Catch up on the week's headlines 👇💥 New BTC ATH: $126K🇪🇺 Europe sees record crypto ETP inflows🛒 Walmart’s OnePay adds $BTC & $ETH access https://t.co/jgAOmlGvOe ...

Group 1: Global Payments and Technology - Global Payments has launched its Genius payments technology in higher education, targeting on-campus merchants and facilities in the U.S. and Canada [1] - The Genius system includes features like inventory management and support for various payment methods, marking a shift towards a more payment-focused strategy [7] - The rollout follows a significant acquisition and divestiture strategy, including the sale of its issuer business to FIS for $13.5 billion and the acquisition of Worldpay for $22.7 billion, expected to close in early 2026 [8] Group 2: Lloyds Banking Group and PayPoint - Lloyds Banking Group is closing 136 branches as part of its digital transformation, while PayPoint has seen over £3 million (approximately $4 million) deposited using its barcode cash deposit feature since August [2][4] - The barcode cash deposit feature allows customers to deposit cash into their debit accounts without visiting a traditional branch, with a limit of £300 per transaction [3] Group 3: Walmart's OnePay - Walmart's OnePay fintech aims to provide banking services to underbanked populations and has recently expanded its offerings to include phone plans and credit card services [5] - OnePay is planning to introduce cryptocurrency trading and custody services, indicating a broader trend among banks and firms to tap into cryptocurrency demand [6] Group 4: BBVA and AI Integration - BBVA is utilizing Apple Intelligence's Image Playground to allow customers to design Visa-branded payment cards, starting with virtual cards and planning to introduce physical cards [9][10] - The bank has also partnered with Google to enhance its internal AI capabilities, including the deployment of generative AI tools [11] Group 5: Mastercard and Open Banking - Mastercard is expanding its open banking technology through partnerships, enabling account-to-account payments without requiring card details, which enhances user experience [12][13] Group 6: Coinbase and Stablecoins - Coinbase has introduced P2P transfers for USDC stablecoins, providing a fee-free alternative to traditional P2P payment apps [14] - The platform has also enabled users to lend USDC stablecoins with yields up to 10.7%, enhancing its competitive position in the payments landscape [16] Group 7: India's UPI and Biometric Authentication - India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is set to implement biometric authentication, allowing users to approve payments using facial recognition or fingerprints [17][18] Group 8: Ramp and AI in Finance - Ramp has launched an AI agent designed for accounts payable, automating tasks such as coding invoices and streamlining approvals, aiming for near 100% automation in certain workflows [19][20]

Core Insights - Walmart's fintech venture, OnePay, will introduce Bitcoin and Ethereum trading and custody features in its mobile app later this year, allowing users to buy, sell, hold, and store cryptocurrencies directly [1] - OnePay aims to integrate cryptocurrency with everyday purchases, enabling users to convert crypto into cash for use at Walmart stores or to pay credit card balances, making crypto a part of daily financial routines [2] - This initiative aligns with Walmart's broader financial services strategy, positioning OnePay as an all-in-one hub for banking, credit, payments, and now crypto, enhancing its competitiveness in the fintech space [3] Integration and Competition - The launch coincides with a more favorable regulatory environment for crypto in the U.S., and OnePay's features will make it a direct competitor to established fintech platforms like Venmo, PayPal, and Cash App [4] - The integration of crypto trading and custody presents technical and logistical challenges, requiring compliance with financial regulations and ensuring user asset protection while providing a seamless experience [5] - The timeline for the launch is uncertain, with potential delays due to technical issues, regulatory hurdles, or banking coordination, which could impact the success of the rollout [6] Implications for Retail and Crypto - If successful, OnePay could significantly enhance the accessibility of crypto for everyday shoppers, making digital assets feel more like regular money for Walmart's customer base [7]

Public Keys: Robinhood soars to new highs as crypto goes mainstream through Walmart-owned OnePay, Samsung, and CME's 24/7 trading plans.Read more: https://t.co/A7YMpRoUTK ...

Core Insights - Robinhood has reached an all-time high in stock price, driven by reports of expanding its prediction market offerings internationally, particularly in the U.K. [1][2] - The prediction market sector is projected to exceed $82 billion in value, indicating significant growth potential [2]. - Robinhood's stock has surged 21.69% in the past five days and nearly 47% in the past month, with shares approaching $150 [3]. Company Developments - CEO Vlad Tenev announced the availability of Strategy preferred stock offerings on Robinhood's platform, responding to investor demand [4]. - Strategy has faced challenges with a potential 15% tax bill on unrealized gains from its Bitcoin treasury but believes it has avoided this issue [5]. Industry Trends - Walmart's OnePay app is integrating crypto trading and custody features, allowing over 3 million monthly active users to trade Bitcoin and Ethereum [6]. - Walmart is actively promoting its OnePay app, which currently does not support Apple or Google Pay in physical stores, focusing instead on its own payment solutions [6][7]. - The company has shown interest in exploring stablecoin options, aligning with broader trends in retail and cryptocurrency integration [7].

Speaking of crypto, sources telling CNBC that OnePay, the fintech firm majority owned by Walmart, is joining the crowded ring of crypto custody and trading. Our Hu son is here with some of that reporting. Morning, Hugh.That's right, Carl. So, One Pay, created by Walmart and Ribbit Capital in 2021, will soon be adding crypto to its mobile banking app. Sources tell me one pay will be adding access to Bitcoin and Ether in coming weeks with the help of a startup called Zero Hash.According to these sources, the ...

Core Insights - Klarna has partnered with Walmart Canada to offer its flexible payment solutions, making Walmart Canada the largest retailer in the country to host Klarna's services [2][3] - The partnership allows Walmart Canada customers to utilize Klarna's buy now, pay later (BNPL) option both online and in-store, with the ability to split purchases over $50 Canadian into four installments [3][4] - Klarna has secured significant funding, including a $26 billion agreement with Nelnet and a €1.4 billion ($1.6 billion) warehouse financing facility with Santander, enhancing its financial capacity [5] Company Developments - Walmart Canada aims to enhance customer experience by introducing BNPL options powered by Klarna, serving approximately 1.5 million customers daily [2][3] - Klarna has become Walmart's exclusive provider of installment loans, allowing for the integration of installment loans into Walmart's consumer finance platform, OnePay [4] Industry Trends - Research indicates that 43% of consumers would cancel a payment or purchase if BNPL options were unavailable, while 42.4% would opt for cheaper alternatives, highlighting the importance of BNPL in consumer spending [6] - Klarna holds the largest market share in the American BNPL space at 26.2%, followed by Afterpay at 21.9% and Affirm at 19.3%, indicating a competitive landscape [7]