Block Inc. Drives 53% Surge in Bitcoin Merchant Acceptance
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 05 2026
0mins
Should l Buy XYZ?
Source: Benzinga
- Surge in Merchant Acceptance: According to BTC Map, the number of merchants accepting Bitcoin surged by 53% in 2025, reaching 11,242, indicating a significant increase in Bitcoin's acceptance as a payment method and enhancing its market position.
- Contribution from Square: Block Inc.'s payment system Square has enabled merchants to accept Bitcoin in everyday transactions, becoming a key driver of this growth and further solidifying the company's leadership in the cryptocurrency payment sector.
- Global Payment Share: Bitcoin accounted for over 31% of global payments processed by BitPay in 2025, indicating a rapid increase in acceptance and potentially attracting more merchants to join the Bitcoin ecosystem.
- No Processing Fee Policy: Block's introduction of a no-fee Bitcoin payment policy for Square merchants, lasting until 2027, is expected to lower transaction costs for merchants and may encourage more to adopt Bitcoin, further driving market growth.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy XYZ?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on XYZ
Wall Street analysts forecast XYZ stock price to rise
30 Analyst Rating
25 Buy
3 Hold
2 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 59.890
Low
55.00
Averages
86.51
High
108.00
Current: 59.890
Low
55.00
Averages
86.51
High
108.00
About XYZ
Block, Inc. builds technology to increase access to the global economy. The Company operates through two segments: Square and Cash App. The Square includes managed payment services, software solutions, hardware, and financial services offered to sellers, excluding those that involve Cash App. The Cash App segment includes the financial tools available to individuals within the mobile Cash App, including peer-to-peer payments, bitcoin and stock investments. The Cash App also includes Cash App Card, which is linked to customer stored balances that customers can use to pay for purchases or withdraw funds from an ATM. Cash App also includes the BNPL platform. Its Afterpay business is transforming the way customers manage their spending over time. Its TIDAL business is a music platform that empowers artists to thrive as entrepreneurs. Its Bitkey business is a simple self-custody wallet built for bitcoin. Proto business is a suite of bitcoin mining products and services.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Circle Shares Plunge 19% Following Tether Audit Announcement
- Stock Plunge: Circle's shares fell 19% after Tether announced it would hire a Big Four accounting firm to audit its USDT reserves for the first time, marking the stock's worst day ever and raising concerns about market transparency.
- Market Reaction: With USDC's market cap at $78.6 billion, the news also caused Coinbase's stock to drop 9%, indicating a broader loss of investor confidence in the stablecoin sector following the announcement.
- Significance of USDT Audit: Tether's USDT, valued at $184 billion, has faced scrutiny for lacking a full audit; this commitment to an audit is seen as a crucial step towards enhancing transparency and liquidity, potentially impacting trust across the stablecoin market.
- Industry Impact: Stablecoins play a vital role in decentralized finance (DeFi), and Tether's audit commitment may prompt more financial institutions to focus on compliance and risk management in stablecoins, potentially reshaping the market landscape.
See More
Evercore ISI Identifies Undervalued Stocks for Recovery
- Market Opportunity: Evercore ISI highlights that many stocks are currently trading below their pandemic lows, with 96% of S&P 500 stocks priced below their pandemic trough, indicating a potential buying opportunity for investors amid market distress.
- Trump's Market Impact: Following a social media post by Trump, market sentiment improved as investors' grave expectations did not materialize, leading to temporary stabilization and reflecting optimism regarding the situation in Iran.
- Undervalued Stock List: Evercore ISI identified several stocks dubbed the “Dogs of War,” including Netflix, Adobe, Block, AMD, and Intuit, all expected to outperform in the near term while trading below their pandemic trough valuations.
- Netflix Valuation Advantage: Netflix is currently priced about 39% lower than its pandemic low, while Adobe's 12-month forward P/E is at a 63% discount to its pandemic low, indicating significant investment value in these stocks under current market conditions.
See More
Gap Partners with Google's Gemini to Transform Retail Experience
- Innovative Partnership: Gap's collaboration with Google's Gemini allows shoppers to check out directly within the AI platform, making it the first major fashion brand to partner with Google, signaling a shift towards agentic commerce that is expected to enhance customer shopping experiences and strengthen market competitiveness.
- Enhanced Customer Experience: By providing accurate product information, Gap can control the customer experience without traditional website redirects, which is anticipated to improve customer satisfaction and conversion rates, further solidifying Gap's position in a rapidly changing retail landscape.
