Visa and Stripe to Launch Stablecoin Cards in Over 100 Countries

Visa and Bridge Scaling Stablecoin Cards Globally

Payments giant Visa and Bridge, the stablecoin infrastructure platform owned by Stripe, have announced plans to dramatically expand their stablecoin-backed card issuance program. The product, which launched in 2025 and currently operates across 18 countries, is set to reach more than 100 jurisdictions by the end of 2026.

Visa and Bridge are expanding stablecoin card coverage to Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East

The cards enable holders to make everyday purchases using tokens stored in crypto wallets such as Phantom and MetaMask. On-chain Visa transactions are facilitated through Bridge's partnership with Lead Bank, granting access to more than 175 million merchant locations that accept Visa payments.

Currently, the program primarily covers countries in South and Central America. The next expansion phase will target Europe, Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, and the Middle East.

Why This Matters

The collaboration between two of the largest players in the payments industry on stablecoin infrastructure signals a shift: fiat-pegged tokens are moving from niche crypto instruments to mainstream payment methods. Access to 175 million merchant locations effectively positions stablecoins as a viable alternative to traditional bank cards for users worldwide.

As part of this initiative, Visa is also running a pilot program to integrate stablecoin settlements with card issuers and acquiring clients. Key objectives include evaluating transaction efficiency gains through on-chain data reconciliation and defining the role of infrastructure platforms like Bridge in on-chain communications with financial institutions.

Cuy Sheffield, head of Visa's crypto division, stated that the company aims to engage with businesses wherever they operate — and increasingly, that means distributed ledger networks. Visa and Bridge are additionally exploring whether the payments company can support Bridge-issued intermediary assets. The expectation is that incorporating tokens into money flows will expand Visa's network capabilities and unlock new settlement mechanisms.

The Stablecoin Market Accelerates

Stripe acquired Bridge in October 2024 for $1.1 billion. Roughly a year later, the fintech firm leveraged that technology to launch its own stablecoin issuance platform. Stripe also partnered with Paradigm to build Tempo, a Layer 1 blockchain designed specifically for fiat-pegged token payments.

Stripe co-founder and CEO Patrick Collison explained the company's pivot toward crypto — after years of sidestepping the industry — as a response to growing business demand for stablecoin solutions. Standard Chartered has corroborated this trend, noting that its corporate clients prefer stablecoins over other digital assets.

Following the passage of the GENIUS Act stablecoin regulation in the United States in 2025, many analysts predicted a boom in this segment. JPMorgan, however, suggested that the race to issue stablecoins could turn into a zero-sum game.

Record Transaction Volumes

Total stablecoin transaction volume grew 72% in 2025, reaching $33 trillion. Circle's USDC led with $17.3 trillion compared to $12.9 trillion for Tether's USDT — despite Circle's market capitalization being less than half of Tether's.

In January 2026, stablecoin transfer volume exceeded $10.5 trillion, with Circle's token further solidifying its dominance. Against this backdrop, reports emerged in February 2026 that Meta plans to enter the stablecoin market by year-end. Stripe is considered the leading candidate for pilot testing Meta's forthcoming token — the company behind Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram.