Key insights: Visa and Mastercard are expanding their role in cross-border payments. What's at stake: Both card companies are trying to gain more revenue from sources beyond card swipes. Forward look: In other global news, French payment firm Worldline is refocusing is business following regulatory pressure and financial challenges.  Mastercard is partnering with Chinese technology giant Tencent to combine the Mastercard Move funds transfer service with the TenPay cross-border payment rail and the Weixin Pa ...

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].