Visa seeks new crypto stablecoin partner to expand global settlements. EtherX August 18, 2026 Visa is expanding its stablecoin strategy as it adds blockchain networks and partners to support faster, seven-day global settlement. Visa is continuing to expand its stablecoin settlement network, looking to work with additional blockchain and digital-asset partners as it moves more of its global payment infrastructure onchain. The payments giant has rapidly expanded its stablecoin capabilities in 2026, adding new blockchain networks, financial institutions and technology partners. Visa's stablecoin settlement program reached a $7 billion annualized run rate in April, up 50% from the previous quarter. The push comes as financial institutions increasingly explore stablecoins for faster cross-border payments and settlement. Visa is building a multi-chain stablecoin network. Visa's strategy is not tied to a single blockchain or stablecoin. In April, the company added Arc, Base, Canton, Polygon and Tempo to its stablecoin settlement program, bringing the total number of supported blockchains to nine. The approach gives Visa's banking and payment partners more options for moving stablecoin liquidity. Visa has said that its partners are operating in a multi-chain environment and want flexibility over which networks they use for settlement. The company is effectively positioning Visa as a common settlement layer connecting traditional financial institutions with multiple blockchain networks. Stablecoins could make global settlement faster. Traditional cross-border settlement can involve banks, payment processors and other intermediaries, often creating delays around weekends, holidays and different time zones. Stablecoins can operate on blockchain networks continuously, allowing eligible transactions to settle seven days a week. Visa already allows selected issuers and acquirers to settle certain obligations using stablecoins such as USDC. The company launched U.S. stablecoin settlement with banking partners including Cross River Bank and Lead Bank, initially using the Solana blockchain. Visa has said stablecoin settlement can improve liquidity management and operational efficiency while maintaining its existing payment infrastructure. Visa is expanding its partner ecosystem. Visa's search for additional partners comes as it builds a broader stablecoin ecosystem. The company has worked with infrastructure providers including Bridge, Aquanow and Brale, while also developing its own Visa Stablecoin Platform. In July, Visa launched the platform to give banks, fintech companies and crypto businesses a single environment for accessing, storing and managing stablecoins. The platform initially supports Open USD (OUSD). Visa also expanded its relationship with Bridge in March, supporting stablecoin-linked Visa cards with plans to expand the program to more than 100 countries. Why Visa wants more stablecoin partners. Adding more partners can help Visa expand the number of assets, blockchains and payment corridors available to its network. For financial institutions, the attraction is the ability to use blockchain settlement without having to build an entire stablecoin infrastructure system themselves. Visa's platform is designed to provide access to wallets, stablecoin management and onchain settlement while connecting those functions to its existing payment network. That could make stablecoins easier for banks and fintech companies to adopt. Global payments are becoming more onchain. Visa's stablecoin strategy reflects a broader shift in the payments industry. The company says stablecoins can help modernize cross-border money movement by combining blockchain-based settlement with established payment infrastructure. Visa has specifically highlighted potential benefits including faster settlement, improved liquidity and more flexible international money movement. The company is also exploring stablecoin-based payouts and account-to-account payments in emerging markets. This suggests Visa sees stablecoins as more than a cryptocurrency product. Instead, the company is treating them as another infrastructure layer for moving traditional money. What it means for the crypto industry. Visa's continued expansion could help bring stablecoins deeper into mainstream financial services. More partnerships could increase the number of businesses able to use blockchain settlement without directly managing complex crypto infrastructure. However, adoption will still depend on regulatory requirements, liquidity, blockchain reliability and the ability of different networks to work together. Visa's strategy also shows that competition is growing among stablecoin issuers, blockchain networks and infrastructure providers seeking access to traditional financial institutions. Conclusion. Visa's expanding stablecoin partner strategy highlights the company's effort to modernize global payment settlement through blockchain technology. With nine supported blockchains and a stablecoin settlement run rate of about $7 billion annually, Visa has already moved beyond small-scale experimentation. Its growing partnerships and newly launched Visa Stablecoin Platform suggest the company wants stablecoins to become a practical part of mainstream financial infrastructure. As Visa adds more partners, blockchains and stablecoin options, the biggest opportunity could be faster and more flexible global settlement operating around the clock rather than according to traditional banking schedules. Posted by: EtherX. You may like these posts. Post a comment.

