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Cash App

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Cash App
FormerlySquare Cash
Available inEnglish
Area servedUnited States
Created by
IndustryDigital wallet
Services
  • Peer-to-peer payment
  • Savings account
  • Debit card
  • Investing in stocks, bitcoin
  • Tax filing
  • Personal loan
RevenueIncrease $14.7 billion (2023)
ParentBlock, Inc.
URLcash.app
UsersIncrease 57 million users (2024)
LaunchedOctober 2013; 11 years ago (2013-10)
Current statusActive

Cash App (formerly Square Cash) is a digital wallet for American consumers.[1] Launched by Block, Inc. in 2013, it allows users to send, receive or save money, access a debit card, invest in stocks or bitcoin,[2] apply for personal loans,[3] and file taxes.[4] As of 2024, Cash App reports 57 million users and $14.7 billion in annual revenue.[5][6]

Cash App was launched in 2013 as a person-to-person money transfer service called Square Cash.[7] In 2015, the service expanded to support transactions involving businesses.[8] Over time, it introduced additional features, including debit cards, savings accounts, bitcoin and stock investing, tax filing and personal loans, and was rebranded as Cash App.[9] As of 2024, the service operates as a mobile app-based digital wallet, and is the preferred payment app among lower-income adults in the U.S.[1][10]

History

2013–2015: Launch, early years

Cash App was launched by Block, Inc. (then named Square, Inc.) on 13th October 2013.[11][1] It was originally branded as Square Cash.[9] It aimed to help users send money to one another with a debit card via email or text message, regardless of what bank each party used.[12][7] Block's cofounder Jack Dorsey and Brian Grassadonia contributed to the product creation.[13][14] Square Cash allowed users to send up to $2,500 a week in several transactions or all at once, and worked only in the U.S. It was meant only for person-to-person money transfers, and not for online or off-line shopping.[7]

In August 2014, Block said that Square Cash users had sent "hundreds of millions of dollars" to one another.[12]

In March 2015, Square introduced Square Cash for businesses. This allowed individuals, organizations, and business owners to create a unique username to send and receive money, known as a $cashtag.[8]

2016–2020: Feature additions

In September 2016, Cash App announced a guarantee of "instant deposit" for the money received via Cash App, if the user agreed to pay a 1% fee. Otherwise users would see deposits post to their Cash App account on the next business day. Block also introduced virtual payment cards that allow Cash App users to buy things on websites and apps using money stored in the app.[15]

In January 2018, Cash App added support for bitcoin trading.[16][17]

In October 2019, Cash App added support for stock trading to users in the United States.[18]

In November 2020, Square announced it was acquiring Credit Karma Tax, a free do-it-yourself tax-filing service, for $50 million and would make it a part of its Cash App unit.[19]

2021–present: Growth, U.S. focus

In 2021, Block announced an extension of the Cash App service to people over 13 years old for depositing and spending money or sending it to friends. Minors would not have access to investing or bitcoin features however, and they would still need their parent or guardians’ permission and significant oversight to use the app.[20]

According to a Pew Research Center report in September 2022, Cash App was found to have been used at least once by 26% of U.S. adults. The report also stated that lower-income adults were the most likely to use the app over other payment apps.[10]

In August 2023, Block announced a closure of Cash App's operations in the European Union under the "Verse" brand, citing a lack of growth and profitability for the service in European markets.[21] On September 7 and 8, 2023, Cash App experienced a service outage, affecting peer-to-peer payments and cash card purchases for thousands of users. Block stated on September 8 that the service was restored successfully by that day.[22][23]

In 2024, the service reported 57 million monthly transacting user accounts and $14.7 billion in annual revenues.[5][6] In June 2024, Block announced it was dropping its plan to launch Cash App in Australia.[24] In the following month, Cash App announced it would cease operations in the United Kingdom on September 15, 2024, citing a focus on prioritizing its U.S. market over global expansion.[25]

In August 2024, Cash App settled a $15 million class-action settlement for data and security breaches at the service. Users whose accounts were accessed without their authorization or who had fraudulent withdrawals or transfers could file claims for up to $2500, provided they had an account between August 23, 2018, and August 20, 2024. The class-action pointed a security breach in 2021, and another in 2023. As part of the settlement, Cash App and Block also agreed to take steps toward strengthening data security, while denying any wrongdoing.[26]

