Pivoting from macroeconomic concerns to capturing wallet share, PayPal is making an aggressive play to dominate checkout lanes. PayPal’s own footprint edged higher as active accounts rose 4% from the March quarter to 438 million. PayPal’s installment payment portfolio again grew more than the core business. “In the second quarter, BNPL volume grew more than 20% and monthly active accounts climbed 18%,” CEO Alex Chriss said. He added that average order values using BNPL run “more than 80% higher” than a standard branded checkout transaction, a statistic the company is using to recruit merchants who already accept PayPal but have yet to surface its installment options early in the shopping journey. For merchants, the pitch is that PayPal’s know your customer (KYC) infrastructure and access to “the largest ecosystem of payment-ready wallets” will simplify compliance when bots, not humans, initiate transactions. Debit card TPV across PayPal and Venmo grew more than 60% while monthly active accounts grew more than 65%, Chriss said. Two million users tapped a PayPal or Venmo debit card for the first time in the quarter, reinforcing Chriss’s thesis that cardholders transact more often and choose PayPal at checkout six times as frequently as non-card users. PayPal added yield rewards for holding PYUSD, expanded issuance to the Stellar and Arbitrum blockchains and said PYUSD would power PayPal World transactions that settle in local currency on the back end. The company also announced “Pay with Crypto,” earlier this week, which will convert more than 1,100 cryptocurrencies into PYUSD or fiat at checkout. Chriss said it positions PayPal as processor, not custodian. PayPal reported second-quarter net revenue of $8.29 billion, up 6% from the March quarter’s $7.79 billion and 5% year over year. Total payment volume rose by the same sequential 6% to $443.5 billion. Active accounts inched up to 438 million, reversing last year’s attrition but still growing more slowly than volume. Transaction margin dollars, a company metric that strips out operating costs, increased 7% year over year to $3.84 billion, or 8% when interest on customer balances is excluded. Non-GAAP earnings per share climbed 18%. Management again raised full-year guidance for both transaction‑margin dollars and earnings per share, even while acknowledging an “uneven” consumer backdrop in some corridors. The absence of dire macro commentary was itself a signal: PayPal believes its checkout strategy, not the economic cycle, will determine whether it can accelerate growth.
Amazon reveals most significant grocery expansion
Amazon has announced a major grocery expansion. Tens of millions of Prime members in more than 1,000 cities and towns can now shop for fresh groceries with their Same-Day Delivery orders. The company has plans to expand this offering to over 2,300 cities and towns across the United States by year-end. This marks one of the most significant grocery expansions for Amazon as the company introduces thousands of perishable food items into its existing logistics network. Amazon has been piloting the service in regions including Phoenix, Ariz., Orlando, Fla., and Kansas City, Mo., with these consumers having embraced the convenience. According to the company, many of these shoppers were first-time Amazon grocery customers who now return to shop twice as often with Same-Day Delivery service compared to those who didn’t purchase fresh food. “We’re seeing strong customer adoption as 75% of customers who’ve used the service this year are first time shoppers for perishables on Amazon, with 20% of customers who use the service returning multiple times within their first month,” commented CEO Andy Jassy. Amazon is finding success delivering perishables thanks to its specialized temperature-controlled fulfillment network that ensures customers receive fresh grocery items. Doug Herrington, CEO of Worldwide Amazon Stores said, “By introducing fresh groceries into our Same-Day Delivery service, we’re creating a quick and easy experience for customers.
Cash App’s new P2P payment feature enables creating a pool, setting a target amount, and inviting contributors who can make group payments in seconds using Apple Pay or Google Pay through a shareable link
Cash App announced the launch of pools, a new peer-to-peer payment feature that enables group payments with just a few taps. Organizers can start a pool through the Cash App payment tab. From there, organizers can create and name a pool, set a target amount, and invite contributors. Members can be invited in-app via their $cashtag, or the organizer can text or share a link to request a contribution using Apple Pay or Google Pay. The organizer can close the pool at any time and then transfer the money to their Cash balance. With pools, members can contribute within seconds so the group can focus on the experience and not on stressful payment logistics: Proactive payment collection: Our market research shows that 60% of U.S. adults participate in some form of group money pooling, or one person has typically needed to volunteer to make the payment up front. Pools were designed for groups to easily plan, collect, and track contributions before the event occurs so that nobody has to front the entire cost. Integrations with Apple Pay and Google Pay: If members of the group use different payment solutions, the organizer has historically needed to download multiple apps to collect the money from each person resulting in confusion, time wasted, and risk for all participants. Now, the organizer can create a shareable link for group members to contribute to a pool in seconds using Apple Pay or Google Pay. Easy progress tracking: The organizer can name, set a goal amount, and invite members to join the pool and track the group’s contributions, removing unnecessary logistics and guesswork. End-to-end payment flows: Each pool seamlessly connects to the Cash App’s suite of banking and peer-to-peer payment tools, so the organizer can instantly use that money toward the group’s goal.
