Stablecoins at the checkout: Visa and Bridge plan cards in 100+ countries - Stock Titan
π Visa and Bridge expand collaboration to launch stablecoin-linked cards in over 100 countries by year-end.
π³ Stablecoin-backed cards are currently live in 18 countries, covering 175M+ Visa merchant locations worldwide.
π Visa initiates a stablecoin settlement pilot allowing issuers to settle transactions on supported blockchain networks.
π¦ Lead Bank joins the pilot as a participant, utilizing Bridge's infrastructure for on-chain settlements.
π€ Bridge, acquired by Stripe in February 2025, provides the underlying infrastructure for these crypto payment solutions.
β‘ The partnership aims to increase operational efficiency through faster fund movement and reduced intermediary fees.
π Popular crypto platforms like Phantom and MetaMask are integrating cards to enable millions of customers to spend stablecoins.
π Expansion targets Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East regions specifically.
- Visa is expanding its global footprint in the digital asset space by partnering with Bridge to support stablecoin adoption across 100+ countries.
- The new settlement pilot offers issuers greater optionality and faster fund movement, potentially reducing operational costs and errors.
- Bridge's integration allows businesses to issue custom stablecoins that function seamlessly within Visa's massive global merchant network.
- The collaboration leverages Stripe's acquisition of Bridge, bringing established infrastructure credibility to the crypto payments sector.
- On-chain reconciliation capabilities reduce counterparty and audit risks, enhancing trust and liquidity for financial institutions.
- Regulatory uncertainty remains a potential risk as stablecoin adoption scales across diverse international jurisdictions like Europe and Asia Pacific.
- The pilot program is currently limited to specific participants like Lead Bank, meaning broader institutional adoption may take time to mature.
- Custody and security risks associated with holding and settling funds on blockchain networks persist despite the stability of the underlying assets.