Bridge's stablecoin chief departs as platform reaches 100+ global markets. Key highlights. Table of Contents * Connor Fitzgerald departs Bridge after leading stablecoin partnerships at Stripe * The platform now provides stablecoin services in over 100 international markets * European Union regulatory clearance enables operations across all 27 member nations * Collaboration with Visa aims to launch stablecoin cards in 100+ territories * Payment giant maintains momentum in stablecoin initiatives amid executive departure The executive responsible for developing Stripe's worldwide stablecoin card framework has departed the organization. Connor Fitzgerald's exit occurs while the financial technology firm accelerates its regulated stablecoin payment offerings throughout more than 100 global territories. This leadership change follows significant product releases, regulatory clearances, and ambitious plans for distributed ledger-based transaction systems. Building a worldwide stablecoin payment framework at Bridge. Following Stripe's purchase of Bridge, Connor Fitzgerald joined the team just 30 days after the deal closed to spearhead stablecoin card development. His primary responsibilities centered on cultivating relationships with sponsor banking institutions and forging alliances with payment processing networks essential for worldwide card distribution capabilities. This undertaking demanded that Stripe forge banking collaborations while navigating complex regulatory landscapes spanning numerous territories. The payment processor constructed comprehensive operational systems prior to launching international services. These foundational efforts ultimately enabled stablecoin card offerings throughout more than 100 different markets worldwide. Throughout his time at the company, Fitzgerald oversaw the launch of America's inaugural stablecoin settlement mechanism. This initiative generated annualized transaction volumes climbing from nothing to tens of millions of dollars. Furthermore, the firm broadened its network of payment processors and banking partners facilitating stablecoin-powered card distribution. Platform growth reinforces international payment capabilities. The payment processing giant acquired Bridge for roughly $1.1 billion to bolster its blockchain payment operations. Subsequently, the organization has rolled out additional stablecoin offerings and compliant payment solutions across various territories. This strategic purchase incorporated infrastructure enabling distributed ledger technology for international fund transfers. In recent weeks, Bridge obtained both Markets in Crypto-Assets compliance and Electronic Money Institution licensing in Luxembourg. These regulatory authorizations permit compliant operations throughout every European Union member country. Commercial entities can now launch euro-denominated stablecoins and establish virtual IBAN accounts under unified regulatory oversight. These permits additionally enable financial technology firms to incorporate cross-border euro banking through streamlined integration. Corporate clients can transfer capital between international divisions using stablecoins rather than traditional correspondent banking systems. As a result, the company fortified its European payment capabilities while streamlining international expansion for commercial clients. Payment giant advances stablecoin ecosystem despite personnel transition. The financial services provider maintained its stablecoin expansion trajectory following the executive's departure. Earlier in the year, Visa broadened its collaboration with Bridge to facilitate stablecoin-backed payment card initiatives. This program aims for deployment across more than 100 nations by late 2026. Fitzgerald revealed his upcoming project will continue emphasizing blockchain-powered financial systems. He noted his work with digital currency platforms influenced his perspective on banking's future direction. Nevertheless, he withheld specifics regarding his subsequent position or employer. The payments company also pursues wider expansion initiatives extending beyond Bridge operations. Previous reports suggested that Stripe and Advent International presented an acquisition offer for PayPal. While negotiations continue, the potential deal would merge PayPal's digital transaction products with the company's expanding stablecoin capabilities upon completion.

Bridge's stablecoin chief departs as platform reaches 100+ global markets. July 27, 2026 Blockonomi general Positive Bridge's stablecoin chief has departed the platform just as the payments infrastructure company reaches over 100 global markets, including full operational clearance across all 27 European Union member nations under EU regulatory approval. The leadership change raises immediate questions about strategic continuity at one of the stablecoin sector's fastest-growing rails, particularly as Bridge competes in a tightening market alongside established players like Circle and Tether. For investors tracking stablecoin adoption, cross-border crypto payments, and EU MiCA compliance, the timing is significant - European market access represents one of the most coveted regulatory prizes in crypto right now, giving Bridge a formidable competitive moat even amid internal transition. The departure of a chief executive focused on stablecoin strategy could signal a pivot in product direction, a post-expansion restructuring, or internal disagreements over growth priorities as the platform scales internationally. With the stablecoin market now exceeding $160 billion in total supply and legislative momentum building in both the U.S. and Europe, leadership stability at infrastructure-layer companies like Bridge directly influences institutional confidence in programmable payment networks. Traders and fintech investors should watch for an official successor announcement and any shifts in Bridge's stablecoin issuance partnerships or EU market expansion roadmap in the coming weeks. European Union regulatory clearance enables operations across all 27 member nations