In this article, we will discuss: 12 Best Digital Currency and Payments Stocks to Buy Right Now.
According to Deloitte’s Digital Assets and Payments Research Report released on January 19, growing regulatory clarity is changing digital asset and payment strategies. Assisted by U.S. clarity and the EU’s MiCA system, the worldwide supply of stablecoins totaled $273 billion by December 2025, up 47% year over year. By the end of 2026, UK regulations are anticipated. Under current banking regulations, tokenized deposits have entered pilot and early live stages, during which banks are considering service offerings, integration, or issuance. These tools will work together to meet various business and international payment requirements, as per the aforementioned research.
However, the report cautioned that high compliance requirements would restrict the amount of money that can be invested. Costs could go up due to UK payment changes and EU PSD3 regulations. These are expected to be implemented in mid-2026. One major risk mentioned is fraud reimbursement. Scale may be limited by the proposed stablecoin safeguards from the Bank of England, such as reserve and holding limitations. Higher regulatory burdens and more stringent financial requirements apply to non-bank businesses.
With that said, here are the 12 Best Digital Currency and Payments Stocks to Buy Right Now.
Our Methodology
We sifted through the online rankings to form an initial list of the 20 Best Digital Currency and Payments Stocks to Buy Right Now. From the resultant dataset, we chose the 12 Best Digital Currency and Payments Stocks with the highest number of hedge fund holders for each stock using Insider Monkey’s database of hedge funds as of Q3 2025. We also considered the analysts’ upside potential as of February 7. Finally, we ranked these stocks in ascending order based on hedge funds.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 427.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 264 percentage points (see more details here).
12. Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 53
Analysts’ Upside Potential as of February 7: 29.65%
Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN) is among the Best Digital Money Stocks.
TheFly stated on January 16, 2026, that Stephens kept its Equal Weight rating. It reduced its price target for Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN) from $95 to $90. The modification was included in the company’s Financial Technology group outlook note for 2026. According to the analyst, 2025 was a difficult year for the firm as well as the larger payments and IT services industry. Stephens anticipates a positive outlook for the industry in the upcoming year.
Cantor Fitzgerald began covering Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN) on January 27, 2026, with a price objective of $80 and a neutral rating. According to the corporation, for the purpose of better serving clients, it is pursuing a divestment and refresh plan that includes selling non-synergistic divisions and combining internal platforms. The longer-term organic growth algorithm of the corporation is anticipated to be lower than its most recent medium-term guidance, Cantor remarked.
The stock is down by 5.65% YTD as of February 5, 2026.
Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN) is a company that provides software and payment technology solutions. It works through two segments: Merchant Solutions and Issuer Solutions.
11. Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFRM)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 60
Analysts’ Upside Potential as of February 7: 55.67%
Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFRM) is among the Best Digital Money Stocks.
Daniel Perlin, an analyst at RBC Capital, reduced Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFRM)’s price objective from $87 to $77 and kept his Sector Perform rating, as reported by TheFly, February 06, 2026. As stated by the firm, the company targeted 0% APR offers, which boost merchant gross merchandise value while preserving unit economics that sustain margins, exhibiting the corporation’s sustained outstanding product engineering. RBC pointed out that the company’s projection points to a slowdown but noted that a significant business client switched to its own wallet platform during the first quarter, which impacted revenues.
Moshe Orenbuch, a TD Cowen analyst, lowered Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFRM)’s price objective from $110 to $95 on the same day. It reaffirmed Buy recommendation on the stock. The company reported a solid second-quarter earnings beat, fueled by impressive margin and revenue performance. As stated by TD Cowen, management is confident that new initiatives and tactics will sustain strong sales growth and profit margins in the future.
Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFRM) runs a digital and mobile-first business platform. The platform comprises three main components: a consumer-focused app, merchant commerce solutions, and a point-of-sale payment system for customers.
10. Block, Inc. (NYSE:XYZ)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 64
Analysts’ Upside Potential as of February 7: 52.97%
Block, Inc. (NYSE:XYZ) is among the Best Digital Money Stocks.
Bloomberg News, citing sources familiar with the situation, stated on February 8, 2026, that Block, Inc. (NYSE:XYZ), Jack Dorsey’s fintech startup, is considering laying off as much as 10% of its employees during yearly performance assessments. The firm refrained from commenting right away, and Reuters was unable to independently confirm the report.
