Visa and Bridge Expand Collaboration, with Plans to Bring Stablecoin-Linked Cards to Over 100 Countries

Key Terms

stablecoin financial

A stablecoin is a type of digital currency designed to keep its value steady, often by being backed by traditional assets like money or commodities. For investors, stablecoins offer a reliable way to move money quickly across digital platforms without the value fluctuations common with other cryptocurrencies, making them useful for saving, trading, or transferring funds with less risk of sudden losses.

onchain technical

"Onchain" describes activities, transactions, or data that happen directly on a blockchain, which is a digital ledger that records information transparently and securely. For investors, onchain activities provide real-time insights into how assets are moving and how networks are functioning, helping them make more informed decisions. Think of it as watching transactions happen live on a public record, similar to seeing a receipt posted online immediately after a purchase.

blockchain networks technical

A blockchain network is a distributed digital system where many computers maintain and update the same shared record of transactions or data, so changes are visible and agreed on by the group rather than controlled by a single party. For investors, blockchain networks matter because they underpin cryptocurrencies, digital assets and new business models—affecting asset value, security risks, transaction costs and how companies can store or move information, much like a public highway changes how goods are transported.

Collaboration deepens as Bridge’s stablecoin-linked card program gains global momentum

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Visa (NYSE:V), a global leader in digital payments, and Bridge, a leading stablecoin infrastructure platform and a Stripe company, today announced an expansion of their global card issuance product that they first unveiled in 2025. Bridge enables businesses and fintech developers to offer stablecoin-backed Visa cards. Now, through Bridge’s partnership with Lead Bank, these card transactions can be settled onchain with Visa.

Since launching stablecoin-linked cards, developers using Bridge have rapidly begun offering these Visa cards across the world, enabling consumers to make everyday purchases from stablecoin balances at any of Visa’s 175M+ merchant locations. Bridge-enabled stablecoin-linked cards are now live in 18 countries, with planned expansion to over 100 countries across Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East by end of year. Popular crypto platforms like Phantom and MetaMask are using cards to enable millions of customers to easily spend stablecoins on everyday purchases.

Visa’s Expanded Stablecoin Settlement Pilot

Visa’s stablecoin settlement pilot enables Visa issuers and acquirers, including those issuing Bridge-enabled cards, to settle with Visa using stablecoins over supported blockchain networks. Earlier this year, Lead Bank was announced as a participant in Visa’s stablecoin settlement pilot. Bridge is also enabling the stablecoin infrastructure behind Lead Bank.

The pilot aims 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
• The role of stablecoin infrastructure platforms–such as Bridge–in simplifying blockchain interactions for institutions

“Visa is committed to meeting businesses where they operate, and increasingly, that’s onchain,” said Cuy Sheffield, Head of Crypto, Visa. “Expanding our work with Bridge gives us one more way to bring the speed, transparency and programmability of stablecoins directly into the settlement process. This milestone gives our partners greater choice in how they move value, and it reinforces Visa’s role as a trusted network connecting stablecoins and the global payments ecosystem.”

Evaluating Support for Bridge-Issued Assets

Visa is also evaluating potential support for Bridge-issued assets in future flows. The assessment will focus on how these assets can complement Visa’s global network and introduce a new settlement pathway for partners.

“We’re on a multiyear journey to help businesses own their own financial stack,” said Zach Abrams, CEO and cofounder of Bridge. “This expansion of our work with Visa will enable businesses launching their own custom stablecoins to use them seamlessly within their card programs.”

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, sellers, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.

About Bridge, a Stripe company

Bridge is the leading stablecoin infrastructure platform for moving money globally. Businesses use Bridge to easily receive, store, convert, issue, and spend stablecoins, enabling them to serve new markets and move money faster and cheaper across borders. Bridge was acquired by Stripe in February 2025.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260303305269/en/

Visa Media Contacts

Jackie Dresch - jdresch@visa.com

Conor Febos – febos@visa.com



Stripe Media Contact

Cathay Bi - cathay@stripe.com

Source: Visa Inc.