Latest news with #CryptoCredential
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Mastercard Expands Digital Currency Reach via Fiserv & Chainlink
Mastercard Incorporated MA has strengthened its dedication to blockchain technology through two innovative partnerships, Fiserv and Chainlink. These partnerships seek to increase the users' access to stablecoins and cryptocurrencies by utilizing MA's extensive global payment network. Mastercard is incorporating the new FIUSD stablecoin into its network through a partnership with Fiserv. With this change, more than 150 million merchants will be able to use stablecoin for easy payments and settlements. Some of the standout features include enabling merchants to settle in FIUSD, the issuance of cards linked to stablecoin and the integration of Fiserv's Finxact-powered platform with MA's Multi-Token Network. Customers and banks around the world will be able to access on-chain programmable commerce as a result. At the same time, Mastercard and Chainlink have teamed up to allow their more than 3 billion cardholders to buy cryptocurrency assets directly on-chain. Fiat-to-crypto conversion and smart contract execution are connected by this integration, which is backed by Chainlink's secure interoperability infrastructure and supported by companies like zerohash, Swapper Finance, Shift4 Payments and XSwap. On platforms like Uniswap, users can now access decentralized liquidity and convert fiat money into cryptocurrency. This dual approach is a strong indication that MA is establishing a future-proof infrastructure. The company is positioning itself as a neutral transaction layer that bridges traditional finance and blockchain ecosystems. This strategic move could give it a significant edge as regulatory clarity continues to evolve around the world. MA supports merchant settlement in USDC and enhances cross-border transfers with Crypto Credential for secure transactions. Wirex, Bit2Me, Lirium, Notabene, and Mercado Bitcoin have also joined the Mastercard Crypto Credential ecosystem. Some of MA's card issuance partners, like Kraken, OKX and Bleap, are playing a key role in bridging the gap between the crypto economy and everyday spending. Year to date, MA shares have gained 5.6% compared with the industry's growth of 4.1%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research MA currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the business services space are OppFi Inc. OPFI, Green Dot Corporation GDOT and Sezzle Inc. SEZL, each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for OppFi's current-year earnings of $1.23 per share has witnessed two upward revisions in the past 60 days against no movement in the opposite direction. OppFi beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 59.5%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $578.4 million, implying 10% year-over-year growth. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Green Dot's current-year earnings of $1.22 per share has witnessed two upward revisions in the past 60 days against no movement in the opposite direction. Green Dot beat earnings estimates in two of the trailing four quarters and missed twice, with the average surprise being 5.6%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $2.1 billion, calling for a 20.2% year-over-year increase. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Sezzle's current-year earnings of $3.26 per share has witnessed two upward revisions in the past 60 days against no movement in the opposite direction. Sezzle beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 159.9%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $441.8 million, suggesting 62.9% year-over-year growth. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Mastercard Incorporated (MA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Green Dot Corporation (GDOT) : Free Stock Analysis Report OppFi Inc. (OPFI) : Free Stock Analysis Report Sezzle Inc. (SEZL) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Visa's Crypto Integration: A Game Changer or a Risky Bet?
