Visa will expand stablecoin-backed cards to more than 100 countries by the end of 2026 through its partnership with Bridge, a subsidiary of Stripe.
The cards enable users to spend stablecoins at over 175 million merchant locations worldwide, with transactions settled on-chain via Visa’s stablecoin pilot in partnership with Lead Bank.
Initially launched in 2025 across Mexico, Argentina and Colombia, the programme has since expanded to 18 countries and is now targeting Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.
Businesses and developers can issue Visa cards linked directly to stablecoin balances, allowing payments to function like traditional debit transactions without first converting funds through a bank account.
Wallet providers including Phantom and MetaMask have already integrated Bridge-powered cards, enabling users to make everyday purchases using digital asset holdings.
Visa’s head of crypto, Cuy Sheffield, said the initiative brings “speed, transparency, and programmability” to settlement processes, reinforcing the company’s strategy to integrate blockchain-based assets into its global payments network.
The expansion signals growing institutional confidence in stablecoins as practical payment tools, and Visa is evaluating whether Bridge-issued digital assets could play a larger role in future cross-border settlement flows.