In the face of economic uncertainty and growing competition in the payments industry, the firm, which enables bitcoin purchases by purchasing and reselling the cryptocurrency at a slight premium, fell short of Wall Street projections for third-quarter profit. In the third quarter, growth in Block, Inc. (NYSE:XYZ)’s Square category, which provides payment solutions to small and medium-sized businesses, dropped to 9%. The company is set to publish fourth-quarter earnings after market hours on February 26.
Separately, TheFly reported on February 5, 2026, that Citi had reset its price target for Block, Inc. (NYSE:XYZ) to $85 from $105. It kept a Buy rating. This was done ahead of the same results announcement and anticipated a 19% increase in gross profit.
Block, Inc. (NYSE:XYZ) offers merchants payment services and other related services. The company also established Cash App, a person-to-person payment network. It works through the Square and Cash App segments.
9. Coinbase Global, Inc. (NASDAQ:COIN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 73
Analysts’ Upside Potential as of February 7: 91.38%
Coinbase Global, Inc. (NASDAQ:COIN) is among the Best Digital Money Stocks.
According to TheFly, on January 28, 2026, Coinbase Global, Inc. (NASDAQ:COIN) and Crypto ISAC announced an expanded integration. It will enable the firm to communicate specific, high-confidence threat intelligence with the Crypto ISAC member community continuously. Shared data contains patterns and indicators from the company that are used to combat more complex threats, including state-sponsored initiatives. The goal of the integration is to facilitate cooperation with law enforcement when necessary and speed up the dissemination of actionable intelligence, allowing members to detect, prevent, and lessen attacks more rapidly. The provided data is limited to verified threat intelligence and signs and does not include Coinbase customer information.
Ahead of Coinbase Global, Inc. (NASDAQ:COIN)’s February 12 Q4 report, BTIG decreased its price target from $420 to $340 on February 5, 2026. It retained a Buy rating. The stock had dropped 49% since the Q3 report, while the overall market capitalization of cryptocurrencies has decreased 32%. Analysts predict lower Q4 transaction volumes for BTIG, and the company stresses revenue diversification beyond transaction-driven outcomes at current share prices.
Coinbase Global, Inc. (NASDAQ:COIN) provides a reliable platform that acts as a legal gateway to the on-chain economy. It allows users to perform various activities with their cryptocurrency assets in both third-party and proprietary product experiences that are made possible by access to decentralized apps.
8. American Express Company (NYSE:AXP)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 75
Analysts’ Upside Potential as of February 7: 5.65%
American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) is among the Best Digital Money Stocks.
Reuters reported on January 30, 2026, that American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) projected revenue growth of 9% to 10% and earnings per share of $17.30 to $17.90 in 2026, with the midpoint above the $17.41 analyst expectation. The outlook shows strong spending by its primarily affluent consumer base. Billed business for the fourth quarter climbed by 9% to $445.1 billion. Revenue climbed by 10% to $18.98 billion, while profit per share jumped to $3.53 from $3.04 the previous year.
AmEx card spending by retail customers in the United States shot up by 9% during the Thanksgiving holiday week, and overall spending jumped by 7.7%. Investors’ attention is focused on President Donald Trump’s proposed one-year restriction on credit card interest rates, which industry organizations oppose and analysts believe would require legislation and has little chance of succeeding. As per Reuters, the proposal impacted financial markets, causing them to fall earlier in January.
American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) operates card issuing, merchant acquiring, and card network services. Its offerings include CDs, savings accounts, corporate programs, gift cards, business credit cards, credit cards, and the American Express App.
7. PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 86
Analysts’ Upside Potential as of February 7: 29.66%
PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL) is among the Best Digital Money Stocks.
According to a February 3, 2026, Bloomberg story, PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL) announced that Enrique Lores, the CEO of HP Inc., will take Alex Chriss’ place as CEO following the company’s poor performance. Shares dropped as much as 19%, the most significant intraday decline in almost four years, after it was revealed that the fourth quarter’s revenue and profit fell short of analysts’ projections. Revenue for the fourth quarter was $8.68 billion, and earnings per share were $1.23. Jamie Miller, the company’s CFO and COO, was designated interim CEO until Lores takes over on March 1. Furthermore, the firm stated that growth in PayPal-branded online checkouts fell to 1% from 6% a year earlier due to global headwinds and decreased US retail spending.
