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Visa and Bridge Expand Their Global Partnership

In a significant move for digital payments, Visa, a global leader in the space, and Bridge, a stablecoin infrastructure platform under Stripe, have announced a forthcoming expansion of their partnership. This announcement, made on March 3, 2026, underscores their ambitions to roll out a global card issuance program tied to stablecoins by 2025.

The collaboration aims to empower companies and fintech developers to offer Visa cards connected to stablecoins, enhancing the usability and application of digital currencies in everyday transactions. Additionally, the partnership with Lead Bank will enable on-chain settlements with Visa, thereby streamlining the process and increasing efficiency in transactions involving stablecoins.

Since launching stablecoin-based cards, developers leveraging Bridge's technology have seen rapid expansion in offering Visa cards linked to stablecoins across various countries. Cardholders can now utilize their stablecoin balances for everyday purchases at over 175 million merchants globally that accept Visa. As of now, Bridge's stablecoin payment cards are operational in 18 countries, with plans to expand to over 100 countries by the end of the year, including regions in Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East. Major crypto platforms such as Phantom and MetaMask will also facilitate hundreds of millions of users in utilizing stablecoins for daily shopping through these cards.

Expansion of Stablecoin Settlement Trials

Visa is also broadening its trials surrounding stablecoin settlement, which includes participants such as issuers and acquirers issuing cards aligned with Bridge's framework. Previously, Lead Bank was announced as a participant in these trials for Visa's stablecoin settlement program. Bridge provides the necessary infrastructure supporting stablecoins for Lead Bank, which aims to evaluate several critical aspects, including:

• - The extent to which stablecoin settlements can enhance issuer and program manager options in their payment solutions.
• - How on-chain reconciliation and swift fund movements can increase operational efficiency.
• - The role of platforms like Bridge in simplifying financial institutions' interactions with blockchain technology.

Cuy Sheffield, head of Visa's cryptocurrency division, emphasized, "Visa ensures that we adapt to the needs of businesses in every transaction setting as we transition more towards on-chain solutions. Expanding our collaboration with Bridge provides a new avenue to incorporate stablecoins' speed, transparency, and programmability directly into payment processes. This milestone not only creates substantial new choices for partner companies in value transfer but also strengthens Visa's role as a trusted network connecting stablecoins to the global payment ecosystem."

Supporting Future Asset Issuance

Moreover, Visa is considering supporting assets issued by Bridge in the future. This assessment will focus on how these assets can complement Visa’s global network and present new settlement methods to partners.

Zach Abrams, CEO and co-founder of Bridge, remarked, "For years, we have worked to enable enterprises to build and manage their financial stacks independently. With this expanded partnership with Visa, companies that issue their unique stablecoins will seamlessly integrate them into their card programs."

Conclusion

As Visa and Bridge strengthen their partnership, the global landscape of digital payments and stablecoin usage is set for a dramatic transformation. The collaboration promises to pave the way for enhanced payment solutions that leverage the benefits of blockchain technology, offering a streamlined and user-friendly experience for consumers and businesses alike.

For more information on Visa and Bridge, visit their respective websites.