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MasterCard is an American multinational payment card services corporation headquartered in Purchase, New York. It offers a range of payment transaction processing and other related-payment services (such as travel-related payments and bookings).
Coinbase reportedly bid as high as $2.5 billion to acquire BVNK, ultimately losing out to Mastercard's $1.8 billion acquisition
Odaily News The inside story behind stablecoin infrastructure company BVNK's acquisition by Mastercard for $1.8 billion has recently come to light. According to Concentric, an early investor in BVNK, during the bidding process, US crypto exchange Coinbase once held an advantageous position and reportedly submitted a bid as high as $2.5 billion, but ultimately withdrew from the competition due to insufficient strategic and cultural alignment between the two parties.Kjartan Rist, founding partner of Concentric, stated that BVNK's founding team did not focus solely on the offer price when selecting an acquirer, but placed greater emphasis on long-term partnership and corporate culture fit. "Coinbase may have offered a higher price, but the chemistry between the two sides was not ideal." In contrast, Mastercard, as a traditional financial services company, is more likely to create synergies with BVNK in payment infrastructure and stablecoin applications.It is understood that Mastercard participated in acquisition discussions with BVNK at an early stage, and after Coinbase failed to advance the deal, Mastercard re-emerged as the primary buyer, ultimately completing the acquisition for $1.8 billion.Visa also participated in the competition. Having previously invested in BVNK and holding a board observer seat, Visa once had an advantage. However, Visa ultimately chose not to pursue a direct acquisition, instead adopting an open strategy of partnering with multiple stablecoin companies.Founded in 2018, BVNK provides enterprises with stablecoin payment, cross-border settlement, and treasury management infrastructure. Its early investor Concentric invested in the company at a valuation of $4 million in 2019, and this transaction has generated substantial returns.The acquisition also reflects a new round of competition between traditional payment giants and crypto companies over stablecoin infrastructure. Previously, Stripe acquired stablecoin infrastructure company Bridge for $1.1 billion, prompting payment giants such as Visa and Mastercard to accelerate their expansion into the stablecoin sector.Currently, the global stablecoin market size has approached $300 billion. As enterprise payments, cross-border settlements, and treasury management use cases grow rapidly, stablecoin infrastructure is becoming a critical gateway for traditional financial institutions to capture. (CoinDesk)
Mastercard Completes Acquisition of BVNK in Deal Valued Up to $1.8 Billion
Odaily News: Mastercard has completed its acquisition of stablecoin payments company BVNK, integrating its on-chain settlement and wallet infrastructure into its global network. The final acquisition price was not disclosed; when the agreement was announced in March, the transaction was valued at up to $1.8 billion, including $300 million in contingent payments. Founded in 2021, BVNK provides businesses with infrastructure to send, receive, store, and convert funds between traditional currencies and blockchain networks. Mastercard stated that BVNK's existing customers will continue to use the same products, integrations, and support teams, and no action is required at this time. Mastercard's Chief Product Officer Jorn Lambert said that digital currencies, particularly stablecoins, are increasingly meeting real-world needs. The combined platform is expected to support banks in connecting customer accounts with digital wallets and provide payment service providers with 24/7 merchant settlement capabilities.
ZeroHash, a cryptocurrency infrastructure company, is seeking new funding at a valuation of over $1.5 billion.
According to CoinDesk, crypto infrastructure firm Zerohash is seeking new funding at a valuation exceeding $1.5 billion. This comes after Mastercard abandoned its investment plans for Zerohash following its $1.8 billion acquisition of UK-based stablecoin infrastructure company BVNK. Founded in 2017, Zerohash provides APIs and embedded development tools to financial institutions and fintech companies, enabling support for cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and tokenized products. The company now serves over 5 million users across 190 countries, with clients including Morgan Stanley, Stripe, Interactive Brokers, BlackRock’s BUIDL Fund, and Franklin Templeton. In September 2025, Zerohash closed its $104 million Series D-2 round, valuing the company at $1 billion at that time.