Lores departs HP after serving as its CEO since 2019. As per PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL), Chriss canceled earlier projections and failed to reach turnaround goals. Earnings per share for the entire year were $5.31, which was less than expected, and the 2026 transaction margin dollars are predicted to drop slightly.
PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL) develops technological platforms that enable digital payments and simplify commerce experiences for merchants and consumers throughout the world. It offers PayPal, PayPal Credit, Braintree, Venmo, Xoom, and Paydiant services.
6. Nu Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NU)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 99
Analysts’ Upside Potential as of February 7: 14.10%
Nu Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NU) is among the Best Digital Money Stocks.
Bloomberg reported on February 5, 2026, that David Velez, CEO of Nu Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NU), is working to expand Nubank, one of the most valuable financial firms in Latin America, to a global clientele of over 127 million. It includes almost 60% of Brazil’s adult population. The company’s shares are valued higher than those of traditional banks, and in the third quarter, their return on equity was 31%, compared to Itau Unibanco’s 23.3%. Velez’s super-voting shares give it control over about 75% of the voting power. Velez noted that while Nubank is still focused on Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia, the recent conditional acceptance for a US national bank license is a long-term potential rather than a short-term goal.
The US expansion, referred to as “Act Three,” aims to get a complete banking license before expanding services. Although analysts acknowledge Nubank’s advantages in technology, low operating costs, and user experience, they caution that profits could be lower in the fiercely competitive US market. In 2024, Nubank made a $250 million investment in Tyme Group to research potential in Asia and Africa, besides the US. As stated by Velez, future growth can entail joint ventures or acquisitions.
Nu Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NU) is a holding company that provides digital banking services. It provides a variety of financial services, including business accounts, rewards, investments, personal loans, credit cards, insurance, and mobile payments.
5. MercadoLibre, Inc. (NASDAQ:MELI)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 109
Analysts’ Upside Potential as of February 7: 31.07%
MercadoLibre, Inc. (NASDAQ:MELI) is among the Best Digital Money Stocks.
TheFly reported on February 4, 2026, that JPMorgan has a positive stance on MercadoLibre (MELI) after Shopee signaled a slowdown in competition. The company maintains a Neutral rating on MercadoLibre shares despite Shopee charging take rates that are now similar to MercadoLibre’s.
Although MercadoLibre, Inc. (NASDAQ:MELI)’s third-quarter net income of $421 million was up 6% year over year, it fell short of analysts’ $481 million projection due to currency effects and a decline in Argentine demand. GMV growth of 35% on a currency-neutral basis drove a 39% increase in net sales to $7.4 billion, exceeding projections. Brazil’s free shipping boost improved customer growth and GMV by 34%, but it also caused EBIT margins to drop to 9.8%. Although Mercado Pago loan balances soared by 83% to $11 billion and delinquency reduced to 6.8%, EBIT came in at $724 million, below projections.
MercadoLibre, Inc. (NASDAQ:MELI) provides an online commerce platform that focuses on e-commerce and related services. It works in four geographical segments: Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and Other Countries.
4. Klarna Group plc (NYSE:KLAR)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 116
Analysts’ Upside Potential as of February 7: 116.42%
Klarna Group plc (NYSE:KLAR) is among the Best Digital Money Stocks.
TheFly announced on January 14, 2026, that Klarna Group plc (NYSE:KLAR) has enabled instant peer-to-peer payments in 13 European nations. This will enable clients to send money straight to friends and family using the Klarna app. This feature extends its in-app payment capabilities beyond in-store purchases.
Keefe Bruyette kept its Outperform rating on Klarna Group plc (NYSE:KLAR) and reduced its price objective from $52 to $45 on January 02, 2026. The change was a component of larger pricing target adjustments made by consumer finance and payments firms.
