Visa and Mastercard stocks close at record highs in August 2026

Nearly 1,000 merchants and trade associations filed an objection to a proposed settlement in a lawsuit against Visa and Mastercard over credit card swipe fees, claiming it offers inadequate relief and protects anticompetitive practices. The proposed settlement, which would reduce interchange fees by a small fraction, was criticized for its limited impact and potential harm to businesses and consumers. The lawsuit, ongoing since 2005, alleges that Visa and Mastercard violate antitrust laws by pri

Mastercard launched Wallet Pay, a global solution to enhance digital wallet interoperability. It partners with providers like Alipay+, Clip, and GCash to enable seamless payments. The initiative aims to expand financial access and acceptance worldwide, leveraging Mastercard’s network and cloud-based payments.

Mastercard launched a Crypto Partner Program with 85+ companies, including Ripple, Solana, Circle, and PayPal, focusing on cross-border and B2B transfers. The initiative aims to integrate digital assets into practical applications. Mastercard's stock fell 1.8% post-announcement. Ripple and Solana confirmed participation, with XRP and SOL prices down 3% and 2%, respectively, in 24 hours.

Visa launched an onchain lending program, Credit Coop, to help card issuers manage settlement funding gaps. The program provides stablecoin revolving credit lines, with smart contracts automating fund flows. Visa reported $2.5B in cumulative settlement volume since 2023, with zero defaults. The program has reduced borrowing costs for participants by up to 30%, according to Visa. Payment company Rain is a major user, with $2B in cumulative payments. Karta also used Credit Coop for early growth be

The Solana Foundation launched the Solana Developer Platform, targeting banks and financial institutions. Mastercard, Worldpay, and Western Union are early users. The platform offers modules for tokenized assets, payments, and trading. Partners include Alchemy, Fireblocks, and Chainalysis. Mastercard uses it for stablecoin settlement, Worldpay for merchant payments, and Western Union for cross-border payments. The platform competes with Consensys' Infura, Coinbase's Base, and Ripple's XRP Ledger

AI agents are increasingly involved in commerce, with companies like FICO, Shopify, Visa, Amazon, and Affirm playing key roles. FICO's Q3 revenue grew 41%, Shopify's AI-driven orders tripled, Visa's net revenue rose 14%, Amazon's Alexa interactions jumped 5x, and Affirm's GMV surged 35%. These companies are positioned to benefit from the trust and infrastructure needed for agentic commerce, with shares showing mixed performance year-to-date.