and compliance providers in diffe ...

Core Insights - Visa has launched its Stablecoins Advisory Practice to provide insights and recommendations for banks, fintechs, merchants, and businesses regarding stablecoins [1][3] - The stablecoin market cap has exceeded $250 billion, and Visa's settlement volume has reached an annualized run rate of $3.5 billion as of November 30 [2] Visa's Stablecoins Advisory Practice - The practice aims to guide strategy and implementation in the evolving stablecoin ecosystem, which is influenced by crypto-native innovators [3][4] - Services offered include stablecoin training, market trend programs, strategy development, market entry planning, use case sizing, and technology enablement for stablecoin integration [8] Industry Context - Visa has over 130 stablecoin-linked card issuing programs across more than 40 countries and territories, showcasing its leadership in modernizing global payments through blockchain and stablecoin technology [4] - Visa Direct's pilots will allow qualified businesses to pre-fund cross-border payments using stablecoins and send direct payouts to individuals' stablecoin wallets [4]

Group 1: Investment Potential - Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is considered one of the most profitable stocks to buy currently, with Evercore ISI raising its price target to $610 from $600 while maintaining an In Line rating [1] - The stock has been added to Evercore ISI's "Tactical Outperform" list, indicating potential for higher investor interest and valuation reversion as fiscal Q4 earnings season approaches [1] Group 2: Dividend and Share Repurchase - Mastercard announced a 14% increase in its quarterly dividend, raising it from 76 cents to 87 cents per share, with the dividend to be paid on February 9, 2026 [2] - The company approved a new share repurchase program allowing for the repurchase of up to $14 billion of its Class A common stock, effective after the completion of the current $12 billion program [3] Group 3: Financial Performance - In fiscal Q3 2025, Mastercard reported a net revenue growth of 17% year-over-year, or 15% on a currency-neutral basis, with net income reaching $3.9 billion and diluted earnings per share at $4.34 [4] - The Q3 net revenue also increased by 17%, or 15% on a currency-neutral basis, totaling $8.6 billion, driven by strong performance in differentiated services and robust consumer and business spending [4]

Core Viewpoint - PayPal has applied to establish a bank in the United States, aiming to leverage the favorable regulatory environment under the Trump administration [1] Company Summary - PayPal is taking steps to expand its operations by entering the banking sector, indicating a strategic move to capitalize on current regulatory conditions [1] Industry Summary - The application reflects a broader trend among companies seeking to benefit from a regulatory landscape that is perceived as more accommodating for financial services [1]

Core Viewpoint - The payments company has initiated the process to establish PayPal Bank by filing applications with the Utah Department of Financial Institutions and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp [1] Company Summary - The company is taking steps to expand its financial services by seeking to create a banking entity [1]

This story was originally published on Payments Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Payments Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: PayPal Holdings said Monday that it has applied with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Utah Department of Financial Institutions to establish a Utah-chartered industrial loan company, according to a press release issued by the company. The digital payments pioneer said in the release that it’s seeking the charter so that it can expand fina ...

Core Insights - Visa Inc. is expanding its role in digital assets by launching a stablecoin advisory practice to assist organizations in evaluating the integration of stablecoins into their payment and treasury operations [1][2] Group 1: Advisory Practice Overview - The new Stablecoins Advisory Practice is part of Visa Consulting & Analytics, aimed at guiding clients on market fit, strategy, technology, and implementation of stablecoins [2] - The initiative is a response to increasing demand from financial institutions for practical methods to incorporate stablecoins into their existing systems [2] Group 2: Market Dynamics and Regulatory Environment - Interest in stablecoins has surged following the passage of the GENIUS Act, which established a regulatory framework for dollar-pegged digital assets in the U.S. [3] - Payment companies and banks are transitioning from experimental phases to real-world applications of stablecoins, with Visa's advisory clients exploring use cases such as cross-border payments and B2B transactions [3] Group 3: Client Engagement and Growth Potential - The advisory practice is already serving dozens of clients, including Navy Federal Credit Union and Pathward, with expectations of expanding to hundreds of clients as adoption increases in both traditional finance and fintech [4] - Some clients may proceed with stablecoin implementations, while others may determine there is no immediate customer demand [4] Group 4: Visa's Existing Stablecoin Activities - Visa has prior experience with stablecoins, having piloted stablecoin settlement using USDC in 2023 and currently supporting over 130 stablecoin-linked card programs across more than 40 countries [5] - The annualized stablecoin settlement volume for Visa has reached approximately $3.5 billion, indicating a shift from pilot programs to production-level usage [5]

Core Insights - The FUTR Corporation will host a virtual fireside chat on December 18, 2025, to discuss recent growth milestones and strategic priorities [1][3] - Key topics will include the rollout of the FUTR AI Agent, expansion of FUTR Payments 2.0, and a new partnership with Tax Max that increases FUTR's U.S. dealership network by approximately 400% [2] Recent Business and Operational Highlights - **FUTR AI Agent**: The company is advancing its AI capabilities to enhance consumer financial experiences [4] - **FUTR Payments**: The expansion of FUTR Payments 2.0 aims to improve transaction automation and payment solutions [4] - **Partnerships**: The collaboration with Tax Max is a significant development that accelerates the adoption of FUTR's bi-weekly auto payment solution [2][4] - **Leadership Team**: The company emphasizes a strong leadership team to drive its strategic initiatives [4] Company Overview - The FUTR Corporation specializes in high-fidelity AI systems and next-generation payment infrastructure, focusing on unlocking consumer financial potential across various industries [4] - The company combines data connectivity with AI-driven transaction automation to provide seamless payment, credit, and verification experiences [4]

Investment and Financial Performance - One 97 Communications has completed a Rs22.50bn ($250m) investment into its subsidiary Paytm Payments Services Limited (PPSL) through a rights issue [1] - For Q2FY26, Paytm reported a net profit of Rs2.11bn ($25.3m) before a one-time charge, with a reported profit after tax of Rs210m ($2.5m) after impairing a Rs1.90bn ($22.7m) loan [3] - Operating revenue for the quarter increased by 24% year-on-year to Rs20.61bn ($247m) [4] Product Development and Features - Paytm launched a new in-app privacy feature called 'Hide Payments', allowing users to move selected UPI transactions out of the main transaction history [2] - The 'Hide Payments' feature is designed to enhance user discretion, particularly for those sharing devices [2] - Paytm claims to be the only UPI app in the market offering this privacy capability [3] Regulatory Developments - One 97 Communications received the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) online payment aggregator license, allowing Paytm to operate as a payment aggregator [5]