# Сопутствующие статьи по теме Acquisition

Stripe Rises, PayPal Falls: The New King of Payments Ascends the Throne

Stripe, the global payments infrastructure giant, has surged to a $159 billion valuation, marking a 74% increase, while announcing $1.9 trillion in annual transaction volume. Concurrently, legacy leader PayPal is exploring a potential sale after reporting stagnating growth, with Stripe considered a possible acquirer. Stripe’s success stems from strategic expansion beyond payment APIs into crypto and AI-driven finance. It acquired stablecoin infrastructure firm Bridge and wallet provider Privy, and co-developed the Tempo blockchain, capable of 100k TPS. Its partnership with OpenAI introduced machine payments for AI agents, positioning Stripe at the forefront of AI economy transactions. In contrast, PayPal faces declining growth in core checkout services and minimal traction with its PYUSD stablecoin. Its traditional fee-based model conflicts with emerging stablecoin economies, and slow innovation has left it vulnerable to competitors. The divergence highlights a fundamental shift: Stripe is building the next-generation financial infrastructure—on-chain payments, stablecoin settlement, and AI commerce—while PayPal struggles to adapt within its existing framework. The payment industry’s future lies in embracing crypto and AI, and Stripe’s early bets have given it a decisive advantage.

Odaily星球日报04/01 06:32

Early Kalshi Employee: Whoever Controls the Traffic, Controls the Market

An early employee of Kalshi argues that in prediction markets, control over user traffic—not exchange infrastructure—is the primary source of power. The article analyzes how Robinhood, a dominant retail distributor, can redirect user orders between regulated exchanges like Kalshi and ForecastEx with no change in user experience. Key evidence includes a sudden shift of 35% of NBA game trading volume from Kalshi to ForecastEx in a single night, triggered by Robinhood. Similarly, weather markets saw ForecastEx capture over 60% of volume immediately after Robinhood began routing orders there, without affecting Kalshi’s baseline traffic. The piece also highlights how Robinhood’s distribution massively amplified demand for new products like parlays, which grew from zero to nearly 300 million contracts per week after Robinhood integration. The author admits to initially underestimating Robinhood’s incentive to vertically integrate by acquiring its own CFTC-regulated exchange—a move mirrored by competitor Underdog. In prediction markets, where users are retail and trade sizes small, liquidity depth is not a moat. The real leverage lies with who controls the flow of users.

marsbit03/25 16:18

Sen. Elizabeth Warren flags MrBeast’s $200M deal over crypto access for minors

Senator Elizabeth Warren has raised concerns over MrBeast's (Jimmy Donaldson) company, Beast Industries, acquiring the Step fintech platform, which enables minors to invest in cryptocurrency under parental supervision. In a letter sent on March 23, Warren demanded details about Step’s crypto investment plans for young users, citing its alleged history of allowing under-18 trading. She also questioned Step’s partnership with Evolve Bank & Trust, which recently lost $96 million in customer funds, and referenced prior accusations of MrBeast’s involvement in crypto pump-and-dump schemes. Warren emphasized Beast Industries' lack of experience in financial services and its entry into a highly regulated market. The company responded by acknowledging the letter and expressing willingness to engage.

ambcrypto03/25 00:31

Sweden’s H100 targets European no. 2 spot with 3,500 BTC expansion!

ambcrypto03/24 06:42

Saylor Signals New Bitcoin Buy as Strategy’s Bitcoin Holdings Fall Around 10%

Michael Saylor has indicated that his company, MicroStrategy, is planning another Bitcoin purchase, continuing its aggressive accumulation strategy despite recent market downturns. The company, the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, has significantly accelerated its buying, acquiring over 43,000 BTC in March alone for a total of $3.04 billion. This buying occurs as Bitcoin faces pressure from geopolitical tensions, causing its price to drop to around $67,725. Consequently, MicroStrategy's holdings are currently at an unrealized loss of approximately 10%, with an average acquisition cost of $75,696 per Bitcoin. Despite these paper losses, the company reaffirms its long-term belief in the cryptocurrency.

TheNewsCrypto03/23 07:24

The Second Half of Stablecoins No Longer Belongs to the Crypto World

The article discusses the shift in the stablecoin market from the crypto sector to traditional finance, highlighted by Mastercard's acquisition of BVNK for up to $1.8 billion in March 2026. This move came after Coinbase abandoned a $2 billion deal for BVNK months earlier, signaling intensified competition for stablecoin infrastructure. BVNK specializes in cross-border payments using a "stablecoin sandwich" model: converting fiat to stablecoins like USDC for blockchain transfer, then back to local currency, reducing transaction times and costs. Its key asset is a suite of global licenses, including EMI from the UK FCA and CASP under EU MiCA, enabling compliance across 130+ countries. Mastercard's acquisition aims to integrate BVNK into its Multi-Token Network (MTN), a private blockchain for tokenized assets, addressing MTN's lack of connectivity with public chains. This enables atomic settlements, 24/7 B2B transactions, and programmable payments. The strategy contrasts with Visa’s partnership-focused approach, emphasizing direct control over infrastructure. The U.S. GENIUS Act (July 2025) provided regulatory clarity, defining stablecoins as non-securities under OCC oversight, which facilitated Mastercard’s move. The deal pressures players like Ripple and traditional correspondent banks, as Mastercard’s global network could disrupt cross-border payment fees. Ultimately, stablecoin evolution is becoming invisible to users—embedded in traditional finance for efficiency, not crypto adoption. Mastercard’s investment secures a foothold in the next-generation payment ecosystem.

