Cashless Revolution: Top Mobile Payments Stocks to Buy Amid Explosive Growth

The global shift to cashless payments is no longer a trend—it's an inevitability. With a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27% projected through 2030, the industry is primed for explosive gains. For investors, the key lies in identifying companies positioned to capitalize on BNPL integration, regulatory tailwinds, and AI-driven security advancements. Here's why Marqeta (MQ), Visa (V), Mastercard (MA), and Green Dot (GDOT) are leading the charge.

1. Marqeta (MQ): The Engine of Embedded Finance

Marqeta is the top pick to own in this space, leveraging its 27% YoY transaction growth (Q1 2025 TPV hit $84B) and strategic partnerships to dominate the embedded finance market. Its platform is powering innovations like Perpay's credit-building cards and Bitpanda's cross-border crypto debit cards, expanding into 40+ countries.

But what truly sets Marqeta apart is its AI-powered security stack. Its RiskControl suite uses generative AI to simulate fraud scenarios, while “agentic” systems autonomously pause suspicious transactions and verify user identities in real time. This not only reduces fraud but also improves compliance—a critical edge as regulators tighten oversight.

Why buy now?
Marqeta's net loss narrowed to just $8M in Q1 (vs. $36M in 2024), with Adjusted EBITDA surging 118% to $20M. Its Q2 guidance calls for 11-13% revenue growth, and its full-year targets suggest it's scaling efficiently. Historically, Marqeta's stock has shown strong performance following earnings beats, with a 75% win rate over three days and 100% over 30 days, reinforcing its growth momentum.

2. Visa (V) and Mastercard (MA): Cross-Border Powerhouses

While the U.S. market matures, cross-border payments remain a $20T+ opportunity. Visa and Mastercard are the gatekeepers.

Visa's Q1 cross-border volumes grew 13% YoY, fueled by emerging markets like Latin America and CEMEA. Its AI-driven VAAI Score tool identifies fraudulent activity in milliseconds, while its Intelligent Commerce platform allows AI agents to execute secure payments autonomously.

Mastercard isn't resting either. Its Agent Pay program uses AI to verify transactions initiated by bots, with tokenized credentials ensuring data privacy. Both companies benefit from regulatory tailwinds: the EU's Digital Finance Package and U.S. Open Banking proposals are accelerating the shift to open ecosystems.

Why these legacy giants still matter:
Their scale and global reach are unmatched. Visa's $40B in blocked fraud (2024) and Mastercard's $2.8B in R&D (2024-2025) prove they're adapting aggressively. While specific historical data on earnings beat impacts is unavailable, Visa and Mastercard are expected to respond positively to such events given their market dominance and consistent performance.

3. Green Dot (GDOT): The BaaS Breakout

Green Dot's Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform, Arc, is the secret weapon for fintech startups and retailers. Q1 revenue soared 24% YoY to $556M, driven by partnerships with Samsung (QR-based peer-to-peer payments) and Crypto.com.

The QR angle is critical: its integration with Samsung's wallet enables Tap to Transfer, a frictionless solution for P2P payments and bill splitting. Meanwhile, its BaaS platform's $33B in B2B gross dollar volume (Q1) highlights its role in powering embedded finance for enterprises.

AI's role?
Green Dot uses AI for real-time credit scoring, analyzing cash flow data to approve loans instantly—a game-changer for gig economy workers and SMEs.

Why act now?
GDOT's 2025 guidance raised revenue estimates to $2.1B, up 14% from prior targets. Its Adjusted EBITDA margin (14%) is expanding, and its valuation remains undemanding at just 7x 2025E sales. Green Dot has demonstrated resilience following earnings beats, with a 64% three-day win rate and sustained positive trends over .

Investment Thesis: Buy the Stack, Not the Cash

This isn't just about payments—it's about owning the entire tech stack enabling the cashless economy. Marqeta's embedded finance leadership, Visa/Mastercard's cross-border dominance, and Green Dot's BaaS scalability make them must-own names.

Action Items:
- Aggressive investors: Buy MQ for its 27% TPV growth and AI edge, supported by a 75% short-term win rate following earnings beats.
- Value hunters: GDOT trades at a discount but is scaling faster than peers, with historical resilience to earnings surprises.
- Core holdings: V and MA for their fortress balance sheets and global reach, which are likely to drive positive stock performance during earnings beats.

The cashless wave isn't slowing—it's accelerating. These four stocks are the lifelines to ride it.

Final Note: Regulatory risks and macroeconomic headwinds persist, but the structural shift to digital payments is irreversible. These companies are the architects of the future.