Visa and Bridge expand stablecoin-linked Visa card program to 100+ countries

Visa and Bridge, the stablecoin infrastructure firm acquired by Stripe last year, are expanding their jointly developed card program to more than 100 countries by year-end, marking a significant push to bring digital asset spending into mainstream commerce.

The partnership, which launched in 2025 across 18 markets, enables fintech companies and businesses to issue payment cards backed by stablecoin balances. Cardholders can use their holdings at over 175 million merchant locations that accept Visa globally.

Crypto wallet providers including Phantom and MetaMask have already integrated the offering, giving millions of users the ability to convert digital assets into everyday purchases.

A central component of the expanded collaboration involves a pilot program for settling transactions using stablecoins on blockchain networks rather than traditional payment rails.

Through Bridge’s partnership with Lead Bank, participating card issuers and payment processors can now complete settlement directly onchain, a shift that could accelerate fund transfers and simplify back-office reconciliation.

The pilot will evaluate whether blockchain-based settlement provides meaningful efficiency gains for financial institutions accustomed to conventional clearing processes.

Visa is also exploring whether Bridge-issued assets could eventually serve as additional settlement options across its global network, potentially creating new pathways for partners seeking alternatives to standard payment flows.

The expansion spans Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East, representing one of the broadest geographic rollouts for stablecoin-linked payment products to date.