Services

Banking

The service allows users to send, receive, and store money within the United States, although international transfers were not initially supported.[27] Users can transfer money out of Cash App to a bank account in their country. The Cash Card is a customizable debit card that allows users to spend their money at various retailers and withdraw cash from an ATM.[28][29][30] When signing up for the Cash Card, users can customize it by selecting a color, adding stamps, drawing on it, and even making the card glow in the dark. The card with the final design is mailed to the user.[31]

As of March 7, 2018, the Cash App supports automated clearing house (ACH) direct deposits.[28] Cash App also supports cash deposits, called "Paper Money Deposits": cash is taken to a participating retailer, who scans a barcode to deposit the money with Cash App, which charges a fee of $1 or more, depending on the retailer.[32] As of August 2024, Cash App offers a 4.5% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings, provided that the account is set up to receive a monthly direct deposit of at least $300. Balances stored on the Cash App Card are FDIC-insured through Wells Fargo Bank for up to $250,000 per person.[33]

Peer-to-peer money transfer

Users can request money from and transfer to other Cash App accounts via phone number, email, or $cashtag[34] Cash App provides two options to transfer money into a third-party bank account: in 5 business days for free, or instantly with a 1.5% fee.[citation needed]

Unverified accounts can only send up to $250 per week and receive $1,000 per month. To verify an account, a user must submit their legal name, date of birth, and, in the US, the last four digits of their social security number. Verification raises the weekly sending limit to $7,500 per week and removes the receiving limit.[citation needed]

Cryptocurrency

In 2018, the capability to buy and sell bitcoin cryptocurrency was added to the app.[16] for adult users only.[35] As of 2023 the only cryptocurrency supported by Cash App was bitcoin.[citation needed]

Investing

In 2020, the capability to trade stocks was added to the app for adult[35] United States residents only.[36] Users can buy and sell fractional shares of most publicly traded companies with a minimum of $1. Stock trading follows standard market hours of 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. EST and can be managed from the app's investing section.

Personal loans

In October 2023, it was reported that Cash App allowed a subset of users to borrow up to $200 from the app.[3]

Tax filing

In November 2020, Square acquired the tax-preparation division of Credit Karma, rolling it into the Cash App offering as Cash App Taxes.[37] The service offers online tax filing in the US, and is free to use for consumers, as it was before the acquisition. In March 2023, USA Today rated it "best overall", while noting that it didn't accommodate "every tax situation".[4]

Finances

As of November 1, 2021, Square had a market capitalization of $117.4 billion.[38] Its largest market competitor is PayPal, which owns Venmo. Other major competitors include Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Zelle.

Business model

Cash App is free to download for Android devices from Google Play, for iOS devices from the Apple App Store, and other mobile store platforms. Because the app is initially free, it incentivizes more users to create an account and use its services. Additional services beyond standard money transfers are available for small initial fixed costs plus percentage fees.[39]

Cash App's primary income is from users withdrawing funds from the app to their linked bank accounts. Money can be transferred into a third-party bank account without charge within five business days, or instantly for a 1.5% fee.[40]

If users do not have a direct deposit account with the app, they will be charged a $2 fee for withdrawing money from an ATM. Cash App allows users to buy and sell bitcoin from their platform for a small service fee based on the current bitcoin market volatility. Businesses can also accept Cash App as a form of payment and charge a transaction cost of 2.75%.

Like banks, Cash App can lend money deposited by users to various institutions, charging interest, known as money creation. Cash App is required to hold 10% of users' accounts liquidity as part of the fractional-reserve banking to protect depositors in the event of a bank run.

Safety and protection policies

Cash App uses standard encryption and fraud detection technology to protect users’ data. Balances stored on the Cash App Card are FDIC-insured through Wells Fargo Bank for up to $250,000 per person.[33] Moreover, the app states it uses multi-factor authentication and incorporates account transaction limits as well as consumer education to prevent fraud.[41]

Cash App has been called a "secure payment platform", and cited to be "Level 1 compliant" as per the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS), in line with the security standards used by large credit card companies.[42] The app is among a group of peer-to-peer payment platforms—such as Zelle, Venmo, Apple Pay and Google Pay—that do not provide features to recover money sent by users to others.[43]

Fraud and illicit activity

Cash App and other payment platforms including Zelle, Venmo, Apple Pay and Google Pay have been reported as targets for internet scammers.[43] Common scams include customer support impersonation, fake offers and programs, and the selling of fake expensive items.[44] There is little buyer protection, making these scams hard to dispute, unlike payment services such as PayPal.[45]

