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Mastercard is reportedly pursuing acquisitions worth up to $2 billion to bring round-the-clock stablecoin settlement to traditional finance — a move that could redefine how banks and merchants handle payments.
From Pilots to Production: Mastercard’s Onchain Leap
Mastercard is in advanced talks to acquire crypto infrastructure provider Zero Hash for between $1.5 billion and $2 billion, following earlier interest in BVNK. The goal: to integrate turnkey stablecoin and crypto infrastructure directly into Mastercard’s payment network, accelerating its transition from pilot programs to live 24/7 settlement.
Instead of building onchain components from scratch, Mastercard could acquire the custody, conversion, and compliance frameworks these firms already operate. That would enable instant settlement between banks, processors, and merchants — replacing delayed, batch-based fiat transactions with real-time stablecoin transfers.
The End of “Banking Hours”
Traditional card payments still rely on batch cutoffs and weekday reconciliation. Stablecoin settlement, however, enables continuous, programmable transactions. Mastercard has already laid the groundwork through its Multi-Token Network (MTN) and Crypto Credential framework — both designed to make onchain transactions secure, compliant, and interoperable.
A completed acquisition could allow acquirers to receive payments in USDC or EURC at any time, eliminating overnight and weekend settlement delays. Mastercard already piloted this model in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa in partnership with Circle, showing clear intent to scale it globally.
Also Read: Retail Bitcoin Inflows Plunge 80% as Institutional Dominance Grows in 2025
Benefits and Bottlenecks
For banks and merchants, always-on settlement reduces liquidity risk, prefunding requirements, and reconciliation bottlenecks. Yet, the shift introduces new challenges — including 24/7 AML and sanctions checks, smart contract security, and liquidity management across chains and custodians.
Experts expect a hybrid phase, where stablecoins power settlement internally while fiat infrastructure and compliance workflows gradually adapt to real-time operations.
What Comes Next
Market watchers will be looking for three key signals:
- Completion of the Zero Hash or BVNK deals.
- Expansion of USDC and EURC settlement programs across more acquirers.
- Real-world rollouts of Mastercard’s MTN and Crypto Credential tools by banks or processors.
If successful, Mastercard could lead the charge toward a 24/7 programmable payments era, bridging the gap between traditional finance and digital assets.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The author’s views are personal and may not reflect the views of Chain Affairs. Before making any investment decisions, you should always conduct your own research. Chain Affairs is not responsible for any financial losses.
I’m your translator between the financial Old World and the new frontier of crypto. After a career demystifying economics and markets, I enjoy elucidating crypto – from investment risks to earth-shaking potential. Let’s explore!
