Visa, a global digital payments provider, and Bridge, a stablecoin infrastructure platform and a Stripe company, have announced an expansion of their partnership to broaden the reach of stablecoin-linked Visa cards. Initially launched in 2025, this partnership enables businesses and fintech developers to offer Visa cards backed by stablecoins, with transactions now settled on-chain through Bridge’s partnership with Lead Bank.

Cuy Sheffield, Head of Crypto, Visa, said, “Visa is committed to meeting businesses where they operate, and increasingly, that’s onchain.” 

“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,” he added.

Global expansion of stablecoin-linked cards

Since the introduction of stablecoin-linked cards, developers leveraging Bridge’s platform have rapidly rolled out these Visa cards across 18 countries. Plans are underway to extend availability to over 100 countries spanning Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East by the end of 2026. 

These cards allow consumers to make everyday purchases using stablecoin balances at more than 175 million Visa merchant locations worldwide. Leading crypto platforms such as Phantom and MetaMask have integrated these cards, enabling millions of users to spend stablecoins seamlessly in daily transactions.

Visa’s stablecoin settlement pilot and future partnership with Bridge 

Visa’s stablecoin settlement pilot facilitates issuers and acquirers, including those issuing Bridge-enabled cards, to settle transactions with Visa using stablecoins over supported blockchain networks. Lead Bank, recently announced as a participant in this pilot, relies on Bridge for its stablecoin infrastructure.

The pilot seeks to evaluate several key aspects. This includes enhancing settlement options for issuers and program managers through stablecoin settlement. It also covers operational efficiencies gained via on-chain reconciliation and accelerated fund transfers. The last aspect is the role of stablecoin infrastructure platforms like Bridge in simplifying blockchain interactions for financial institutions

Zach Abrams, CEO and cofounder of Bridge said, “We’re on a multiyear journey to help businesses own their own financial stack. This expansion of our work with Visa will enable businesses launching their own custom stablecoins to use them seamlessly within their card programs.”

Visa is also assessing potential support for Bridge-issued assets in future transaction flows. This evaluation aims to determine how these assets can complement Visa’s global network and introduce new settlement pathways for partners.