Rain receives Mastercard support to advance on-chain settlement integration, valuation approaches $2 billion
stablecoin infrastructure startup Rain is now valued at $1.95 billion and has announced a partnership with payment giant Mastercard to issue credit and prepaid cards, while also exploring the use of stablecoins for payment settlements. Previously, Rain primarily relied on the Visa network for its card products. This collaboration with Mastercard marks its entry into a "dual-card network" strategy, further expanding its institutional client market. Rain stated that the partnership will focus on serving large institutional clients already deeply integrated with a single payment network, enabling them to introduce stablecoin settlement capabilities without altering their existing payment systems.Meanwhile, the application of stablecoins continues to expand across the industry, with institutions such as Stripe and Coinbase actively promoting the integration of stablecoin payments and settlements. This indicates that the convergence of traditional finance and crypto payment infrastructure is accelerating. Analysts suggest that as regulatory frameworks gradually become clearer, stablecoins are rapidly transitioning from trading tools to enterprise payment and cross-border settlement infrastructure. (Fortune)
万事达卡与 Borderless 测试稳定币跨境转账身份验证框架
据 Cointelegraph 报道，万事达卡与稳定币编排网络 Borderless 启动试点项目，测试其 Crypto Credential（加密凭证） 框架在跨境稳定币支付中的应用。该试点旨在通过统一标准与验证信号，提升交易各方在审批、合规及风险管理流程中的确定性，降低跨境支付摩擦。
Visa, Stripe, Mastercard, BlackRock and other financial institutions are reportedly planning to jointly launch a stablecoin called OUSD
according to market sources, several financial and crypto institutions, including Visa, Stripe, Mastercard, BlackRock, and Coinbase, are planning to jointly launch a new stablecoin named "OUSD".The report states that the stablecoin project is expected to adopt a multi-party collaboration model and share related revenue mechanisms among the participating institutions. However, the specific structure, launch timeline, and regulatory arrangements have not yet been publicly disclosed.If the news is confirmed, it would mark a further deep integration between traditional payment giants and Wall Street asset management institutions in the stablecoin sector. The parties involved have not yet officially confirmed the reports.
OKX Star: Has been deeply rooted in Europe for eight years and will continue expanding its AI and compliant finance initiatives
OKX CEO Star posted on X, stating that OKX began its European expansion in 2018 and has collaborated continuously with regulators and the crypto community over the past eight years, gradually transforming from a technology company into a regulated fintech firm. He emphasized that OKX consistently corrected mistakes and rapidly optimized its operations throughout this evolution. OKX is the world’s first institution to obtain an MiCA license and also holds both a Payment Institution (PI) license and an MiFID license. It now offers euro deposit and withdrawal channels in Europe, zero-fee stablecoin payments powered by the Mastercard network, hundreds of spot trading pairs, and derivatives services covering cryptocurrencies, commodities, and equities.
OKX Star: Eight Years of Deep Roots in Europe, Continuing to Expand AI and Compliant Financial Layout
: OKX CEO Star stated on X that OKX has been operating in Europe since 2018. Over the past eight years, it has continuously collaborated with regulators and the crypto community, gradually transitioning from a technology company to a regulated fintech firm. Star emphasized that the company constantly corrects mistakes and rapidly optimizes during its development. OKX is the first institution globally to obtain the MiCA license, and also holds a Payment Institution (PI) license and a MiFID license. It currently provides Euro fiat on-ramp and off-ramp channels, zero-fee stablecoin payments via the Mastercard network, hundreds of spot trading pairs, and derivatives services covering crypto, commodities, and equities in Europe.On the product front, OKX has built Agentic infrastructure, enabling users to interact with the platform through AI Agents, and is continuously developing new products for the next generation of financial experiences. Star also mentioned that OKX is the first global platform to publish Proof of Reserves (PoR) for over 40 consecutive months, and has its group financial statements audited by a Big Four accounting firm to enhance transparency and financial governance.
