Visa (V) and Bridge, Stripe’s (STRIP) stablecoin infrastructure platform, plan to bring stablecoin-linked cards to more than 100 countries, expanding their global card issuance product, the companies said Tuesday.
The two companies first introduced the stablecoin-backed cards in 2025. Now, through Bridge’s partnership with Lead Bank, those card transactions can be settled onchain with Visa (V). Bridge-enabled stablecoin-linked cards are now live in 18 countries, with planned expansion to more than 100 countries across Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East by the end of 2026.
Earlier this year, Lead Bank joined Visa’s (V) stablecoin settlement pilot. Bridge is also enabling the stablecoin infrastructure behind the bank. The pilot seeks to evaluate:
- How stablecoin settlement can enhance settlement optionality for issuers and program managers;
- Operational efficiency gains from on-chain reconciliation and faster fund movement; and
- The role of stablecoin infrastructure platforms – such as Bridge – in simplifying blockchain interactions for institutions.
Additionally, Visa (V) is evaluating potential support for Bridge-issued assets in future flows, with a focus on how these assets can complement Visa’s global network and introduce a new settlement pathway for partners, the company said.
“Expanding our work with Bridge gives us one more way to bring the speed, transparency, and programmability of stablecoins directly into the settlement process,” said Cuy Sheffield, head of crypto at Visa (V).
Still, Visa (V) stock dropped 1.2% in premarket trading.
Visa’s (V) and Mastercard’s (MA) stocks have underperformed the S&P 500 in the past year amid concerns that AI and stablecoins may make traditional payment rails obsolete.
Mastercard (MA) also announced a stablecoin-related partnership on Tuesday. The card payment network said SoFi Technologies’ (SOFI) fully reserved U.S. dollar stablecoin will support settlement across Mastercard’s network, including for SoFi Bank, N.A.