Apple Card Apple Card slips in satisfaction rankings—outpaced by Hilton AmEx and Costco Visa—as users prioritize high-value rewards and preferences shift beyond no-fee simplicity
The Apple Card isn’t the customer service standout it once was, with new data showing satisfaction slipping as consumers chase richer perks elsewhere. The 2025 study gave Apple Card a satisfaction score of 624 out of 1,000. This was down from 654 in 2024. The drop pushed it behind Hilton Honors American Express, which scored 641. It also fell behind Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi, which scored 629 in the best co-branded credit cards category. Apple Card, issued by Goldman Sachs, had topped the J.D. Power credit card rankings for this segment every year since 2020. J.D. Power’s research evaluates seven factors like account management, customer service, rewards earning and redemption, and terms. The decline suggests Apple Card lost ground in some categories, though the study doesn’t specify which ones. Hilton Honors AmEx and Costco Anywhere Visa are linked to loyalty programs offering travel perks and store benefits to high spenders. The trend shows more consumers are willing to pay fees or change spending habits for better rewards. Searches like “Apple Card vs Hilton Honors AmEx” or “Apple Card vs Costco Anywhere Visa” are now more competitive for potential cardholders comparing benefits. Apple Card is known for its no-fee structure and simplicity, making it a top no-annual-fee credit card in 2025. However, that isn’t good enough in a rewards-focused market. A J.D. Power report highlights a growing divide between financially healthy customers and those under strain. Cardholders without revolving debt reported higher satisfaction, especially with annual-fee rewards cards. Financially challenged customers, who make up over half of U.S. cardholders, rated lower on credit limits, account management, and balance transfers. Apple Card lost its top spot as Goldman Sachs reportedly considered exiting the partnership. Although J.D. Power’s survey doesn’t link issuer stability to satisfaction, uncertainty about the card’s future could affect customer perceptions.
Visa’s platform adding support for two additional dollar-backed stablecoins, two blockchains and Circle’s euro-backed stablecoin EURC to facilitate settlement transactions for issuers and acquirers
The stablecoin ecosystem is expanding, and Visa is at the forefront of its development. As global interest in stablecoins takes center stage, Visa is building on its leadership in the space and enabling support for more stablecoins and more blockchains to facilitate settlement transactions for issuers and acquirers. Visa’s settlement platform is adding support for two additional USD-backed stablecoins, two blockchains and the euro-backed EURC. What’s new: More stablecoins: Through a new partnership with Paxos, Visa will be able to support two additional dollar-backed stablecoins, Global Dollar (USDG) and PayPal USD (PYUSD), bringing the transformative power of two more trusted stablecoins to our partners. More chains: Visa has added support for two blockchains, Stellar and Avalanche, in addition to already supported chains, Ethereum and Solana. More currencies: Visa has integrated Circle’s euro-backed stablecoin, EURC. With EURC integrated into the Visa Network, select pilot participating Visa partners can now access settlement in both USD- and EUR-backed stablecoins. This extends Visa’s crypto and treasury infrastructure capabilities which already facilitates settlement in more than 25 fiat currencies worldwide.
Google Wallet’s Nearby Passes uses location to surface relevant cards instantly, while allowing manual addition of unsupported loyalty passes for seamless, centralized access
While most wallet apps, like Samsung Wallet, let you store cards and even digital keys, Google Wallet offers features you don’t often see in other wallet apps. You can store your passport, various IDs, including your driver’s license, loyalty cards, and hotel keys, all within the Google Wallet app. While these features are already impressive, another feature completely changes how the app is used and it might be useful for you too. You can favorite frequently used cards and passes, but if you’re like me and use a mix of both, you’re still stuck hunting through the list. The Nearby Passes notification feature in Google Wallet uses your device’s location and the cards or passes in your wallet to surface the right one at the right time. For example, say you have a loyalty card for a coffee shop near your place. Google Wallet, using your device’s location, sends a notification to your phone’s lock screen so you can access that card instantly, without opening the app or scrolling through everything. The only catch is that it’s not always activated by default, particularly on devices that have had Google Wallet installed for a while or are running an older version of Android. Thankfully, you can activate it easily on your phone. In addition to the feature mentioned above, another Google Wallet feature I’ve been using a lot is the ability to create a loyalty card or pass, even for items that aren’t natively supported by the app. You can manually add unsupported passes to the app. So, if you need to access a card but don’t have your physical wallet on hand, this can be incredibly useful. It’s a lifesaver and allows you to create a centralized place to store all your passes.
