According to The Kobeissi Letter, Klarna, a leading Buy Now, Pay Later service, reported a 110% increase in Q1 2025 losses, reaching -$99 million, with consumer credit losses soaring to $136 million (Source: The Kobeissi Letter, May 20, 2025). This sharp escalation in financial risk coincides with Klarna’s recent expansion of BNPL services to DoorDash orders, raising concerns about growing consumer debt and systemic risk. For crypto traders, heightened credit instability in fintech may increase volatility in digital asset markets as investors seek decentralized alternatives and hedge against potential contagion effects.

According to The Kobeissi Letter, Klarna, a leading Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) service, reported a 110% increase in Q1 2025 net losses to -$99 million, with consumer credit losses escalating to $136 million (source: The Kobeissi Letter, May 20, 2025). This significant uptick in losses highlights mounting credit risks in the fintech sector, especially as Klarna recently expanded BNPL offerings to DoorDash orders. For crypto traders, this signals potential tightening in consumer credit markets and increased volatility in fintech-related tokens, as mounting defaults could drive demand for decentralized finance solutions and stablecoins as alternative payment and lending methods.

According to StockMKTNewz, Costco ($COST) has officially announced a partnership with Affirm ($AFRM) to enable buy now, pay later payment options on Costco.com (source: StockMKTNewz on Twitter, May 14, 2025). This move is expected to increase transaction volume and average order size for Costco, potentially boosting quarterly revenue. For Affirm, the deal expands its footprint into a high-volume retail environment, likely increasing its loan origination figures and user acquisition metrics. Crypto traders should note that increased adoption of digital payment methods and fintech partnerships may drive further integration of blockchain-based solutions in retail finance, setting a precedent for future crypto payment acceptance.

According to The Kobeissi Letter, consumers spent a record $75.1 billion on 'Buy Now Pay Later' services in 2024, as 19.9% of US consumers used these services in 2023, per Philadelphia Fed. This trend highlights a growing reliance on debt to manage inflation pressures.