Visa and Bridge announced that the stablecoin‑linked card program, which was first launched in 2025, will now be available in more than 100 countries by the end of 2026. The program is currently live in 18 jurisdictions and will expand to cover Europe, the Asia‑Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.
The partnership builds on Bridge’s acquisition by Stripe in February 2025 and leverages Bridge’s infrastructure to allow businesses and fintech developers to issue Visa cards backed by stablecoins. Visa is also piloting settlement of card transactions using stablecoins on its network, with a stablecoin settlement system already active on Ethereum, Solana, Stellar and Avalanche that processes over $3.5 billion in annual stablecoin settlement volume. The program integrates with popular crypto wallets such as Phantom and MetaMask, giving issuers a new on‑chain settlement pathway and consumers a broader range of payment options.
Visa’s expansion reflects a broader strategy to embed blockchain and stablecoin settlement into its global payments network. By offering a stablecoin‑backed card, Visa provides issuers with a faster, more transparent settlement mechanism while expanding the reach of digital assets into everyday commerce. The move also positions Visa as a key bridge between traditional finance and the growing digital‑asset ecosystem.
Bridge’s transaction volumes quadrupled in 2025, signaling strong enterprise adoption of stablecoins. The expansion to over 100 countries is expected to unlock billions of dollars in on‑chain commerce by the end of 2026, further accelerating the adoption of stablecoins as a mainstream payment medium.
"Visa is committed to meeting businesses where they operate, and increasingly, that's on‑chain. 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," said Cuy Sheffield, Head of Crypto at Visa.
"We're on a multiyear journey to help businesses own their own financial stack. This expansion of our work with Visa will enable businesses launching their own custom stablecoins to use them seamlessly within their card programs," added Zach Abrams, CEO and co‑founder of Bridge.
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