Core Insights - PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL) is considered one of the most undervalued stocks on NASDAQ currently [1] - The company introduced PayPal links, allowing users to transfer and receive money via customized, one-time links across various messaging apps [1] - PayPal plans to integrate cryptocurrency into its peer-to-peer payment system, enabling U.S. users to send cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum to digital wallets [2] Financial Performance - Venmo experienced its largest increase in total payment volume in three years, with peer-to-peer and other consumer payments rising 10% year-over-year in Q2 [3] - PayPal operates a technology platform that facilitates digital payments for merchants and customers globally, under various brands including PayPal, Venmo, and Braintree [3]

Consumer Spending Outlook - The Mastercard Economic Institute forecasts a 3.6% growth in retail sales for the holiday season, which is consistent with spending trends observed over the summer months [1][2] - Last year's holiday spending growth was 4.1%, driven by high volumes and disinflation in many categories, while this year presents more pricing challenges for consumers [3][5] E-commerce vs. In-store Spending - E-commerce retail spending is expected to grow by 7.9%, significantly outpacing the just over 2% growth for in-store shopping, indicating a shift in consumer behavior towards online shopping [6][7] Consumer Demographics and Spending Power - Spending is increasingly driven by high-end consumers, supported by wealth gains in markets and real estate, which have created a positive wealth effect for upper-income households [8][9] - The overall household balance sheets are in good shape, with serious delinquency rates trending slightly lower, suggesting consumers are well-equipped to manage spending this season [12] Labor Market Dynamics - Job creation has slowed, but the labor market remains balanced with low firing rates, contributing to a steady unemployment rate [14] - The impact of technological advancements, particularly AI, on the job market is a topic of debate, with potential structural changes expected rather than cyclical dynamics [15][16]

Core Insights - Mastercard has expanded its partnership with Corpay to enhance its near real-time cross-border payments across 22 additional markets, tapping into the growing global B2B money movement projected to exceed $250 trillion by 2027 [1][8] Group 1: Partnership and Investment - Mastercard invested approximately $300 million for a 3% stake in Corpay's cross-border business, strengthening operational ties and aligning with its focus on international transactions, which saw a 15% year-over-year increase in cross-border volumes in Q2 [2][8] - The partnership with Corpay addresses the demand for faster settlement, better fee transparency, and predictable currency conversions, positioning Mastercard as a solutions provider [3] Group 2: Market Dynamics - Cross-border transactions yield higher margins compared to domestic ones, and each new market entry enhances profitable scale for Mastercard [4] - Competitors like Visa and Western Union are also enhancing their cross-border payment capabilities, with Visa focusing on real-time transfers and Western Union modernizing its remittance services [5][6] Group 3: Financial Performance and Projections - Mastercard's shares have increased by 7.3% year-to-date, outperforming the broader industry growth of 0.1% [7] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects an 11.8% rise in Mastercard's earnings for 2025, followed by a 16.5% growth in 2026 [12]

Core Insights - Mastercard is expanding its partnership with Corpay to enhance cross-border payment solutions for corporations, small businesses, and financial institutions [2][3] - The partnership aims to facilitate near real-time payments to 22 new markets across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America [2][3] - The global cross-border payments market is projected to exceed $250 trillion by 2027, driven by international trade and remittances [3] Company Developments - The expanded collaboration will help financial institutions access new markets and optimize their cross-border payment operations [3] - Mastercard's investment in Corpay includes a 3% stake in Corpay's cross-border business, making Corpay the exclusive provider of currency risk management and large-ticket payment solutions for Mastercard's clients [7] - As part of the agreement, Mastercard will provide virtual card programs to Corpay's customers, who will also gain access to Mastercard Move's cross-border services [7] Industry Context - Small businesses face challenges in cross-border payments, including high fixed costs and lengthy settlement times, which can create working capital pressures [4][5] - The cross-border payment landscape is evolving with the introduction of FinTech platforms, digital wallets, and stablecoins, which aim to reduce friction and improve transparency [6]

