Visa’s Growth in Blockchain and AI Drives Earnings Above Expectations, Offsetting Competition from Emerging Challengers

Visa Inc. (V) delivered fiscal fourth-quarter 2025 results that surpassed expectations, fueled by significant gains in cross-border transactions and services enhanced by artificial intelligence. The company also revealed intentions to broaden stablecoin support across four separate blockchain platforms. Net revenue climbed 12% from the previous year to $10.7 billion, topping analyst projections of $10.61 billion, while adjusted earnings per share (EPS) came in at $2.98, in line with forecasts, according to a

. CEO Ryan McInerney emphasized Visa’s move to integrate “4 stablecoins on 4 distinct blockchains covering 2 currencies,” a step designed to keep pace with the rapidly changing digital payments landscape, the report stated.

These results highlight Visa’s ability to withstand mounting competition from AI-powered platforms such as Brazil’s Pix and decentralized finance (DeFi) alternatives. Pix, which handled 56 billion transactions in 2024, has disrupted the global payments sector with its fast and affordable approach, while DeFi providers like Pecunity are transforming transaction models in areas with favorable regulations, according to a

. Despite these challenges, Visa’s $618 billion market cap and $26 billion in operating income underscore its strong market position, the Bitget article observed.

Growth in cross-border transactions and value-added services (VAS) played a pivotal role. VAS revenue jumped 26% year-over-year in Q3 2025, driven by AI-based fraud detection and instant analytics, the Bitget report mentioned. Visa also raised its quarterly dividend by 14% to $0.67 per share, reflecting confidence in ongoing profitability, according to a

. Market analysts remain positive, with Barclays and Wells Fargo boosting their ratings to “overweight” and “strong-buy,” respectively, and a consensus 12-month price target of $400 per share, as referenced in a .

Visa’s expansion into stablecoins mirrors a wider industry movement toward blockchain adoption. The company now manages 16 billion

tokens, up from 10 billion in May 2024, and has deepened collaborations with organizations such as Barclays and Southwest Airlines to strengthen its digital payments ecosystem, the Seeking Alpha report indicated. These initiatives are designed to counter competition from domestic systems like Pix and establish Visa as a frontrunner in advanced payment technology.

Looking forward, Visa anticipates net revenue and EPS to grow at a low double-digit rate in 2026, with CFO Christopher Suh stressing the importance of cost management and innovation in AI-driven commerce, according to an

. Following the earnings release, Visa’s shares rose 0.7% in after-hours trading, signaling investor trust in the company’s ability to handle regulatory and technological shifts.