Mastercard Expands On-Chain Settlement Network, Supporting Stablecoins and 24/7 Fund Settlement
Mastercard is expanding its settlement network to support regulated stablecoins, planning to introduce stablecoin settlement, intraday settlement, as well as weekend and holiday settlement services to meet the demand for real-time fund movement.According to the introduction, the new settlement framework will operate in parallel with the existing fiat settlement system, providing financial institutions with more flexible liquidity management solutions. The first supported stablecoins include Circle-issued USDC, Paxos-issued PYUSD, USDG and USDP, Ripple-issued RLUSD, and SoFiUSD.The related services will cover blockchain networks such as Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, Base, Arbitrum, and XRPL. (CoinDesk)
Mastercard Granted New York BitLicense to Advance Stablecoin and Digital Payment Infrastructure
: Payment giant Mastercard has announced that it has obtained a BitLicense from the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), allowing it to conduct digital asset-related businesses under a strict regulatory framework, including stablecoins and blockchain settlement infrastructure. The license was obtained by Mastercard Transaction Services (U.S.) LLC, marking the company's further expansion into digital payments and on-chain settlement infrastructure. BitLicense is one of the strictest crypto regulatory frameworks in the United States, requiring firms to meet multiple standards for capital reserves, compliance, security, and consumer protection.Mastercard stated that this approval will support its strategic layout in stablecoins and tokenized payments. Company executives pointed out that a clear regulatory framework helps drive digital assets from the experimental stage toward practical applications.Recently, several institutions, including Galaxy Digital and Strike, have also successively obtained BitLicenses, indicating that U.S. regulatory approvals are accelerating the opening up to compliant digital asset enterprises. (CoinDesk)
Mastercard Completes Acquisition of BVNK in Deal Valued Up to $1.8 Billion
Odaily News: Mastercard has completed its acquisition of stablecoin payments company BVNK, integrating its on-chain settlement and wallet infrastructure into its global network. The final acquisition price was not disclosed; when the agreement was announced in March, the transaction was valued at up to $1.8 billion, including $300 million in contingent payments. Founded in 2021, BVNK provides businesses with infrastructure to send, receive, store, and convert funds between traditional currencies and blockchain networks. Mastercard stated that BVNK's existing customers will continue to use the same products, integrations, and support teams, and no action is required at this time. Mastercard's Chief Product Officer Jorn Lambert said that digital currencies, particularly stablecoins, are increasingly meeting real-world needs. The combined platform is expected to support banks in connecting customer accounts with digital wallets and provide payment service providers with 24/7 merchant settlement capabilities.
Circle Announces Arc Founding Validator Lineup, Public Mainnet to Launch on September 16
Circle announced the founding validator lineup for its open blockchain network Arc and confirmed that the public mainnet will launch on September 16, 2026. Currently, Arc has onboarded over 100 ecosystem and institutional builders on the private mainnet.
