Visa and Bridge Plans to Launch Stablecoin-linked Cards to 100+ Countries
Visa and Bridge Plans to Launch Stablecoin-linked Cards to 100+ Countries
Visa and Bridge have expanded their collaboration to support stablecoin-linked Visa card issuance globally, enabling developers and FinTech platforms to issue cards funded by stablecoin balances. The program, supported through Bridge’s partnership with Lead Bank, allows transactions made using these cards to be settled onchain with Visa.
Key Highlights of the News
Stablecoin-linked Visa cards enable everyday payments: Developers using Bridge’s infrastructure can issue Visa cards funded directly by stablecoin balances. Consumers can use these cards to pay at over 175 million merchant locations connected to Visa’s global acceptance network.
Global expansion underway across major regions: Bridge-enabled stablecoin cards are already active in 18 countries, with plans to extend availability to more than 100 countries by the end of the year across Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East.
Crypto wallet platforms integrating payment functionality: Digital asset platforms such as Phantom and MetaMask are integrating these cards to allow users to spend stablecoins for daily purchases without converting balances through traditional exchanges.
On-chain settlement supported through Visa’s pilot program: Transactions from these cards can settle through Visa’s stablecoin settlement pilot, where participating issuers and acquirers use blockchain networks to reconcile and move funds rather than relying solely on traditional settlement rails.
Lead Bank participating as issuing partner in the pilot: Lead Bank has joined Visa’s stablecoin settlement initiative and works with Bridge to provide the issuing infrastructure that enables stablecoin-based card programs and onchain transaction settlement.
Evaluation of stablecoin infrastructure for broader settlement pathways: Visa is assessing potential integration of Bridge-issued digital assets into its network to determine how these instruments could serve as an additional settlement option for partners within card payment flows.
Analytical Take
A few weeks earlier, Stripe’s stablecoin infrastructure firm Bridge received conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to organize a federally chartered national trust bank. That regulatory step positions the firm to operate stablecoin infrastructure, custody, issuance, and reserve management under federal oversight.
The expansion of stablecoin-linked card issuance with Visa indicates how this infrastructure is being connected to traditional payment networks, allowing digital dollar balances to move from blockchain environments into everyday commerce through card rails. If the regulatory pathway progresses and more issuers participate in on-chain settlement pilots, such integrations could gradually reshape how global card transactions reconcile and settle across digital asset and traditional financial systems.
