Visa, the giant money wizard, is conjuring up spells to make stablecoins vanish into everyday purchases. With a flick of its wand-er, press release-it plans to sprinkle its crypto-linked card magic across 100+ countries, because nothing says “global trust” like blockchain and 175 million merchant locations.
Visa Expands Stablecoin Card and Onchain Settlement Push With Bridge
Global payments firms are deepening their push into stablecoin-based settlement. Visa (NYSE: V) announced on March 3 that it has expanded collaboration with Bridge to scale stablecoin-linked card programs and onchain settlement capabilities with planned expansion across more than 100 countries.
Visa, a global digital payments network operating in more than 200 countries and territories, detailed the broader rollout of its joint card issuance product with Bridge, a stablecoin infrastructure platform and a Stripe company. The announcement states:
“Bridge-enabled stablecoin-linked cards are now live in 18 countries, with planned expansion to over 100 countries across Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East by end of year.”
“Popular crypto platforms like Phantom and MetaMask are using cards to enable millions of customers to easily spend stablecoins on everyday purchases,” Visa noted. Through Bridge’s partnership with Lead Bank, transactions made with stablecoin-backed Visa cards can now settle onchain with Visa as part of the company’s stablecoin settlement pilot.
“Visa is committed to meeting businesses where they operate, and increasingly, that’s onchain,” stated Visa’s head of crypto, Cuy Sheffield. “Expanding our work with Bridge gives us one more way to bring the speed, transparency and programmability of stablecoins directly into the settlement process.” Sheffield further shared:
“This milestone gives our partners greater choice in how they move value, and it reinforces Visa’s role as a trusted network connecting stablecoins and the global payments ecosystem.”
Developers using Bridge have launched the cards across multiple regions, enabling consumers to spend stablecoin balances at more than 175 million merchant locations worldwide. The pilot with issuers and acquirers, including Lead Bank, is assessing settlement flexibility, onchain efficiency gains, and how Bridge streamlines blockchain connectivity for institutions.
Bridge’s CEO and co-founder, Zach Abrams, characterized the effort as a push to expand stablecoin use in mainstream finance. He highlighted support for businesses integrating custom stablecoins into card programs, as Visa evaluates potential backing for Bridge-issued assets in future payment flows.
FAQ 🧭
- What does Visa’s expansion with Bridge mean for stablecoins?
It broadens stablecoin-linked card usage and enables onchain settlement with planned expansion to more than 100 countries. - How are stablecoin transactions settling under the pilot?
Transactions made with eligible Visa cards can settle onchain through partnerships, including Lead Bank. - Why is Visa focusing on onchain settlement?
Onchain reconciliation may improve speed, transparency and operational efficiency for global payments. - How could this impact institutional crypto adoption?
Expanded card programs and settlement pilots signal deeper institutional integration of stablecoins into mainstream finance.
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2026-03-03 22:01