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Mizuho Flags X Money as a Threat to PayPal as Legal Risks Build

Pending regulation raises doubts about X Money’s 6% yield.

Overview

  • Mizuho analysts on Thursday cut PayPal to neutral, saying X Money could draw users into payments inside X and pressure PayPal and Venmo.
  • X is targeting an April launch with peer‑to‑peer transfers, a wallet, and a 6% yield, aiming to build a finance layer for a base it says reaches about 500 to 600 million monthly users.
  • The proposed federal Clarity Act could stop non‑bank platforms from paying yield on customer balances, which would undercut the advertised 6% rate.
  • New York’s CRYPTO Act would criminalize operating a virtual currency business without a state license, raising hurdles for any future crypto features tied to X Money.
  • Senator Elizabeth Warren this week questioned plans for stablecoins, the 6% rate, and user safeguards, noting that stablecoin balances do not carry FDIC insurance.