According to reports, Paypal has been looking into ways to allow users to trade specific stocks after launching the option to trade cryptocurrency last year.
PayPal’s move coincides with a resurgence in retail trading. According to forecasts from JMP Securities, more than 10 million new investors entered the market in the first half of this year, virtually matching last year’s record high. Stay-at-home orders during the pandemic, government stimulus checks, and viral events like GameStop’s climb in January have all contributed to renewed interest in the stock market.
Trading has become a thriving business for those that provide it. The Square Cash App, a competitor to PayPal, allows users to trade stocks and cryptocurrencies, and the company’s CFO has stated that the app increases user engagement and revenue per user. Robinhood, which went public this summer, has witnessed rapid growth, with more than 22.5 million customers and revenue that increased year over year in its most latest quarter.
PayPal may partner with or purchase an existing broker-dealer in order to offer stock trading to customers. PayPal, according to one report, has already initiated talks with possible industry partners.
The debut of PayPal stock trading would come at a crucial time for the fintech industry. Square, PayPal, Robinhood, and SoFi all have similar goods and the same objective of becoming a one-stop shop for financial services. Consumers are expected to stay engaged on these payment channels by exchanging cryptocurrency and stocks.
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