Payment giant Visa launches enterprise-grade stablecoin platform
global payment giant Visa is accelerating its stablecoin infrastructure efforts by launching the Visa Stablecoin Platform, which helps banks and fintech companies integrate stablecoin payment capabilities into their existing payment and treasury management systems. It is reported that the platform aims to provide stablecoin service support to approximately 15,000 financial institutions and over 200 million merchants within Visa's network, enabling enterprises to use USD stablecoins for settlement, capital flow, and financial management within the traditional payment network.Visa currently processes approximately $15 trillion in payment transactions annually and has already processed tens of billions of dollars in stablecoin settlement volume. The company hopes to further expand the application scope of stablecoins through this new platform. Initially, the Visa Stablecoin Platform will support the new stablecoin OUSD, launched by the Open Standard alliance, while continuing to be compatible with stablecoins already supported by Visa, including USDC issued by Circle and USDG issued by Paxos. Visa believes that stablecoins are becoming an important part of the future financial infrastructure, with advantages including:Instant Settlement: Transactions no longer rely on traditional banking clearing cycles;Low-Cost Transfers: Reducing payment costs based on blockchain networks;Transparency and Traceability: On-chain transaction records provide higher verifiability.Visa has been consistently building its footprint in the stablecoin space. In 2020, Visa became the first global payment network to support USDC settlement; in 2025, the company launched a stablecoin settlement plan to further promote the entry of stablecoins into the mainstream payment system.Meanwhile, Visa's competitors are also accelerating their entry into the stablecoin market. Mastercard recently launched a stablecoin settlement solution and partnered with companies such as MoonPay and Paxos; American Express has also participated in the ecosystem development related to Open Standard.As traditional payment giants increasingly adopt stablecoins, they are transitioning from a payment tool within the crypto industry into a vital component of the global financial infrastructure. (Fortune)
OKX Star: Eight Years of Deep Roots in Europe, Continuing to Expand AI and Compliant Financial Layout
: OKX CEO Star stated on X that OKX has been operating in Europe since 2018. Over the past eight years, it has continuously collaborated with regulators and the crypto community, gradually transitioning from a technology company to a regulated fintech firm. Star emphasized that the company constantly corrects mistakes and rapidly optimizes during its development. OKX is the first institution globally to obtain the MiCA license, and also holds a Payment Institution (PI) license and a MiFID license. It currently provides Euro fiat on-ramp and off-ramp channels, zero-fee stablecoin payments via the Mastercard network, hundreds of spot trading pairs, and derivatives services covering crypto, commodities, and equities in Europe.On the product front, OKX has built Agentic infrastructure, enabling users to interact with the platform through AI Agents, and is continuously developing new products for the next generation of financial experiences. Star also mentioned that OKX is the first global platform to publish Proof of Reserves (PoR) for over 40 consecutive months, and has its group financial statements audited by a Big Four accounting firm to enhance transparency and financial governance.
OKX Becomes One of the First Partners of Mastercard’s Agent Pay for Machines
According to official announcements, OKX has become one of the first partners of Mastercard’s newly launched Agent Pay for Machines (AP4M). AP4M targets high-frequency, low-value, and automated “machine-level” payment scenarios between AI Agents and supports multiple settlement methods, including bank cards and stablecoins. OKX will integrate into this ecosystem via its Agentic Wallet and the Agent Payments Protocol (APP). AP4M is built upon Mastercard’s Agent Pay, launched in 2025, aiming to provide payment infrastructure for commercial activities among AI Agents. Over 30 organizations are among the initial participants, including Stripe, Ant International, Cloudflare, Coinbase, and OKX—spanning payment, blockchain, and AI infrastructure sectors.
Mastercard Expands On-Chain Settlement Network, Supporting Stablecoins and 24/7 Fund Settlement
Mastercard is expanding its settlement network to support regulated stablecoins, planning to introduce stablecoin settlement, intraday settlement, as well as weekend and holiday settlement services to meet the demand for real-time fund movement.According to the introduction, the new settlement framework will operate in parallel with the existing fiat settlement system, providing financial institutions with more flexible liquidity management solutions. The first supported stablecoins include Circle-issued USDC, Paxos-issued PYUSD, USDG and USDP, Ripple-issued RLUSD, and SoFiUSD.The related services will cover blockchain networks such as Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, Base, Arbitrum, and XRPL. (CoinDesk)
Related news
Rain Establishes Agency Payment Alliance, Over 25 Institutions Including Visa and Mastercard Join
Stablecoin payment infrastructure company Rain announced the formation of the Agentic Payments Alliance (APA), aiming to advance the infrastructure and standards for agent-driven commerce. The alliance's founding members include over 25 institutions such as Visa, Mastercard, Fiserv, Circle, Solana, Remitly, Chainalysis, Fireblocks, and Uniswap Labs.
