Visa (V) and Stripe, through the stablecoin infrastructure platform Bridge, are expanding their partnership to bring stablecoin-linked Visa cards to over 100 countries by the end of 2026. The initiative integrates traditional card networks with blockchain payments, positioning both companies at the forefront of the TradFi-crypto convergence and making it as seamless to spend crypto as to use a debit card.
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Visa and Stripe Strike Stablecoin Partnership to Scale Global Payments
The stablecoin-linked Visa card program first launched in April 2025, targeting 18 Latin American countries, including Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico. Following strong adoption in the region, Visa and Stripe are now extending the rollout to over 100 countries across Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East, regions where stablecoins play a key role in remittances and cross-border transactions.
The program runs on Stripe’s stablecoin platform Bridge, which allows developers and fintechs to issue stablecoin-backed debit cards linked to Visa’s vast merchant network through a single API. Wallet providers like Phantom Wallet, MetaMask, and other fintechs can issue debit cards that automatically deduct stablecoins from a user’s wallet and convert them into local fiat currency at checkout.
Meanwhile, users can spend Circle’s (CRCL) stablecoin USDC ($USDC-USD) or PayPal’s (PYPL) stablecoin, PYUSD, at more than 175 million merchants worldwide, with automatic conversion to local fiat currencies at checkout. This integration shifts stablecoins from speculative assets or cross-border transfers to practical “spend anywhere” money, potentially accelerating adoption among non-cryptocurrency natives.
Stripe’s Bridge Pilots On-chain Settlement on Visa’s Network
Under the new expansion, Bridge cards will continue to operate on Visa’s global payment rails, but settlement can now occur on-chain through a pilot program with Lead Bank. The pilot uses the Solana ($SOL-USD) blockchain to process transactions faster and more cost-effectively than traditional fiat systems.
Visa and its partner, Stripe, aim to test whether blockchain settlement can lower operational costs and improve cross-network fund movement. Cuy Sheffield, Visa’s Head of Crypto, said the initiative reflects a commitment to “meet businesses where they operate, and increasingly, that’s on-chain.”
Bridge co-founder Zach Abrams added that the expansion will help businesses launching custom stablecoins integrate them seamlessly into card programs, part of a multi-year effort for firms to “own their own financial stack.” Meanwhile, analysts view the rollout as a clear signal that traditional payment firms and crypto infrastructure providers are increasingly collaborating.
Is Visa a Good Stock to Buy?
While Stripe is a private company, Visa is not. The Visa stock is currently listed on the NYSE and is available for investors. TipRanks analyst consensus has rated V a “Strong Buy.” V also has an average price target of $401.04, with a high upside potential of 27.3%, from its current price of $314.6. To get more analysts’ forecasts and performance metrics on other fintech stocks like Mastercard (MA), American Express (AXP), and more, visit TipRanks Stocks Comparison Center.
