Key Highlights
- Visa and Bridge are expanding their stablecoin-linked card program to over 100 countries, currently active in 18.
- Users can spend stablecoins directly using wallets like MetaMask and Phantom, with payments accepted at 175 million Visa locations.
- The program now tests onchain settlement, letting transactions complete in stablecoins without converting to regular money.
Visa and Stripe-owned stablecoin company Bridge is taking its stablecoin-linked card program global, with plans to reach over 100 countries by the end of the year.
According to the announcement on Tuesday, users will be able to spend stablecoin using wallets like MetaMask and Phantom, and the payments are accepted anywhere Visa cards work, which covers 175 million merchant locations. The platform plans to reach Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East by the end of this year.
Giving users way to spend crypto like cash
The program was first launched in 2025, allowing users to spend stablecoins through cards in Latin American countries. As of now, the card is only active in 18 countries, including Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Chile.
The stablecoin cards let users spend digital coins like normal money. Instead of paying with cash or regular bank cards, users can pay with their stablecoin balance directly. In addition, the program is also testing onchain settlement. This means payments can now be completed directly in stablecoins without converting them to regular money first.
Lead Bank is helping make this new system work, by making the process work faster and more transparent.
“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.” Visa’s head of crypto, Cuy Sheffield, said in the press release.
Bigger partnership amid the expansion
The program started with a pilot last year, testing how Visa issuers and acquirers could settle payments using stablecoins. Lead Bank also took part in the pilot and is now using Bridge’s technology.
Meanwhile, Stripe bought Bridge for $1.1 billion and has been growing its crypto services, including tools to create stablecoins and building the Tempo blockchain with Paradigm. Bridge also received conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for a national bank charter. This lets Bridge hold crypto safely, issue stablecoins, and manage reserves.
Broader context
This expansion reflects the wider trend of stablecoins in payments. They can make money transfers, payroll, and shopping faster and cheaper than normal banking.
Moreover, other payment companies, like PayPal and Mastercard, are also testing stablecoin cards for their customers. In short, this collaboration reflects growing interest in combining traditional finance with digital currencies, which can give businesses and customers new ways to pay, and settle transactions onchain.
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