Swedish fintech business exceeded expectations in its maiden report as a public company and forecasted sales exceeding $1 billion in the current quarter, thanks to growth in U.S. markets, which helped the company record a 26% gain in third-quarter revenue. The firm, however, declared a net loss of $95 million, compared to a profit of $12 million the previous year. It is attributed to a transition to U.S. accounting regulations following its New York listing. The company anticipates $1.07 billion in revenue for the current quarter, compared to $1.06 billion.
Klarna Group plc (NYSE:KLAR) is a global digital bank that offers flexible payment options. It functions through an AI-powered payments and commerce network that enables people to pay effectively.
3. Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 129
Analysts’ Upside Potential as of February 7: 25.87%
Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF) is among the Best Digital Money Stocks.
Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF) announced on January 22, 2026, that it will buy fintech company Brex for $5.15 billion in cash and stock. The acquisition is anticipated to wrap up in mid-2026 with a nearly 50-50 structure. The acquisition reduces its reliance on home loans by extending its reach outside consumer credit into corporate cards and cost control. Brex’s founder and CEO, Pedro Franceschi, will continue to lead the company. Following the announcement, the company shares saw a 1.5% decline after initially plunging more than 5%.
In the fourth quarter, Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF)’s net interest income surged by 54% to $12.47 billion, resulting in an improved quarterly profit. Net income accessible to common shareholders climbed to $2.06 billion, or $3.26 per share, up from $1.02 billion, or $2.67 per share, the previous year. CEO Richard Fairbank cautioned that a proposed one-year 10% cap on credit card interest rates might limit access to credit, cut expenditure, and possibly spark a recession.
Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF) is a financial holding company that provides financial services and products. It runs in three divisions: credit card, consumer banking, and commercial banking.
2. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 136
Analysts’ Upside Potential as of February 7: 20.63%
Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is among the Best Digital Money Stocks.
As customers continued to use Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) cards for payments, the company announced fourth-quarter profitability that surpassed analyst projections, based on a January 29, 2026, Bloomberg story. Adjusted net income exceeded projections of $3.83 billion, or $4.25 per share, by $4.3 billion, or $4.76 per share. The company mentioned a favorable macroeconomic backdrop and solid business and consumer expenditure. At $8.81 billion, net revenue for the last three months of 2025 was slightly higher than the $8.78 billion forecast.
Full-year revenue was about $33 billion, showing 16% growth, consistent with the firm’s October forecast of high-end mid-teens expansion. President Donald Trump proposed earlier in January to cap credit card interest rates at 10% for a year. If banks limit credit, this might have an impact on consumer spending. In November, Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) and Visa negotiated a deal over card acceptance fees totaling almost $200 billion.
Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is a technology business that provides payment solutions for the development and operation of credit, debit, prepaid, commercial, and payment programs under the brand names Mastercard, Maestro, and Cirrus.
1. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 179
Analysts’ Upside Potential as of February 7: 20.29%
Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is among the Best Digital Money Stocks.
According to a January 29, 2026, Bloomberg report, Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) reported fiscal first-quarter earnings that surpassed analyst forecasts. This was due to strong Christmas spending, driving an 8% year-over-year boost in payment volumes. The adjusted earnings per share were $3.17, which was 15% more than the previous year and higher than the $3.14 Bloomberg consensus projection. The quarter’s net sales of $10.9 billion exceeded forecasts as well. The company stated that revenue growth was fueled by solid consumer spending, a strong holiday season, and ongoing growth in value-added services, commercial transactions, and payment solutions.
The corporation reiterated its forecast of low-double-digit percentage growth in net revenue for the entire year. Amid growing regulatory clarity, the firm announced in December that it would allow stablecoin settlement on its US network. The company and Mastercard also agreed on a merchant fee. Furthermore, Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) revealed that US customers can use their rewards points to finance President Donald Trump’s children’s savings accounts.
Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) offers digital payment services. Furthermore, it makes global commerce simpler by transferring information and value across a worldwide network of firms, financial institutions, government agencies, merchants, consumers, and key partners.
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Disclosure: None. 12 Best Digital Currency and Payments Stocks to Buy Right Now is originally published on Insider Monkey. Insider Monkey focuses on uncovering the best investment ideas of hedge funds and insiders. Please subscribe to our free daily e-newsletter to get the latest investment ideas from hedge funds’ investor letters by entering your email address below.