A global payment giant, Visa Inc. V, is increasing its focus on blockchain technology to bridge the gap between the worlds of traditional finance and decentralized currencies. The company has been increasing its presence in the crypto space through fintech partnerships and pilot projects. It has teamed up with crypto platforms like and Coinbase to issue crypto-linked cards and enable direct crypto payments. V has been on a roll, expanding its interoperability efforts. The company launched its first seven-day-a-week stablecoin settlement. It has already surpassed a whopping $200 million in cumulative stablecoin settlement volume. On the programmability front, Visa has also developed the Visa tokenized asset platform, which is designed to help banks issue and utilize stablecoins for innovative new forms of programmable finance. In the stablecoin market, Visa is actively concentrating on a wider range of product opportunities and collaborations. These strategies are designed to make cross-border payments smoother, speed up transactions and meet the needs of a new wave of consumers who are savvy about cryptocurrencies. Visa's cross-border volume increased 13% year over year on a constant-dollar basis in the second quarter of fiscal 2025. Its focus on utilizing stablecoins to reduce remittance fees is a major positive. In a world quickly moving toward digital-first finance, Visa's forward-thinking strategy could help ensure it stays relevant for many years. However, these strategies come with some risks. Regulatory scrutiny of cryptocurrencies is still quite intense across various regions, and the inherent volatility of digital assets can threaten stability and trust. Some of V's competitors in the digital assets space include Mastercard Incorporated MA and PayPal Holdings, Inc. PYPL. Mastercard is one of the closest competitors of Visa in the crypto arena. Mastercard has launched Crypto Credential to secure blockchain transactions. The company is also launching crypto-linked cards across various geographies. Wirex, Bit2Me and have also joined MA's Crypto Credential ecosystem. PayPal is among the pioneers in the fintech space when it comes to cryptocurrency adoption. It has allowed users in some markets to buy, sell and hold cryptocurrencies on its platform. PayPal introduced its own stablecoin, PYUSD, which is designed to facilitate quick and affordable digital payments within its ecosystem. Shares of Visa have gained 7.1% in the year-to-date period against the 0.1% decline of the industry. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research From a valuation standpoint, V trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 27.35, above the industry average of 21.66. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Visa's fiscal 2025 earnings implies a 12.9% jump from the year-ago period. It witnessed 10 upward estimate revisions in the past 60 days against one downward movement. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Visa stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Mastercard Incorporated (MA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Visa Inc. (V) : Free Stock Analysis Report PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mastercard's Crypto Expansion: A Right Global Bet on Digital Assets?
In Mastercard Incorporated's MA determination to grow, it is dipping its toes in the world of crypto. This is a strategic move aimed at redefining the company's role in the digital finance landscape. In its effort to stay ahead of the market, MA is forming partnerships and developing the necessary infrastructure to facilitate crypto payments and drive blockchain innovation on a global scale. The company is collaborating with cryptocurrency platforms to enable customers to spend their cryptocurrencies at over 150 million locations worldwide that accept Mastercard. A key component of Mastercard's strategy is its adoption of stablecoins. By understanding how these digital currencies can make real-time, cross-border transactions possible, the company has teamed up with platforms that support stablecoin payments. MA supports merchant settlement in USDC and enhances cross-border transfers with Crypto Credential for secure transactions. Its Multi-Token Network boosts real-time, on-chain settlements with partners like J.P. Morgan and Standard Chartered. Wirex, Bit2Me, Lirium, Notabene, and Mercado Bitcoin have also joined the Mastercard Crypto Credential ecosystem. Some of MA's card issuance partners, like Kraken, OKX and Bleap, are playing a key role in bridging the gap between the crypto economy and everyday spending. The company is positioning itself to lead future advancements, such as Agentic AI in crypto. Even though there are still hurdles like regulatory uncertainty, Mastercard's proactive strategy focused on security, trust and global flexibility might be the right long-term choice. Some of MA's competitors in the digital assets space include Visa Inc. V and PayPal Holdings, Inc. PYPL. Visa has been expanding its footprint in the crypto space through fintech partnerships and pilot programs. Visa has collaborated with crypto platforms like and Coinbase to issue crypto-linked cards and enable direct crypto payments. PayPal is among the pioneers in the fintech space when it comes to cryptocurrency adoption. It has allowed users in some markets to buy, sell and hold cryptocurrencies on its platform. PayPal introduced its own stablecoin, PYUSD, which is designed to facilitate quick and affordable digital payments within its ecosystem. In the year-to-date period, MA's shares have gained 6.7% compared with the industry's rise of 3.5%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research From a valuation standpoint, MA trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 32.66, above the industry average of 22.57. MA carries a Value Score of D. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Mastercard's 2025 earnings implies 9.5% growth from the year-ago period. It witnessed one upward estimate revision in the past month against no movement in the opposite direction. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Mastercard currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Mastercard Incorporated (MA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Visa Inc. (V) : Free Stock Analysis Report PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Sign in to access your portfolio