Nium has acquired Cypher to accelerate its entry into crypto-linked card products. The deal aims to bridge digital assets with traditional card networks by enabling users to spend cryptocurrency at merchants accepting conventional payments. Crypto cards convert digital holdings into fiat at point of sale, eliminating the need for separate off-ramps. By acquiring Cypher, a Y Combinator-backed company, Nium gains existing card issuance and crypto conversion infrastructure rather than building from scratch. The move reflects broader industry interest in everyday crypto payments. Visa has explored stablecoin-linked cards, whilst OKX Ventures recently acquired a 20% stake in Coinone for similar infrastructure expansion. Key questions include which markets will see initial rollout, supported digital assets, and integration speed. Regulatory developments from the SEC and European authorities will influence product launch timelines.

Circle and Nium launch stablecoin settlement partnership. By PYMNTS | May 27, 2026 Nium and Circle have teamed to link stablecoin settlement with global payout infrastructure. The partnership will see the cross-border payments company join Circle's Payments Network (CPN) as a payout partner, the companies said in a Thursday (May 27) news release. This will allow financial institutions to move funds via Circle's USDC stablecoin and settle in local currencies across more than 190 countries. "Traditional and onchain payment rails are converging, and that convergence demands infrastructure that banks, fintechs, and global enterprises can rely on at scale," said Prajit Nanu, founder and CEO of Nium. "By partnering with Circle and joining CPN, we are combining Circle's regulated settlement instrument with Nium's global payout reach to deliver a more seamless way for institutions to move money worldwide." The integration provides CPN participants with direct access to Nium's payout rails through a single interface, supporting transactions in 100 different currencies. This technical connection is designed to streamline the conversion process through integrated foreign exchange (FX) optimization and smart routing. By automating these steps, the release added, the companies hope to remove the need for institutions to do things like managing multiple local service providers. "Financial institutions are increasingly looking for ways to use stablecoins to solve persistent payments pain points," said Kash Razzaghi, chief commercial officer at Circle. "Through our partnership with Nium and their integration into Circle Payments Network, we are extending USDC from a settlement instrument into a complete payments flow, helping institutions move money globally with greater speed, transparency, and capital efficiency." In related news, PYMNTS wrote last week about the use of stablecoins in B2B marketplaces, arguing that the figure of this practice might depend less on technological efficiency and more on whether they preserve the credibility, legal certainty and interoperability that took traditional settlement systems decades to develop. "Large marketplaces increasingly orchestrate not only transactions but also treasury functions, supplier payments, financing relationships and liquidity management," the report said. "In many cases, marketplaces already resemble quasi-financial institutions." They hold balances, handle payouts, optimize working capital and facilitate international commerce between participants doing business across multiple jurisdictions. However, most of this activity relies on settlement rails created decades ago. Stablecoins have the potential to compress treasury management, liquidity coordination and payment orchestration into software infrastructure, which could mean faster settlement, automated payouts, and less foreign exchange friction, PYMNTS wrote. "Yet the more stablecoins position themselves as infrastructure, the more they encounter the same constraints that govern all critical financial infrastructure: trust, legal certainty and settlement finality," that report added.

Coinbase and global payments firm Nium have launched a stablecoin integration enabling USD Coin payments and fiat payouts across over 190 countries. Announced by Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, the partnership aims to replace slow correspondent banking with stablecoin settlement. Under the arrangement, Coinbase provides stablecoin liquidity, wallet services and regulated custody. Nium's banking, fintech and enterprise clients can fund cross-border transfers in USDC and settle in either USDC or local fiat currency, eliminating the need for prefunded accounts. The integration also supports stablecoin-backed cards accepted at hundreds of millions of merchant locations worldwide. Nium processes approximately $8 billion in annual payment volume and operates under more than 40 licences globally. USDC's circulating supply currently stands near $70 billion, making it the second-largest stablecoin by market value.