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise in use of payment apps, there has been a notable increase in reported scams.[46] In one instance, a man was scammed out of $24,000 by customer support impersonation.[47] In another instance, a scammer used the public video of a female Waffle House worker holding a baby in a kitchen to fabricate an emotional story. The scammer used social media to share their Cash App information in the hope of receiving donations.[48]

Millennials frequently utilize payment platforms like Cash App and Venmo to pay for illegal drugs or gamble.[49] In June 2021, police in West Baltimore arrested seven people for using Cash App to sell cocaine and heroin to nearby neighborhoods.[50]

Cultural impact

In 2018, Cash App surpassed Venmo in total downloads (33.5 million cumulative), becoming one of the most popular peer-to-peer payment platforms.

Cash App is mentioned by about 200 hip-hop artists in their song lyrics, leading some to assert that it is now "ingrained in hip-hop culture," with its popularity stemming from the Black community in Atlanta.[51] Some cite the early adoption of cryptocurrencies among members of the rap community as another reason for Cash App's cultural cachet. The popularity of the app in hip-hop is reflected in Square's partnerships with prominent rappers, such as Travis Scott, Megan Thee Stallion, and Cardi B.[51]

Social media influencers frequently use Cash App to request donations from their followers. Every Friday since 2017, Twitter users retweet posts from the official Cash App account with the #SuperCashAppFriday hashtag to potentially win $10,000 to $50,000. These posts often have a notable amount of engagement.[52]