- AI Tool Implementation: The upcoming AI sizing tool, Bold Metrics, will assist customers in finding the right size online, expected to reduce return rates and boost customer loyalty, thereby enhancing Gap's competitive edge in the fiercely competitive fashion market.
- Strategic Market Positioning: Amid increasing competition in retail, Gap's AI-driven commerce model provides a competitive advantage; although loyalty account linking is not yet available, the company plans to evolve based on customer needs, ensuring the brand remains relevant in the market.
See More
Revolut Reports Record Annual Profit as U.S. Expansion Plans Accelerate
- Significant Profit Growth: Revolut's pretax profit reached £1.7 billion ($2.3 billion) in 2025, marking a 57% increase year-over-year, demonstrating a substantial enhancement in profitability that lays a solid foundation for future expansion.
- Revenue Surge: Group revenue rose by 46% to $6 billion, with business banking services accounting for 16% of total income, indicating the success of its diversified business model.
- Record Valuation: In 2025, Revolut achieved a valuation of $75 billion, making it one of Europe's most valuable private tech companies, reflecting strong market confidence in its growth potential.
- Global Banking Transformation: CEO Nik Storonsky emphasized the company's transition into a global bank, leveraging a technology-driven operating model to achieve rapid expansion and record profitability, showcasing its leadership position in the fintech sector.
See More
Block's Restructuring Drives Share Price Surge
- Restructuring Plan: Block announced a reduction in workforce from over 10,000 to 6,000 employees, with CEO Jack Dorsey stating that this move aims to enhance operational efficiency, leading to a positive market reaction and a 24% surge in share price post-announcement.
- AI-Driven Confidence: The company's confidence stems from AI tools it is developing, which can automate various business tasks, allowing the company to maintain operational efficiency while reducing headcount, reflecting a strong belief in future growth.
- Strong Financial Performance: Block's gross profit jumped 24% year-over-year in Q4 2025, showcasing the robust performance of its core businesses (Square and Cash App), further solidifying its status as a successful enterprise.
- Optimistic Earnings Outlook: Management expects adjusted diluted earnings per share to increase by 54% in 2025, with consensus analyst estimates indicating impressive growth rates for 2027 and 2028, suggesting a favorable investment outlook for Block over the next five years.
See More
Block's Restructuring and AI-Driven Growth
- Restructuring Plan: Block announced a reduction in workforce from over 10,000 to just under 6,000, which is expected to enhance operational efficiency through AI tools, leading to a 24% surge in stock price, indicating investor confidence in the company's future.
- Profit Growth: In Q4 2025, Block's gross profit rose by 24% year-over-year, with management projecting a 54% increase in adjusted diluted earnings per share for 2025, showcasing significant improvements in profitability and market competitiveness.
- Strategic Investment Opportunity: With a current forward price-to-earnings ratio of 16.1, Block presents an attractive long-term investment, especially as the company optimizes operations through AI technology, potentially drawing more investor interest.
- Market Reaction: Although Block was excluded from The Motley Fool's list of top stocks, its innovations in AI and restructuring strategy may allow it to stand out in future market performance, attracting long-term investors' attention.
See More
Circle Shares Plunge 19% Following Tether Audit Announcement
- Stock Plunge: Circle's shares fell 19% after Tether announced it would hire a Big Four accounting firm to audit its USDT reserves for the first time, marking the stock's worst day ever and raising concerns about market transparency.
- Market Reaction: With USDC's market cap at $78.6 billion, the news also caused Coinbase's stock to drop 9%, indicating a broader loss of investor confidence in the stablecoin sector following the announcement.
- Significance of USDT Audit: Tether's USDT, valued at $184 billion, has faced scrutiny for lacking a full audit; this commitment to an audit is seen as a crucial step towards enhancing transparency and liquidity, potentially impacting trust across the stablecoin market.
- Industry Impact: Stablecoins play a vital role in decentralized finance (DeFi), and Tether's audit commitment may prompt more financial institutions to focus on compliance and risk management in stablecoins, potentially reshaping the market landscape.
See More
Evercore ISI Identifies Undervalued Stocks for Recovery
- Market Opportunity: Evercore ISI highlights that many stocks are currently trading below their pandemic lows, with 96% of S&P 500 stocks priced below their pandemic trough, indicating a potential buying opportunity for investors amid market distress.
