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]

Core Viewpoint - OBOOK Holdings Inc. is launching OwlPay Cash, a mobile-first remittance app in collaboration with Visa, enabling U.S. users to send money directly to bank accounts in 26 countries, significantly reducing costs and improving transaction speed [3][4][5]. Company Overview - OBOOK Holdings Inc. operates as the OwlTing Group, focusing on blockchain technology and has a diversified ecosystem across payments, hospitality, and e-commerce [7]. - The company is headquartered in Taiwan and has subsidiaries in multiple countries, including the U.S., Japan, and Singapore [7]. Product Features - OwlPay Cash utilizes Visa Direct, connecting to over 11 billion endpoints globally, which helps reduce hidden fees and provides transparency on foreign exchange rates [4]. - The app is designed to cut costs by up to 70% compared to traditional SWIFT options and will be available on major app stores [6][9]. - It offers a mobile-first design for quick and easy transfers, with no monthly fees and built-in foreign exchange conversion [9]. Market Context - Global remittances are projected to reach $905 billion in 2024, with $230 billion originating from the U.S., highlighting the significant demand for affordable remittance solutions [5]. - The U.S. has nearly 48 million immigrants, many of whom rely on remittances for essential expenses [5]. Regulatory Compliance - OwlPay Cash is licensed in 39 U.S. states and is ISO 27001 certified, ensuring user data protection and compliance with regulatory standards [9][11].

Core Viewpoint - JPMorgan downgraded Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ:FISV) to Neutral from Overweight, citing a challenging outlook for payment stocks in 2025, which is expected to be the worst performance year in 15 years, excluding pandemic years [2][3]. Group 1: Company Performance - Fiserv, Inc. is currently among the Top 15 Lowest P/E Ratios of the S&P 500 in 2025 [1]. - The stock has experienced a significant decline, down 68% year-to-date as of December 5 [4]. - The average share price target for Fiserv is $95.05, indicating a potential upside of 43% from its current levels [4]. Group 2: Market Outlook - The payment sector is projected to face a market slowdown and uncertainty regarding the return on investment (ROI) of new products in 2025 [2]. - JPMorgan emphasizes that companies in this sector must demonstrate their ability to deliver results while also investing in new areas, which carries both potential for success and risk of failure [3]. Group 3: Analyst Sentiment - Approximately two-thirds of the 35 Wall Street analysts covering Fiserv have assigned a Hold rating to the stock [4].

Group 1 - Global Payments Inc. (GPN) is projected to have one of the lowest P/E ratios in the S&P 500 for 2025, with a Buy rating and a price target of $125 from Mizuho Securities [1] - Wall Street analysts anticipate a 32% upside for GPN, with a one-year average price target of $103.74 [2][5] - Truist Securities recently lowered its price target for GPN from $90 to $84 while maintaining a Hold rating, citing expectations of reduced share buybacks due to pending regulatory approvals for acquisitions [2][3] Group 2 - GPN announced a $24.25 billion buyout of Worldpay and a simultaneous divestiture of its Issuer Solutions business for $13.5 billion, with transactions expected to close in the first half of next year [4] - As of December 5, 60% of analysts covering GPN have a Hold rating, indicating a cautious outlook among market experts [5]

Core Insights - The adoption of stablecoins is increasing among major payment processors and financial technology companies, driven by regulatory frameworks like the Genius Act [2][4] - Stablecoins, which are pegged to fiat currencies, offer more stability compared to traditional cryptocurrencies, making them attractive for various financial applications [3] - The circulation of stablecoins has surged dramatically, reaching approximately 273 billion as of September 2023, up from 2.6 billion in September 2019 [5] Industry Developments - Klarna is testing a stablecoin, joining other major players in the payments industry [1] - PayPal introduced a stablecoin in 2023, while Visa, Mastercard, Stripe, and Fiserv are also entering the stablecoin market [4] - Visa is focusing on international payments and has partnered with Bridge to enable stablecoin transactions in Latin America [7] Practical Applications - Stablecoins are seen as a means to simplify cross-border transactions and reduce costs, with additional benefits such as facilitating transactions outside of banking hours [6] - Visa Direct is piloting a program that allows businesses to send payments directly to stablecoin wallets, enhancing the efficiency of cross-border payments [8]

Core Insights - Visa's new Commercial Enhanced Data Program (CEDP) has led to unexpected higher interchange fees for many merchants, as they were unprepared for the changes implemented in October [1][2][4] - The program requires merchants to provide more detailed data to qualify for lower interchange fees, which has resulted in many merchants struggling to meet these new requirements [3][6] Group 1: Visa's New Program - Visa's CEDP, effective from October 17, demands more data from merchants, which is crucial for financial institutions and intermediaries in combating credit card fraud [4][5] - The program has three levels of interchange fees, with level three requiring the most data and offering the highest discounts, while level one serves as the base rate [5][6] Group 2: Merchant Challenges - Many merchants, including large clients processing billions annually, are facing difficulties in adjusting to the new data requirements, leading to increased fees [3][4] - Historically, merchants received level three discounts even with minimal data submission, but the new program aims to eliminate this practice, making it harder to achieve the same discounts [6][7] Group 3: Communication Issues - There has been poor communication from Visa regarding the new program, leaving merchants and consultants without clear guidance, which has contributed to the challenges faced [7]

This story was originally published on Payments Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Payments Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Airwallex, a multinational payments platform, has raised a fresh $330 million, taking its valuation to $8 billion, seven months after its last fundraising effort, the company said Monday in a press release. Singapore-based Airwallex also announced a new “dual global headquarters,” adding San Francisco as a base as the company seeks to capture new bus ...

