The news: Block will raise Cash App Borrow limits and encourage broader Afterpay, per its Q3 2026 earnings call.

Currently, Cash App Borrow loan limits are capped at $1,500; by comparison, six-week Afterpay loans have a maximum limit of $3,000. 

Afterpay already has robust adoption from Cash App users both post-purchase and through the Cash App Card: Post-purchase origination volume more than tripled YoY, and pre-purchase volume more than tripling QoQ, per Block foundational lead Amrita Ahuja. 

Why this matters: Loans are a big volume driver for Block. Consumer lending origination volume grew 40% to $19 billion last quarter, per its Q3 earnings. 

Increased Cash App Borrow loan limits and expanded marketing for installments can help Block shore up consumer lending volume as other fintechs like PayPal try to gain market share. 

PayPal plans to debut BNPL-enabled cards, expand installment options, and widen geographies qualified for BNPL loans, per its Q3 earnings. Its BNPL volume grew 25% YoY. 

Recommendations for BNPL providers: Consumer demand for BNPL is hot. To secure volume, installment providers need to make sure that consumers’ initial experience with lending and their brand is seamless and fast—and has staying power.

• 43.4% of BNPL users cited approval speed and ease as a driving factor in using the payment method, per PYMNTS. Optimizing ecommerce checkout for speed through digital wallet integrations can secure users who may otherwise turn to issuers for card-linked installments.
• And developing rewards that encourage repeat lending may help providers improve user loyalty. Almost three-quarters have checked out with two or more BNPL providers in May 2026, per PYMNTS.

This content is part of EMARKETER’s subscription Briefings, where we pair daily updates with data and analysis from forecasts and research reports. Our Briefings prepare you to start your day informed, to provide critical insights in an important meeting, and to understand the context of what’s happening in your industry. Non-clients can click here to get a demo of our full platform and coverage.