- Trump's Market Impact: Following a social media post by Trump, market sentiment improved as investors' grave expectations did not materialize, leading to temporary stabilization and reflecting optimism regarding the situation in Iran.
- Undervalued Stock List: Evercore ISI identified several stocks dubbed the “Dogs of War,” including Netflix, Adobe, Block, AMD, and Intuit, all expected to outperform in the near term while trading below their pandemic trough valuations.
- Netflix Valuation Advantage: Netflix is currently priced about 39% lower than its pandemic low, while Adobe's 12-month forward P/E is at a 63% discount to its pandemic low, indicating significant investment value in these stocks under current market conditions.
See More
Gap Partners with Google's Gemini to Transform Retail Experience
- Innovative Partnership: Gap's collaboration with Google's Gemini allows shoppers to check out directly within the AI platform, making it the first major fashion brand to partner with Google, signaling a shift towards agentic commerce that is expected to enhance customer shopping experiences and strengthen market competitiveness.
- Enhanced Customer Experience: By providing accurate product information, Gap can control the customer experience without traditional website redirects, which is anticipated to improve customer satisfaction and conversion rates, further solidifying Gap's position in a rapidly changing retail landscape.
- AI Tool Implementation: The upcoming AI sizing tool, Bold Metrics, will assist customers in finding the right size online, expected to reduce return rates and boost customer loyalty, thereby enhancing Gap's competitive edge in the fiercely competitive fashion market.
- Strategic Market Positioning: Amid increasing competition in retail, Gap's AI-driven commerce model provides a competitive advantage; although loyalty account linking is not yet available, the company plans to evolve based on customer needs, ensuring the brand remains relevant in the market.
See More
Revolut Reports Record Annual Profit as U.S. Expansion Plans Accelerate
- Significant Profit Growth: Revolut's pretax profit reached £1.7 billion ($2.3 billion) in 2025, marking a 57% increase year-over-year, demonstrating a substantial enhancement in profitability that lays a solid foundation for future expansion.
- Revenue Surge: Group revenue rose by 46% to $6 billion, with business banking services accounting for 16% of total income, indicating the success of its diversified business model.
- Record Valuation: In 2025, Revolut achieved a valuation of $75 billion, making it one of Europe's most valuable private tech companies, reflecting strong market confidence in its growth potential.
- Global Banking Transformation: CEO Nik Storonsky emphasized the company's transition into a global bank, leveraging a technology-driven operating model to achieve rapid expansion and record profitability, showcasing its leadership position in the fintech sector.
See More
Block's Restructuring Drives Share Price Surge
- Restructuring Plan: Block announced a reduction in workforce from over 10,000 to 6,000 employees, with CEO Jack Dorsey stating that this move aims to enhance operational efficiency, leading to a positive market reaction and a 24% surge in share price post-announcement.
- AI-Driven Confidence: The company's confidence stems from AI tools it is developing, which can automate various business tasks, allowing the company to maintain operational efficiency while reducing headcount, reflecting a strong belief in future growth.
- Strong Financial Performance: Block's gross profit jumped 24% year-over-year in Q4 2025, showcasing the robust performance of its core businesses (Square and Cash App), further solidifying its status as a successful enterprise.
- Optimistic Earnings Outlook: Management expects adjusted diluted earnings per share to increase by 54% in 2025, with consensus analyst estimates indicating impressive growth rates for 2027 and 2028, suggesting a favorable investment outlook for Block over the next five years.
See More
Block's Restructuring and AI-Driven Growth
- Restructuring Plan: Block announced a reduction in workforce from over 10,000 to just under 6,000, which is expected to enhance operational efficiency through AI tools, leading to a 24% surge in stock price, indicating investor confidence in the company's future.
- Profit Growth: In Q4 2025, Block's gross profit rose by 24% year-over-year, with management projecting a 54% increase in adjusted diluted earnings per share for 2025, showcasing significant improvements in profitability and market competitiveness.
- Strategic Investment Opportunity: With a current forward price-to-earnings ratio of 16.1, Block presents an attractive long-term investment, especially as the company optimizes operations through AI technology, potentially drawing more investor interest.
- Market Reaction: Although Block was excluded from The Motley Fool's list of top stocks, its innovations in AI and restructuring strategy may allow it to stand out in future market performance, attracting long-term investors' attention.
See More