Core Insights - DXC Technology and Aptys Solutions have formed a strategic partnership aimed at modernizing payments and simplifying connections for financial institutions [1][2] - The collaboration will enhance efficiency, reduce operational risk, and improve customer experiences for financial institutions [1] Partnership Details - Aptys Solutions offers a unified payments platform that includes ACH, wire, instant payments, image exchange, and digital channels, along with fraud controls and funds management tools [2] - DXC will integrate Aptys' payments capabilities with its banking transformation portfolio, allowing financial institutions to streamline payment processing and improve system interoperability [2] Market Impact - The partnership aims to democratize access to advanced banking innovations for financial institutions of all sizes, particularly benefiting community banks and credit unions that typically lack access to cutting-edge capabilities [3] - Financial institutions will gain access to DXC's modernization stack, which includes embedded finance, digital assets, and AI-driven services through Aptys' platform [3] Strategic Approach - The partnership focuses on a phased approach to modernization, combining Aptys' modern payments infrastructure with DXC's expertise in core banking [4] - The collaboration will enable direct bank-to-bank processing, allowing institutions to capture more value from their payments infrastructure and reduce reliance on intermediary fintech services [4] Future Developments - The initial phase will concentrate on core payments API transactions, with plans to expand into digital wallets, custody, and wealth management services in future phases [5] - The partnership is designed to provide the scale and reliability needed for financial institutions to modernize confidently while maintaining trust in payment relationships [5]

Core Viewpoint - Nayax Ltd. has successfully completed a tender for qualified investors in Israel, expanding its Series A Notes and Series 1 Warrants, aiming to raise approximately $175.4 million through this offering [1][2]. Group 1: Offering Details - The Securities were offered in units, each consisting of NIS 1,000 principal amount of Notes and three Warrants, with Qualified Investors committing to purchase 658,611 Units for a total of NIS 721,221,919 [2]. - The Company plans to accept undertakings for 518,381 Units at a price of NIS 1,091 per Unit, resulting in gross proceeds of NIS 565,553,671 (approximately $175,420,873) [2]. Group 2: Use of Proceeds - The net proceeds from the Offering, after deducting commissions, fees, and expenses, are expected to be around NIS 560 million (approximately $174 million), which will be used for general corporate purposes, including potential acquisitions [3]. Group 3: Terms of the Notes - The Notes have a fixed annual interest rate of 5.9% and will mature on September 30, 2030, with principal repayments starting in September 2027 [4]. - The repayment structure includes four annual payments, with the first two installments being 10% of the principal amount and the last two installments being 40% each [4]. Group 4: Terms of the Warrants - Each Warrant is exercisable into one ordinary share at an exercise price of NIS 177.80, subject to adjustments based on the NIS-to-USD exchange rate, with the current exercise price at NIS 158.01, representing a 6.4% premium over the closing share price [5]. - The Warrants will expire on March 31, 2027 [5]. Group 5: Company Overview - Nayax is a global commerce enablement, payments, and loyalty platform that assists merchants in scaling their businesses, offering a complete solution for cashless payment acceptance and management tools [10]. - As of September 30, 2025, Nayax operates 12 global offices, employs approximately 1,200 staff, and has connections to over 80 merchant acquirers [10].

Upgrades - HSBC upgraded Visa (V) to Buy from Hold with a price target of $389, up from $335, citing strong financial performance and growth in services [2] - BofA upgraded Synopsys (SNPS) to Neutral from Underperform with a price target of $500, down from $525, anticipating a positive outlook on its upcoming EPS call [3] - Morgan Stanley upgraded General Motors (GM) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $90, up from $54, reflecting a change in analyst coverage and a revised outlook for the auto sector [4] - TD Cowen upgraded Ulta Beauty (ULTA) to Buy from Hold with a price target of $725, up from $600, due to expectations of stronger merchandising and global growth under new management [4] - Truist upgraded Five Below (FIVE) to Buy from Hold with a price target of $216, up from $179, highlighting the significance of the company's Q3 report [5] Downgrades - Rosenblatt downgraded Netflix (NFLX) to Neutral from Buy with a price target of $105, down from $152, following a significant acquisition announcement [6] - Morgan Stanley downgraded Rivian (RIVN) to Underweight from Equal Weight with an unchanged price target of $12, expressing caution regarding the electric vehicle market [6] - Morgan Stanley also downgraded Lucid Group (LCID) to Underweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $10, down from $30, reflecting a similar cautious outlook [6] - Morgan Stanley downgraded Tesla (TSLA) to Equal Weight from Overweight with a price target of $425, up from $410, citing high valuation and a cautious industry outlook [6] - Deutsche Bank downgraded 3M (MMM) to Hold from Buy with a price target of $178, down from $199, indicating limited upside potential through 2028 [6] - Benchmark downgraded Marvell (MRVL) to Hold from Buy, removing the price target, due to competitive losses impacting growth projections [6]