Walmart looks to hire cryptocurrency expert

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August 21, 2021

Walmart's crypto expert hunt signals payments and fintech ambitions

Walmart is looking to hire a cryptocurrency expert to help develop and lead its digital currency strategy and identify crypto-related investment and partnership opportunities, according to a job posting.

This follows the flurry of companies like Starbucks, Nordstrom, and the Home Depot that started accepting digital currencies indirectly through crypto wallets back in 2019, along with more recent additions like Yum Brands, which operates popular fast casual brands like Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.

Walmart's move might foreshadow cryptocurrency payment acceptance—which can help the retail giant capitalize on growing consumer interest in crypto payments.

Insider Intelligence's Adriana Nunez has the full story.

BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS

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Chime gets $25 billion valuation with new funding

The valuation represents a meteoric rise for the US neobank: it reached $1.5 billion in 2019 and then $14.5 billion in 2020.

PayPal, Klarna, and Visa make moves in the BNPL space

As BNPL heats up and alternative credit options gain in popularity, major players are looking for ways to sustain growth.

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Reddit raised $700 million, lifting its valuation by 67% since its last round in February.

Walgreens launches credit card program in partnership with Synchrony

The new myWalgreens Credit Card Program includes two Synchrony-issued cards: a co-branded Mastercard and a private-label store card.

Listed fintechs' earnings highlight impressive growth

A record number of fintech companies have gone public, which means they now have to publish their quarterly earnings.

Big UK banks mull deal for shared branches while regulators concerned about closures look on

Several of the UK's major banks are in talks to set up a network of shared branches in underserved communities.

Varo's small-dollar loan updates include underwriting that could enrich future products

Varo will make several updates to its small-dollar loan offering, Varo Advance, that range from changing the fees charged to revamped underwriting for borrowers.

Revolut's early wage access feature may lure employers

Revolut gets a foot in the door with business clients by partnering with them to enable its users to withdraw half their salary when they need it.

Aspiration's $2.3B SPAC puts pressure on banks to go green

The fintech's value proposition is its green focus—it only invests in sustainable companies and it offers tools consistent with this theme through its cards, such as a personal impact score, automatic carbon offsets, and an option to plant a tree when you spend.

RESEARCH IN FOCUS

Payments and Digital Commerce Platforms

Digital commerce platforms help merchants of all sizes sell online, making them an increasingly big factor in ecommerce payments. This creates new opportunities for processors, gateways, and other payments stakeholders to reach merchants—but also complicates their relationship. We examine why digital commerce platforms are on the rise and what that means for payments firms including processors, gateways, and value-added service providers.

Get the full report →

UK Consumers Across Income Brackets

he pandemic increased digital engagement while putting household finances under pressure across all income brackets. However, affluents saw a particular digital bump, while their cash concerns weren't quite as pronounced. This report assesses the digital habits of people in different income brackets in the UK. It also examines how the pandemic affected their financial health and how spending patterns changed as a result.

Get the full report →

The Co-Brand Credit Card Report

Co-brand card issuers and brand partners have an opportunity to reimagine their offerings in the pandemic's wake. Leaning on newfound digitization and shifting spending habits can help providers tailor their offerings in ways that widen their net, grow volume, and appeal to the maximum number of customers. Insider Intelligence zooms in on the state of co-brand credit cards and sketches the industry's post-pandemic future.

Get the full report →