References

  1. ^ a b c Alfaro, Isabel Peña (2024-08-23). "What is Cash App & How Does It Work?". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  2. ^ Papandrea, Dawn (2023-08-28). "How to Use Cash App". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  3. ^ a b "Cash App Borrow: How To Borrow Money on Cash App". GOBankingRates. 2020-12-11. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  4. ^ a b Jones, Jenn (2024-01-25). "Best tax software of February 2024". USA TODAY Blueprint. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  5. ^ a b Sigalos, MacKenzie (2024-05-02). "Block shares jump on better-than-expected first-quarter results". CNBC. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
  6. ^ a b Block, Inc. (2024-02-22). "Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023" (PDF).
  7. ^ a b c Mossberg, Walter S. (2013-10-15). "The Money Is in the Email". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2024-12-07.
  8. ^ a b "Square rolls out its Square Cash payment service to businesses". The Verge. Retrieved 2018-04-02.
  9. ^ a b Hollington, Jesse (2024-09-25). "PayPal vs. Venmo vs. Cash App vs. Apple Cash: which app should you use?". Digital Trends. Retrieved 2024-12-07.
  10. ^ a b Anderson, Monica (2022-09-08). "Payment apps like Venmo and Cash App bring convenience – and security concerns – to some users". Pew Research Center. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  11. ^ "Cash App Design". read.cv. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  12. ^ a b Sherr, Ian; Tam, Donna (2014-11-17). "Snapchat, Square want to make it easy for you to send cash". CNET. Retrieved 2024-12-07.
  13. ^ Hamburger, Ellis (2013-11-06). "Minting Cash: how Square designed a product with no design at all". The Verge. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
  14. ^ Godoy, Jody (2022-12-01). "Fintech Block ordered to comply with CFPB probe". Reuters. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
  15. ^ Rey, Jason Del (2016-09-08). "Square Cash will guarantee instant deposits — for a fee". Vox. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  16. ^ a b "Square's Cash App payment application now allows users to buy and sell Bitcoin". Digital Trends. 2018-02-01. Retrieved 2018-04-02.
  17. ^ "Square Cash app now lets you easily buy and sell Bitcoin from iPhone". 9to5Mac. 2018-01-31. Retrieved 2018-04-02.
  18. ^ Peters, Jay (2019-10-24). "Square's Cash App officially adds free stock trading, starting at $1". The Verge. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
  19. ^ Weil, Dan (2020-11-25). "Square to Buy Credit Karma Tax for $50 Million, Expanding Reach". TheStreet. Archived from the original on 2020-12-06. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  20. ^ Clark, Mitchell (2021-11-04). "Square is letting the teens use Cash App". The Verge. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  21. ^ Mullen, Caitlin (2023-08-04). "Block shutters some European operations". Payments Dive. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  22. ^ Wilson, Diane (2023-09-08). "Cash App 'back up and running' after widespread outage leaves users without access to their money". ABC7 Los Angeles. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  23. ^ Napolitano, Elizabeth (2023-09-08). "Cash App, Square users report payment issues amid service outage - CBS News". CBS News. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  24. ^ Eyers, James (2024-06-04). "Boost for Afterpay as Block drops plans for Cash App in Australia". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  25. ^ Nicolle, Emily; Smith, Paige (2024-07-18). "Dorsey's Block Plans to Shut Its Cash App Platform in the UK". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  26. ^ Picchi, Aimee (2024-08-19). "Cash App customers can now claim more than $2,500 each in a $15 million settlement. Here's how. - CBS News". CBS News. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  27. ^ "Sending and Receiving Payments". cash.app. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
  28. ^ a b "Square's Cash app now supports direct deposits for your paycheck". TechCrunch. 8 March 2018. Archived from the original on March 9, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  29. ^ Kulp, Patrick (2017-06-28). "People are getting creative with Square's customizable cash card designs". Mashable. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  30. ^ Salinas, Sara (2017-11-16). "Square Cash users can now withdraw money from any ATM with their Cash Cards". CNBC. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  31. ^ Rey, Jason Del (2017-05-04). "Square is rolling out its first debit card". Vox. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  32. ^ "Paper Money Deposits".
  33. ^ a b Gravier, Elizabeth (2024-08-21). "Cash App Banking review: 4.50% savings APY and no fees". CNBC. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  34. ^ "Square's 'cashtags' turn a custom web link into a tip jar". Engadget. 23 March 2015. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  35. ^ a b "Square's Cash App opens up to teens ages 13 to 17 with parental oversight". TechCrunch. 3 November 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
  36. ^ "PayPal Is Planning to Offer a Super App with Fintech Services like Crypto, Payments, Investing, Rewards Accessible via Common Interface". Crowdfund Insider. 2021-02-13. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  37. ^ Weil, Dan (2020-11-25). "Square to Buy Credit Karma Tax for $50 Million, Expanding Reach". TheStreet. Archived from the original on 2020-12-06. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  38. ^ "Square (SQ) - Market capitalization". companiesmarketcap.com. Retrieved 2021-11-02.
  39. ^ Taylor (2016-02-11). "Free vs Paid Apps: Pros & Cons". AppInstitute. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
  40. ^ "Cash App Revenue and Usage Statistics (2021)". Business of Apps. 2020-09-02. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
  41. ^ Knowles, Jason (2024-01-24). "How to keep your smartphone payment apps safe and secure if your phone is stolen". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
  42. ^ Bixenspan, David (2024-01-12). "Is Cash App Safe? Here Are Some Precautions It Takes To Keep Your Account Protected". SlashGear. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
  43. ^ a b Weisbaum, Herb (2019-06-11). "Scammers have discovered P2P payment apps like Venmo, Zelle and CashApp". NBC News. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
  44. ^ nelson, Brooke (2021-07-03). "5 Common Cash App Scams and How to Avoid Them". Reader's Digest. Archived from the original on 2021-07-04. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
  45. ^ "How to use PayPal Buyer Protection". CHOICE. 2021-06-03. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
  46. ^ Wilson, Diane (2021-05-25). "Complaints against Cash App skyrocket during COVID-19 pandemic". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. Retrieved 2021-11-02.
  47. ^ Wilson, Diane (2020-12-11). "Raleigh man loses $24K in Cash App scam | Here's how the scammers fooled him". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. Retrieved 2021-11-02.
  48. ^ Keane, Isabel (2021-10-08). "Online scammer fabricates backstory on Waffle House worker carrying baby". Metro. Retrieved 2021-11-02.
  49. ^ Morse, Jack (2017-07-11). "Millennials, stop using Venmo to buy drugs". Mashable. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
  50. ^ Davis, Phil (24 June 2021). "Seven people charged with running 'CashApp' drug trafficking ring in West Baltimore, police say". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
  51. ^ a b "Hip-Hop Loves Cash App, and That Might Be Why Jack Dorsey Bought Tidal". GQ. 2021-04-12. Retrieved 2021-11-02.
  52. ^ Long, Le Van Tuan (2020-06-02). "How Cash App Grew 60% Each Year With Viral Influencer Marketing". Medium. Retrieved 2021-11-02.
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