Visa Partners with Bridge to Roll Out Stablecoin Cards Globally

Highlights:

• Visa and Bridge plan to expand stablecoin cards to over 100 countries soon.
• Users can now pay and settle transactions directly with stablecoins through Visa.
• Stablecoin cards show growing demand and strong competition in global payment systems.

Visa is expanding its stablecoin card program in partnership with Stripe-owned Bridge, according to a Tuesday announcement. Launched in April last year, the initiative is moving beyond Latin America to cover 18 countries, to reach over 100 across Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East by year-end. This represents one of the largest expansions of stablecoin-linked card services in the financial sector.

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⚡️VISA AND STRIPE'S STABLECOIN CARD TO EXPAND TO 100 COUNTRIES

Visa and Stripe-owned Bridge will expand their stablecoin-linked card to 100 countries.

Currently live in 18 countries, it allows users to make purchases with stablecoins from wallets like MetaMask and Phantom. pic.twitter.com/hjJOYCXxcE

— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) March 3, 2026

Visa Expands Stablecoin Pilot to Enable Direct On-Chain Settlement

The program first started in Argentina, Ecuador, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Chile. Back then, Bridge took money from a customer’s stablecoin balance and converted it into local currency. This lets merchants get paid normally. At the same time, users could spend their stablecoins without any trouble.

Now, the program is testing direct stablecoin payments. Visa’s pilot lets issuers and acquirers settle transactions without using regular money. This works through Bridge’s partnership with Lead Bank, a commercial bank. “Now, through Bridge’s partnership with Lead Bank, these card transactions can be settled onchain with Visa,” the announcement said. Visa’s head of crypto strategy said the program supports the company’s goal of linking digital assets with everyday payments. It also gives partners more choices and makes moving money easier.

U.S. Approval Boosts Bridge’s Position in Visa’s Digital Asset Plans

Bridge got conditional approval from a U.S. regulator to become a national trust bank in mid‑February. This gives it a stronger role in the financial system and supports Visa’s bigger goals. Visa’s head of crypto, Cuy Sheffield, said the company wants to meet businesses where they operate, which is increasingly onchain. Working more with Bridge helps Visa bring stablecoins’ speed, transparency, and programmability into settlements.

Bridge has received OCC conditional approval to organize a federally chartered national trust bank. This will enable us to operate stablecoin products and services under direct federal oversight, including:
– Custody
– Orchestration
– Issuance
– Reserves management

Stablecoins…

— Bridge (@Stablecoin) February 17, 2026

Another important part of the expansion is Visa looking at support for stablecoins created through Bridge’s platform. If approved, businesses could launch their own custom stablecoins and use them directly in payment products. This would reduce reliance on third-party issuers and show a move toward more flexible digital money solutions for business needs. Bridge co-founder and CEO Zach Abrams said this work with Visa will let businesses launch their own stablecoins and use them easily in card programs.

Global Payments Industry Moves Faster Toward Blockchain Integration

Competition in payments is growing. Mastercard already allows stablecoin card spending in the U.S. through MetaMask. Visa’s global expansion shows strong demand for stablecoin services and highlights the race among financial companies to bring blockchain into everyday payments.

Recently, SoFi Technologies and Mastercard launched SoFiUSD, a fully-backed U.S. dollar stablecoin. SoFi Bank, N.A., a regulated and insured institution with an OCC charter, issues it. This means SoFiUSD can be redeemed 1:1 for cash. The stablecoin speeds up transactions across Mastercard’s global network. It also helps merchants and financial institutions manage liquidity, especially for cross-border payments.

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