marsbit03/21 07:12

Crypto Morning Brief: Prediction Market Kalshi Raises Over $1 Billion, Block Recalls Some Laid-Off Employees

Crypto & AI Daily Digest **Key Market Events:** - The Bank of Japan kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 0.75%, as expected. - US initial jobless claims for the week of March 14 came in at 205,000, lower than the forecast of 215,000. **Major Funding & M&A:** - Prediction market platform Kalshi raised over $1 billion in a new funding round, doubling its valuation to $22 billion. - OpenAI is acquiring startup Astral to expand its presence in the programming sector. - Animoca Brands announced a strategic investment in AVAX and a partnership with Ava Labs to develop the Avalanche ecosystem, focusing on Asia and the Middle East. **Corporate News:** - **Meta** experienced a significant AI Agent malfunction, leading to a two-hour leak of sensitive company and user data. - **Block** (formerly Square) has quietly recalled some of the employees it laid off in February, with CEO Jack Dorsey admitting the decision may have been a mistake. - **Crypto.com** is cutting approximately 12% of its workforce as part of a company-wide push to integrate enterprise-level AI tools. - **Gemini** has reduced its headcount by about 30% this year and reported an annual loss of approximately $585 million. **Token & Ecosystem Updates:** - The Perle Foundation unveiled the tokenomics for its PRL token, with 37.5% allocated to the community. - Perpetual DEX edgeX has launched a page for its EDGE token airdrop, with claims open until April 1st.

marsbit03/20 01:13

Polymarket acquires Brahma to fix ‘liquidity imbalance’: Report

Polymarket has acquired crypto infrastructure firm Brahma to address liquidity imbalances and improve its on-chain trading systems. While popular markets like elections attract significant activity, niche markets suffer from low participation and unreliable pricing. The acquisition aims to distribute liquidity more evenly and enhance platform efficiency. Despite rapid growth and a valuation of $18–20 billion, driven by the 2024 election cycle, Polymarket faces inconsistent trading activity and a recent drop in market share. Competitor Kalshi, a regulated non-crypto platform, briefly captured 66% market share during the election. Polymarket continues to focus on crypto, with plans for a native token, contrasting with Kalshi’s traditional approach.

ambcrypto03/19 13:02

Polymarket Acquires Brahma to Strengthen DeFi Infrastructure

Polymarket, the largest prediction market, has acquired DeFi infrastructure provider Brahma. The Brahma team will focus on enhancing Polymarket's product suite, aiming to reduce friction in wallet creation, deposits, and token redemptions. The acquisition is expected to bring more liquidity to niche prediction markets on Polymarket. Brahma’s three main products—Strategy Vaults, Brahma Accounts, and Swype.fun—will be discontinued over the next 30 days. This move is part of Polymarket’s continued expansion despite broader crypto market challenges. The company recently announced partnerships with Palantir and TWG AI for an AI-powered sports integrity platform and acquired Dome and Lunch in February. Financial terms of the Brahma acquisition were not disclosed.

TheNewsCrypto03/19 08:30

Mastercard Spent $1.8 Billion on a Stablecoin Insurance Policy

Mastercard has acquired London-based stablecoin infrastructure firm BVNK for up to $1.8 billion, marking the largest acquisition in the stablecoin sector to date. The move comes amid growing threats to Mastercard’s core business: cross-border transactions, which account for 37% of its revenue. Stablecoins enable faster, cheaper international settlements—often under 1% in fees compared to 3–6% for traditional systems—posing a long-term risk to card networks' profitability. BVNK facilitates conversions between fiat and on-chain stablecoins, handling $30 billion in annual transaction volume across 130 countries. Mastercard aims to integrate BVNK’s technology to offer seamless stablecoin settlements, checkout options, and currency conversions while maintaining front-end card usability. The acquisition reflects a broader trend of traditional financial giants like Visa, Stripe, and PayPal embracing stablecoins to avoid disruption. Regulatory clarity, such as the U.S. GENIUS Act, has enabled established players to absorb innovative startups rather than compete with them. Ultimately, Mastercard’s investment ensures it remains the closest layer to the user in the evolving payments landscape—where proximity to consumers guarantees dominance.

marsbit03/19 03:37