SoFi’s Stablecoin Debut Ignites Crypto-Linked Rally as PayPal Slips on a Downgrade
NEW YORK (12:00 PM ET, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025) — Fintech stocks are commanding the spotlight at midday as investors juggle three fast-moving forces: a cooler U.S. inflation print that’s reviving risk appetite, a fresh burst of stablecoin momentum from regulated players, and an intensifying “everything trading app” arms race led by Coinbase and Robinhood.
The result is a split-screen fintech tape: higher-beta names tied to credit, crypto, and retail trading are leading, while parts of legacy digital payments are under pressure from analyst skepticism and competitive fears.
Midday market snapshot: higher-beta fintech leads
By noon in New York, broad risk sentiment is constructive — and fintech is, overall, running ahead of the…
