Mastercard to Acquire Zerohash as Part of Broader Stablecoin Expansion Strategy

Highlights:

• Mastercard is set to acquire Zerohash in a deal to boost its stablecoin payment strategy.
• Stripe and Coinbase are racing to secure stablecoin infrastructure as firms embrace blockchain technology.
• Zerohash offers Mastercard a strong crypto infrastructure that enables faster and more efficient on-chain settlements.

Mastercard is negotiating to acquire Zerohash in a deal worth between $1.5 billion and $2 billion, according to a report by Fortune. The discussions are in their final stages, though neither company has confirmed the terms. The potential purchase would deepen Mastercard’s involvement in digital assets and expand its role in blockchain-based settlement systems.

🔥 TODAY:

💳 Mastercard is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire crypto infrastructure startup ZeroHash in a deal valued between $1.5B – $2B, per Fortune. ⚡️#Crypto #Mastercard #ZeroHash #Blockchain #FinTech pic.twitter.com/lsxoqIbEJ6

— Markri (@markry99) October 30, 2025

Zerohash, founded in 2017, builds infrastructure that allows fintechs, brokers, and merchants to add crypto and stablecoin features. The company is located in Chicago and provides compliant payout, conversions, and custody services via APIs.

The acquisition of Zerohash would allow Mastercard to have increased influence over the movement of fiat and digital assets throughout its payment system. This control may assist the company to align with its objective of quicker, onward money transfer among international markets.

The purchase would also put Mastercard in a position to compete more vigorously with other large payment companies that are looking into blockchain technology. The company already has piloted programs that convert crypto balances into spendable fiat at the point of sale, indicating an increasing interest in tokenized payments.

Mastercard to Acquire Zerohash in Push to Strengthen On-Chain Settlement

The possible Zerohash acquisition occurs as Mastercard speeds up its adoption of stablecoin settlement. The company views blockchain-based payments as a critical part of the next phase in financial infrastructure. This move follows a broader industry trend as firms race to secure a place in the growing stablecoin economy.

Rival companies such as Stripe and Coinbase have already taken bold steps in this direction. Stripe recently purchased Bridge, a stablecoin infrastructure startup, in a deal worth about $1.1 billion. Meanwhile, Coinbase entered advanced talks to buy BVNK, a London-based stablecoin company valued at $2 billion.

According to Fortune, Coinbase and Mastercard have both entered advanced negotiations to acquire stablecoin startup BVNK, with the deal valued between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion. Coinbase is currently seen as the frontrunner. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in London, BVNK…

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) October 9, 2025

Stablecoins are gaining adoption among corporates seeking efficient payroll, treasury, and supplier payments. According to CoinGlass, stablecoin market capitalization has grown to over $312 billion this year. Analysts at Standard Chartered expect that figure to rise to $750 billion by 2026, showing strong confidence in this market segment.

Zerohash Offers Ready Infrastructure for Stablecoin Vision

Zerohash is a white-label service provider that enables firms to integrate crypto without dealing with digital assets directly. The model provides clients such as banks and fintechs with a compliant avenue to move into the crypto space without the need to bear extra technical costs.

Zerohash provides a bridge between fiat, blockchain, and compliance systems, enabling smooth access to tokenized transactions. The company has established a strong relationship with key financial institutions, such as Interactive Brokers, Franklin Templeton, Stripe, and the BUIDL fund by BlackRock.

Last month, Zerohash partnered with Morgan Stanley to enable E*Trade customers to trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. It also completed a Series D-2 financing round with Interactive Brokers, raising $104 million and reaching a valuation of $1 billion. Zerohash has raised a total of $275 million since its inception.

The infrastructure provided by Zerohash could assist Mastercard in speeding up the implementation of on-chain payment options and in maintaining 24/7 settlement systems. The move would also allow merchants and fintechs that already use Mastercard’s network to adopt tokenized payments more quickly. If completed, the deal would mark one of Mastercard’s largest ventures into digital assets and reinforce its ambition to lead the future of stablecoins.