Visa and Bridge Expand Stablecoin Card Program to Over 100 Countries, Piloting Onchain Settlement

Global payment processing behemoth Visa is significantly broadening its collaboration with Stripe-owned Bridge, a move that will see the widespread rollout of stablecoin-linked Visa cards to over 100 countries by the end of the year. This ambitious expansion is accompanied by a pilot program to test onchain settlement of transactions using stablecoins, marking a substantial step towards integrating digital currencies into mainstream payment infrastructure.

The expanded card program, initially launched in April 2025, will now reach an impressive 18 countries, with strategic plans to extend its reach to more than 100 territories across Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East. This announcement, made on Tuesday, signifies a major commitment from Visa to leverage stablecoins for everyday purchases on a global scale. The initial rollout of the program saw successful implementation in several Latin American markets, including Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Chile, laying the groundwork for this more extensive global deployment.

Beyond the geographical expansion, the partnership between Visa and Bridge is venturing into a new frontier by testing stablecoin settlement. This pilot program is designed to enable financial institutions, specifically card issuers and acquirers, to settle transactions directly using stablecoins, bypassing traditional fiat currency conversions. This innovation has the potential to streamline cross-border payments, reduce transaction costs, and enhance the transparency and speed of settlement processes.

This development underscores the intensifying "stablecoin race" within the payments industry. Competitors are also actively exploring and implementing stablecoin solutions. Notably, Mastercard has recently enabled stablecoin card spending in the United States through its partnership with the self-custodial crypto wallet MetaMask, demonstrating a growing industry trend towards embracing digital assets in payment networks.

The crucial onchain settlement capability for the Visa and Bridge card program is being facilitated through Bridge’s strategic partnership with Lead Bank. When the card program first launched in 2025, transactions processed by Bridge involved deducting funds directly from a customer’s stablecoin balance and converting them into fiat currency. This conversion allowed merchants to receive payments in their local fiat currency, mirroring the experience of any conventional card transaction.

However, under the new collaboration, which is enabled by the independent commercial bank Lead Bank, the settlement process is being fundamentally transformed. Transactions will now be settled directly in stablecoins. The announcement explicitly states, "Now, through Bridge’s partnership with Lead Bank, these card transactions can be settled onchain with Visa."

Cuy Sheffield, Visa’s head of crypto, articulated the company’s strategic vision, stating, "Visa is committed to meeting businesses where they operate, and increasingly, that’s onchain." He further elaborated on the benefits of this enhanced partnership, adding, "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 sentiment highlights Visa’s forward-thinking approach to integrating blockchain technology and digital assets into its core payment services.

In addition to the direct settlement capabilities, Visa is actively evaluating the potential support for Bridge-issued assets. These assets refer to stablecoins that are created and managed using Bridge’s proprietary infrastructure platform, rather than being issued by a third-party entity like Tether or Circle, which are behind major stablecoins such as USDT and USDC respectively. This approach allows businesses to programmatically create their own custom stablecoins, offering greater flexibility and control over their digital currency offerings.

Zach Abrams, co-founder and CEO of Bridge, emphasized the significance of this expansion for businesses. He stated, "This expansion of our work with Visa will enable businesses launching their own custom stablecoins to use them seamlessly within their card programs." This suggests that businesses will soon be able to leverage their self-issued stablecoins for everyday transactions facilitated by Visa and Bridge, further democratizing the use of digital currencies.

The implications of this expanded partnership are far-reaching. By enabling stablecoin settlements onchain and facilitating the use of custom stablecoins for card programs, Visa and Bridge are not only expanding access to digital payments but also paving the way for more innovative and efficient financial ecosystems. The move signifies a strong endorsement of stablecoins as a viable medium for global commerce, moving beyond niche applications to mainstream payment solutions. The continued growth and development of such partnerships are expected to accelerate the adoption of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology in the global financial landscape.