Visa is broadening its partnership with Bridge, a Stripe owned stablecoin infrastructure firm, to expand stablecoin-linked card services to more than 100 countries by the end of the year. Companies confirmed that the program is now being extended to 18 additional markets across Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East, building on its 2025 launch in Latin America.
The initiative allows users to spend stablecoins through Visa cards, with merchants receiving payments in local currency. Previously, Bridge converted stablecoins into fiat before settlement. Under the updated framework, the companies are testing direct onchain settlement, marking a shift toward blockchain-based payment processing.
Onchain Settlement and Banking Integration
The new settlement structure is supported through a partnership with Lead Bank, enabling transactions to be settled in stablecoins rather than traditional fiat rails. This development signals a deeper integration of blockchain infrastructure within established payment systems.
Visa is also evaluating support for stablecoins issued directly through Bridge’s platform. Unlike widely used tokens such as USDT and USDC, these assets are programmatically created by businesses using Bridge’s infrastructure.
The expansion reflects intensifying competition among global payment networks to incorporate regulated stablecoins into everyday financial services, particularly for cross border transfers and digital commerce.
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