 ▲ Visa and stablecoin / ChatGPT-generated image |
Global payments giant Visa has partnered with Bridge, a crypto infrastructure firm owned by Stripe, to significantly expand the launch of its stablecoin payment card to more than 100 countries worldwide, initiating the full-scale operation of an on-chain settlement system.
According to cryptocurrency media outlet Cointelegraph on March 3 (local time), Visa plans to expand its stablecoin card program, currently operating in 18 countries, to more than 100 countries by year-end, including regions across Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East through its partnership with Bridge. Alongside the geographic expansion of the card program, Visa is also testing an on-chain settlement pilot program that enables crypto issuers and acquirers to directly process transactions in stablecoins without converting into fiat currency. As competition intensifies within the payments industry to lead in stablecoin adoption, Visa’s integration of on-chain settlement as a core operational process symbolizes the full integration of digital assets into the mainstream financial network.
The on-chain settlement support has been implemented in cooperation with Lead Bank, an independent commercial bank, establishing a structure that bypasses complex foreign exchange procedures and enables direct settlement in stablecoins. During the initial launch phase of the program in 2025, Bridge used an indirect model that deducted funds from customers’ stablecoin balances, converted them into fiat currency, and then paid merchants. Under the new partnership framework, however, settlement is conducted directly in stablecoins on the Visa network. In the first quarter of 2026, Bridge secured conditional approval from U.S. regulators to establish a national trust bank, enhancing its credibility as an institutional financial infrastructure provider.
Cuy Sheffield, Head of Crypto at Visa, stated, “Visa is committed to supporting businesses wherever they operate, and their operations are increasingly moving on-chain.” He added that expanding the partnership with Bridge has secured the optimal pathway to directly reflect the speed, transparency, and programmability of stablecoins in the payment settlement process. By leveraging blockchain technology, Visa is addressing traditional financial network limitations such as settlement delays on weekends and holidays, and is building a next-generation payment infrastructure that operates around the clock, year-round.
Zach Abrams, Co-founder and CEO of Bridge, explained, “Through the expanded collaboration with Visa, companies seeking to launch their own stablecoins will be able to seamlessly utilize those assets within the card program.” Stripe completed its acquisition of Bridge in the first quarter of 2026, declaring its ambition to build a world-class stablecoin infrastructure, with the collaboration with Visa regarded as a key execution milestone. Abrams expressed his vision of creating an environment where users can freely spend stablecoins in everyday life with just a tap of a card.
Visa’s stablecoin settlement platform currently processes approximately $4.5 billion in annualized transaction volume, demonstrating the speed at which traditional financial infrastructure is absorbing digital assets. Although still at an early stage compared to Visa’s total payment volume of $14.2 trillion processed over the past year, the rapid growth of stablecoin cards signals a paradigm shift in the payments market. Supporting various dollar-based stablecoins and euro-pegged assets, Visa is leading the mainstream adoption of crypto payments in the global market, marking a decisive step toward establishing digital assets as a true medium of exchange.
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