Mastercard’s value-added services and solutions saw 23% revenue growth reflecting its strategic pivot from a pure-play network into a data-driven platform orchestrator with an ‘interoperability layer’ to support services across authentication, multi-rail and blockchain-anchored use cases
Mastercard is transitioning from a traditional payment processor to a data-driven technology platform, focusing on interoperability, digital identity and agentic AI. Mastercard’s value-added services and solutions segment is emerging as a critical differentiator. That line saw 23% revenue growth (22% currency-neutral) for the most recent quarter, reflecting growing demand for cybersecurity, authentication, digital identity and fraud prevention tools. One highlight: Mastercard Agent Pay, a service that leverages conversational AI to facilitate secure payments via contact centers or messaging platforms. This innovation marks Mastercard’s first direct play into agentic AI — a field defined by autonomous agents acting on behalf of users across digital ecosystems. This launch, alongside the expanded Mastercard Collection suite, reinforces its ambition to deliver “intelligence at the edge” of payment flows. The company reported net revenue of $8.1 billion, a 17% increase year over year on a GAAP basis and 16% growth on a currency-neutral basis. Adjusted net income came in at $3.8 billion, up 13%, with adjusted earnings per share of $4.15, an increase of 16% compared to the same period last year. Mastercard’s total gross dollar volume (GDV) grew 9% year over year on a local currency basis, reaching $2.6 trillion. U.S. GDV increased 6%, while outside of the U.S., GDV rose 10%, reflecting continued momentum in international markets.
Google Pixel 10 leads smartphone AI race with native AI for real-time translation, voice cloning, photo coaching, and editing; putting Apple’s iPhone at risk of losing innovation edge.
Apple is behind Google in the race to add artificial intelligence (AI) features to smartphones, according to Wall Street Journal Personal Tech Columnist Nicole Nguyen. An iPhone user, Nguyen wrote that her experience with Google’s upcoming Pixel 10 showed that Google has “lapped” Apple as both companies work to develop the “killer AI-powered phone.” Nguyen highlighted the Pixel 10’s AI-powered ability to surface information when needed, provide translations via a real-time voice clone and transcript, coach users to take good photos, and edit photos that have already been taken. “The race continues and for now, Apple has a lot of catching up to do,” Nguyen wrote. Apple faces the risk of its iPhone becoming a commodity because the Pixel 9 has, and Pixel 10 will ship with, embedded AI that lets users speak, search, transact and navigate with a native AI experience. The risk is how many consumers will keep waiting around for Apple to deliver. It’s a massive pain to switch from iOS to Android devices, and most people don’t. Getting an AI-powered Android device just may be enough for people to dump their iPhones.
70% of Galaxy S25 owners are using Galaxy AI features and more than half are using Circle to Search; Galaxy AI to expand to 400 million devices by the end of 2025
Samsung is planning a big expansion of AI features on Galaxy phones, and claims that a huge percentage of its users are already leveraging AI features in one way or another. Samsung says that 70% of Galaxy S25 owners are using Galaxy AI features. There’s no specific timeline (as in, how often after the features being used), but it’s still a big number. Samsung further adds that: “More than half” of Galaxy S25 owners use Circle to Search (a Google feature); Photo Assist usage “doubled” compared to Galaxy S24 users; Now Brief is used by “one in three” Galaxy S25 owners; Google Gemini use “tripled” on “the latest Galaxy S series.” With all of this in mind, Samsung says that it will expand Galaxy AI to hundreds of millions of devices over the course of 2025. Specifically, the company wants to double its previous “200+ million” figure to over 400 million. At the center of our innovation is a desire to bring consumers seamless and secure mobile AI experiences that align with their needs. That’s why Samsung Galaxy is committed to expanding Galaxy AI to 400 million devices by the end of this year — democratizing the power and possibilities of mobile AI to even more users. It stands to reason that new device launches and updates to existing devices will play a big role, but it’s still a big promise.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 are seeing 60% jump in pre-orders through US carriers in part due to in-store shoppers taking advantage of getting their hands on the devices for the touch and feel of thin & light designs and “camera improvements”
Samsung is touting a smash hit debut for its Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7, with the company’s foldables making a splash in the US market with up to 50% increase in initial sales, and some broken records too. Samsung says that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 have received “unprecedented consumer demand” since their launch, with both devices seeing a 25% increase in total pre-orders, with a 60% jump in pre-orders through US carriers. Samsung attributes the latter in part to in-store shoppers who are “taking advantage of getting their hands on the devices” with the thin & light designs and “camera improvements” apparently being the main points of interest. Samsung adds that the Galaxy Z Fold 7, in particular, is a major improvement. The latest generation is apparently seeing a 50% increase in demand over the Galaxy Z Fold 6 that launched before it. Samsung’s Drew Blackard says: Foldables have reached an inflection point as they are becoming a mainstream choice for users. Now on our seventh generation, we’ve addressed consumer feedback year after year and have arrived at the kind of experience you can’t get on any other device. When people go hands-on with a Z series device, they’re hooked — and now it’s all coming together with record-breaking numbers. The Fold 7 addresses nearly every complaint (except for battery life) this time around. Samsung also adds that its colorful models are the most popular ones this time around, with the “Blue Shadow” Galaxy Z Fold 7 making up “nearly half” of pre-orders, while the Coralred Galaxy Z Flip 7 made up roughly 25% of pre-orders, beating the company’s expectations.