X Pay is live on mainnet

X Pay has launched a payment gateway that enables any API or software to charge for individual HTTP requests and settle in USDC on Base mainnet. The service eliminates traditional payment barriers like accounts, API keys, and subscriptions by leveraging the x402 standard and stablecoins, allowing economically viable micropayments for the first time. The x402 standard, contributed by Coinbase and managed by the Linux Foundation, has already processed over 169 million payments across 590,000 buyers and 100,000 sellers.

09/11/2026, 10:55 AM • GlobeNewswire

I've Covered Many IPOs for The Motley Fool. Here's What Most Investors Get Wrong.

IPO stocks are often overpriced at launch due to hype, making them risky investments. Retail investors have limited access to IPO shares, which mostly go to institutional investors. The article recommends waiting for better entry points, particularly after the 180-day lockup period expires when insiders can sell, rather than buying immediately at IPO prices.

09/08/2026, 7:15 AM • The Motley Fool

Here's What $1,000 in Visa Stock at Its IPO Would Be Worth Today

A $1,000 investment in Visa stock at its 2008 IPO would be worth approximately $440,000 today, including reinvested dividends. Visa's exceptional business model, dominant market position as the world's largest credit card network, asset-light operations, and consistent dividend growth over 18 years demonstrate its reliability as a long-term investment that benefits from economic expansion.

09/02/2026, 9:24 AM • The Motley Fool

Bill Ackman Just Bought Visa, Mastercard, and S&P Global Stock. Each One Collects a Toll on Somebody Else's Sale.

Bill Ackman's Pershing Square hedge fund made three major new investments of approximately $1.1 billion each in Visa, Mastercard, and S&P Global during Q2 2026. These three positions combined represent about 17% of the fund's $19.5 billion U.S. stock portfolio. The common thread among these companies is their business model of collecting fees on transactions they don't originate, fund, or take risk on. All three are trading at premium valuations, reflecting their durable, recession-resistant revenue streams.

08/28/2026, 8:34 PM • The Motley Fool

Is Mastercard an Undervalued Stock to Buy?

Mastercard is presented as an excellent long-term investment option. The article notes that billionaire investor Bill Ackman recently purchased Mastercard stock alongside Visa and S&P Global. However, innovation from competitors remains identified as the company's biggest threat.

08/28/2026, 8:07 PM • The Motley Fool

Is Visa an Undervalued Stock to Buy?

The article examines whether Visa, one of the world's most profitable companies that generates revenue by facilitating transactions globally, represents an undervalued investment opportunity. The analysis was based on stock prices from August 25, 2026.

08/28/2026, 1:13 PM • The Motley Fool

For Investors in Their 30s, Here's 1 Glorious Growth ETF to Buy Hand Over Fist and Hold Forever

The Vanguard Morningstar Mega Cap Growth ETF (MGK) is recommended for investors in their 30s seeking long-term growth. With 72% exposure to technology stocks and top holdings in Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft, the ETF has delivered 13.6% compound annual returns since 2007, outperforming the S&P 500's 10.9%. A $30,000 investment could yield approximately $700,000 more at retirement compared to conservative alternatives, though diversification is advised.

08/25/2026, 7:30 AM • The Motley Fool

Where Will XRP (Ripple) Be in 5 Years?

The article argues that XRP will trade below $1 by August 2031 despite Ripple's institutional growth. While Ripple's business is strengthening with $3 trillion in prime brokerage volume and a national trust bank charter, the company's stablecoin RLUSD is replacing XRP's role in transactions. Token burns are too minimal to support price appreciation, and XRP's value has historically been driven by hype rather than network utility.

08/20/2026, 8:13 AM • The Motley Fool

Prediction: Solana (SOL) Will Be Worth $200 in 2 Years

Solana's price has dropped over 70% from its all-time high of $293.31 to $77, but analyst Leo Sun believes three catalysts could drive it back above $200 within two years: macro environment stabilization with Fed rate cuts, growing adoption of stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets, and passage of the CLARITY Act for digital asset regulation. Solana's superior transaction speed compared to Ethereum and partnerships with major financial institutions like BlackRock, Visa, and Shopify support its potential recovery.

08/18/2026, 2:05 PM • The Motley Fool

Breakfast News: Mastercard's CEO Speaks

Mastercard's CEO Michael Miebach discusses the company's strategic positioning as the operating system of the digital economy, emphasizing its role in cybersecurity, stablecoin interoperability, and emerging agentic commerce. The CEO highlights that by 2030, cyber risk-driven damage could reach $15.6 trillion, positioning Mastercard's security and trust infrastructure as critical. The company is expanding beyond traditional card rails into stablecoins and machine-to-machine payments while maintaining an agnostic approach to underlying payment infrastructure.

08/15/2026, 7:25 AM • The Motley Fool

IYF vs. FNCL: Which Financials ETF Is the Better Buy?

IYF (iShares U.S. Financials ETF) has outperformed FNCL (Fidelity MSCI Financials Index ETF) with stronger 5-year returns despite a higher 0.38% expense ratio versus FNCL's 0.08%. IYF holds 142 stocks with concentrated positions in financial leaders like Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase, while FNCL offers broader diversification across 387 holdings. The choice depends on whether investors prefer concentrated exposure to sector leaders or lower-cost, broader sector exposure.

08/15/2026, 7:01 AM • The Motley Fool

Why Nu Holdings Stock Jumped 13% Today

Nu Holdings surged 13% after beating Q2 earnings expectations with 50% revenue growth to $5.51B and 66% earnings growth to $0.22 per share. The company added 4 million customers, reaching 139 million total, with strong growth in Mexico (31.7%) and Colombia (55.9%). Mexico's banking license approval positions Nubank as the largest digital bank there. Management outlined a 12-30 month timeline for U.S. credit capabilities launch.

08/14/2026, 10:58 AM • The Motley Fool

Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Just Bought Netflix and 5 Other Stocks. Here’s What Investors Need to Know.

Bill Ackman's Pershing Square deployed 85% of its $5 billion capital raise by purchasing Netflix, Visa, Mastercard, S&P Global, Intercontinental Exchange, and Alcon. The fund targeted stocks that have sold off due to AI disruption concerns, believing these companies have competitive advantages that will allow them to thrive despite AI-related headwinds.

08/13/2026, 12:12 PM • The Motley Fool

Visa and Mastercard Have Both Reported. Which Payments Giant Is the Best Buy Now?

Both Visa and Mastercard reported strong Q2/Q3 results with 14% year-over-year revenue growth. While both are exceptional businesses with unassailable competitive positions, Mastercard is identified as the better buy due to faster operating income growth (19.5% vs 11.1% CAGR), greater international exposure (70% vs 55% of TPV), and a slightly cheaper valuation multiple despite its smaller size offering more upside potential.

08/12/2026, 5:15 AM • The Motley Fool

Financials or Tech: Is XLF or FTEC the Better Buy?

XLF (financial sector ETF) offers lower volatility and higher dividend yield (1.42%) but lower returns, while FTEC (technology ETF) delivers higher growth (39.28% 1-year return) with greater volatility. The choice depends on investor risk tolerance and time horizon: FTEC suits long-term investors with high risk tolerance, while XLF appeals to income-focused investors nearing retirement.

08/07/2026, 5:20 PM • The Motley Fool