Stablecoin Payment Company Rain Acquires Ansa, Strengthening Stored Value Payment and Branded Wallet Infrastructure
Stablecoin payment company Rain announced the acquisition of stored-value and closed-loop payment platform Ansa to expand its capabilities in branded wallets, rewards systems, and payment infrastructure. Ansa's core advantage lies in enabling merchants to complete in-store stored-value balance payments using existing Mastercard acceptance terminals without replacing hardware or software.
Coinbase reportedly bid as high as $2.5 billion to acquire BVNK, ultimately losing out to Mastercard's $1.8 billion acquisition
Odaily News The inside story behind stablecoin infrastructure company BVNK's acquisition by Mastercard for $1.8 billion has recently come to light. According to Concentric, an early investor in BVNK, during the bidding process, US crypto exchange Coinbase once held an advantageous position and reportedly submitted a bid as high as $2.5 billion, but ultimately withdrew from the competition due to insufficient strategic and cultural alignment between the two parties.Kjartan Rist, founding partner of Concentric, stated that BVNK's founding team did not focus solely on the offer price when selecting an acquirer, but placed greater emphasis on long-term partnership and corporate culture fit. "Coinbase may have offered a higher price, but the chemistry between the two sides was not ideal." In contrast, Mastercard, as a traditional financial services company, is more likely to create synergies with BVNK in payment infrastructure and stablecoin applications.It is understood that Mastercard participated in acquisition discussions with BVNK at an early stage, and after Coinbase failed to advance the deal, Mastercard re-emerged as the primary buyer, ultimately completing the acquisition for $1.8 billion.Visa also participated in the competition. Having previously invested in BVNK and holding a board observer seat, Visa once had an advantage. However, Visa ultimately chose not to pursue a direct acquisition, instead adopting an open strategy of partnering with multiple stablecoin companies.Founded in 2018, BVNK provides enterprises with stablecoin payment, cross-border settlement, and treasury management infrastructure. Its early investor Concentric invested in the company at a valuation of $4 million in 2019, and this transaction has generated substantial returns.The acquisition also reflects a new round of competition between traditional payment giants and crypto companies over stablecoin infrastructure. Previously, Stripe acquired stablecoin infrastructure company Bridge for $1.1 billion, prompting payment giants such as Visa and Mastercard to accelerate their expansion into the stablecoin sector.Currently, the global stablecoin market size has approached $300 billion. As enterprise payments, cross-border settlements, and treasury management use cases grow rapidly, stablecoin infrastructure is becoming a critical gateway for traditional financial institutions to capture. (CoinDesk)
Mastercard Completes Acquisition of BVNK in Deal Valued Up to $1.8 Billion
Odaily News: Mastercard has completed its acquisition of stablecoin payments company BVNK, integrating its on-chain settlement and wallet infrastructure into its global network. The final acquisition price was not disclosed; when the agreement was announced in March, the transaction was valued at up to $1.8 billion, including $300 million in contingent payments. Founded in 2021, BVNK provides businesses with infrastructure to send, receive, store, and convert funds between traditional currencies and blockchain networks. Mastercard stated that BVNK's existing customers will continue to use the same products, integrations, and support teams, and no action is required at this time. Mastercard's Chief Product Officer Jorn Lambert said that digital currencies, particularly stablecoins, are increasingly meeting real-world needs. The combined platform is expected to support banks in connecting customer accounts with digital wallets and provide payment service providers with 24/7 merchant settlement capabilities.
万事达卡与 Borderless 测试稳定币跨境转账身份验证框架
据 Cointelegraph 报道，万事达卡与稳定币编排网络 Borderless 启动试点项目，测试其 Crypto Credential（加密凭证） 框架在跨境稳定币支付中的应用。该试点旨在通过统一标准与验证信号，提升交易各方在审批、合规及风险管理流程中的确定性，降低跨境支付摩擦。
Circle Announces Arc Founding Validator Lineup, Public Mainnet to Launch on September 16
Circle announced the founding validator lineup for its open blockchain network Arc and confirmed that the public mainnet will launch on September 16, 2026. Currently, Arc has onboarded over 100 ecosystem and institutional builders on the private mainnet.