Core Insights - David Knox, former executive at PayPal, has been appointed as the Chief Financial Officer of Hyperion DeFi, a firm focused on digital asset treasury [1][2][3] Company Overview - Hyperion DeFi is dedicated to acquiring HYPE tokens, the native cryptocurrency of the rapidly growing decentralized exchange, Hyperliquid [2] - The firm has recently completed a $10 million acquisition, increasing its total holdings to 1,712,195 HYPE tokens valued at approximately $79 million, with HYPE priced at $46.09 [4] - Hyperion's treasury, with an unrealized profit of about $13.4 million, is currently the largest of its kind, surpassing Lion Group Holding's holdings [4] Industry Trends - The concept of crypto treasuries is gaining traction among institutional investors, with firms looking to acquire significant amounts of altcoins such as Ethereum, Solana, and Binance Coin [5][7] - Hyperion, previously known as Eyenovia, has transitioned from a pharmaceutical focus to a digital asset treasury model, reflecting a broader trend of companies rebranding or launching new entities for digital asset treasury ambitions [8]

MBS Invests $8.8 Billion to Build Blockchain-Focused Financial Hub in Maldives. Photo by BeInCrypto Global payments cooperative Swift announced the launch of a blockchain-based shared ledger with more than 30 global banks and Consensys, aiming to deliver instant, 24/7 cross-border transactions. The ledger will use smart contracts, programs that automatically enforce transaction rules, and is positioned as a direct answer to competition from stablecoins. Swift unveils shared ledger to counter stablecoins ...

Core Insights - Corpay, Inc. and Mastercard Inc. are expanding their partnership to enable near real-time payments to 22 additional markets across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America [1] - The initiative utilizes Mastercard Move's money movement platform to enhance the speed, security, and transparency of cross-border transactions [3][4] - The value of cross-border payments is projected to exceed $250 trillion by 2027, driven by trade, disbursements, and remittances [3] Company Developments - The partnership builds on a previous agreement from April 2025, where Corpay became the exclusive provider of large-ticket cross-border payment and currency risk management services for Mastercard's banking clients [2] - The agreement also enhances access to Mastercard Move's disbursement and remittance services for Corpay's small and mid-sized business customers [5] Financial Performance - Corpay reported second-quarter earnings of $5.13 per share, exceeding estimates and reflecting a 12.8% increase from $4.55 a year earlier [6] - Revenue rose 12.9% to $1.10 billion, aligning with forecasts [6] - The company raised its full-year 2025 adjusted EPS outlook to a range of $20.86–$21.26 and lifted its sales forecast to $4.41–$4.49 billion [6] Market Reaction - Following the announcement, CPAY shares increased by 1.55% to $296.7 in premarket trading, while MA shares rose by 0.38% [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: Fiserv is acquiring StoneCastle Cash Management, a cash management firm that provides banks liquidity, and will leverage the firm’s platform to bolster its FIUSD stablecoin, the payments giant said Monday in a press release. Fiserv said the StoneCastle acquisition will allow it to become “a technology-enabled source of billions of dollars of institut ...

Core Insights - Checkout.com plans to launch an employee share buyback program at a valuation of $12 billion, aiming for over 30% net revenue growth in its core business for the current fiscal year [1] - The company anticipates processing more than $300 billion in eCommerce payment volumes this year, with daily processing exceeding $1 billion [2][3] - Checkout.com reported a 45% increase in net revenue growth for its core operations, indicating strong performance and strategic partnerships [3] Business Strategy - The company focuses on delivering value to merchants through partnerships with leading brands like eBay and ASOS, enhancing its position in the digital economy [2] - Checkout.com is onboarding enterprise partners to address merchants' needs for better payment data and higher conversion rates [3] - Plans for sustainable expansion include a 15% growth in workforce, adding 300 new employees by the end of the year [4] Technological Advancements - Investments in machine learning and AI, particularly in agentic commerce, have improved payment performance, unlocking an additional $15 billion in revenue for merchants [6] - New functionalities such as Visa Intelligent Commerce and Mastercard Agent Pay have been embraced, along with support for Google's Agent Payment Protocol [5] - The company has launched card issuing services in collaboration with Visa to streamline merchant transactions [4]

Core Insights - Visa Inc. has launched the Visa Commercial Solutions (VCS) Hub, a new platform aimed at transforming commercial payments for issuers and fintechs globally [1] - The VCS Hub is designed to provide a smarter and more seamless experience for users, indicating a significant advancement in payment technology [1] - Future expansions of the VCS Hub will include next-generation AI capabilities, enhancing its functionality and user experience [1]