Visa and Mastercard have expanded direct partnerships with cryptocurrency firms to issue cards and settlement services using stablecoins, a development that aligns with a 2014 prediction about traditional payment companies working with Bitcoin startups.

In 2014, former Electronic Transactions Association CEO Jason Oxman said payment firms would accommodate new technologies based on consumer and merchant demand, not endorse any specific system. He added that the industry existed to facilitate electronic transactions, regardless of the technology used for those payments. At that time, BitPay became the first digital currency company to join the payments trade group.

Visa and Stripe‑owned Bridge announced in March a plan to roll out stablecoin‑linked Visa cards to more than 100 countries by the end of 2026, allowing users to spend stablecoin balances through Visa’s merchant network. Visa’s stablecoin settlement pilot, which now involves nine blockchains, reached a $7 billion annualized settlement volume in April. Mastercard’s Crypto Partner Program includes over 100 crypto companies, financial institutions and payment providers; Alchemy Pay joined the program in May to develop fiat‑onchain payment links. The industry focus has shifted from Bitcoin to stablecoins, with Visa, Mastercard and Coinbase supporting Open Standard, a consortium developing the Open USD stablecoin for business payments. BitPay obtained MiCA authorization in the Netherlands, enabling it to provide regulated crypto and stablecoin services across eligible EU markets.

The expansion of stablecoin payment infrastructure by major card networks suggests continued rollout of blockchain‑based payment options, though regulatory clarity remains a pending factor.