Visa partners with Stripe-owned Bridge for stablecoin card rollout in 18 Latin American nations, targeting 100 countries by 2026. Cards convert USDC/USDT at point of sale, expanding stablecoin utility beyond exchanges.
Visa and Bridge, a fintech owned by Stripe, plan to issue stablecoin-linked payment cards in more than 100 countries by the end of 2026. The first rollout already covers 18 nations across Latin America, including Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and Colombia.
The partnership combines Visa’s card network and merchant acceptance with Bridge’s stablecoin infrastructure. Bridge, acquired by Stripe in 2024, specialises in connecting blockchain-based stablecoins such as USDC and USDT to traditional payment rails. The cards allow users to spend stablecoin balances anywhere Visa is accepted, with the stablecoin converted to fiat at the point of sale.
The initial 18-country Latin American rollout targets regions where stablecoin usage has grown rapidly because of local currency volatility and limited banking access. The 100-country goal by 2026 implies a deliberate expansion timeline that accounts for regulatory approvals, merchant integration, and liquidity management.
Stablecoin-linked cards have existed for years from smaller issuers. This announcement is different because a top-tier payment network and a Stripe-owned infrastructure provider are committing to a multi-year, multi-continent plan at scale. The mechanism is straightforward: a user loads a card with USDC or USDT, the card issuer holds the stablecoin, and at settlement the stablecoin is swapped for fiat via Bridge’s rails and routed through Visa’s network.
The practical effect is that stablecoins become spendable without a separate off-ramp or exchange account. That removes a friction point that has kept crypto payments niche. For holders of USDC and USDT, the card expands utility beyond trading and custody.
From a market-read perspective, the announcement signals that stablecoin infrastructure is maturing past the exchange-driven liquidity phase. Bridge’s integration with Visa means stablecoin transaction costs compete with card interchange fees, not just blockchain gas fees. If the rollout hits the 100-country target, stablecoin payment volumes could begin to rival dedicated cross-border remittance rails.
No direct near-term impact on Bitcoin or Ethereum prices. The broader narrative of crypto utility may lift sentiment for infrastructure tokens and payment-focused protocols. For context on current crypto market analysis, the stablecoin card theme adds a real-use catalyst that could influence rotation out of pure speculation.
The plan’s biggest variable is how national regulators treat stablecoin-backed spending. The 18 Latin American countries already live likely have permissive or unclear stablecoin rules. The remaining 82 countries include jurisdictions that restrict stablecoin use – the European Union’s MiCA framework requires stablecoin issuers to hold licences and meet capital standards. Hong Kong and Singapore have similarly prescriptive regimes.
Visa and Bridge will need to negotiate with local regulators on a country-by-country basis. That process can delay or limit the scope of the card programme. The 2026 deadline is ambitious even for a company with Visa’s legal resources.
The forward-looking question is whether the rollout triggers a competitive response from Mastercard or other networks. If stablecoin cards become standard, the legacy interchange model may face downward pressure on conversion fees. For traders, the next catalyst to watch is the pace of country additions and any regulatory pushback in major markets like the EU or Japan.
A practical framework: the plan becomes a bullish signal for stablecoin adoption if Visa reports that card volumes reach material levels within the first year of full rollout. A delay beyond 2026 would suggest regulatory or integration friction that could cap the upside for the entire stablecoin-payments theme. The recent SEC approval of Paxos as the first blockchain clearing agency shows that stablecoin regulation is evolving, and this partnership could accelerate that trend.
Prepared with AlphaScala research tooling and grounded in primary market data: live prices, fundamentals, SEC filings, hedge-fund holdings, and insider activity. Each story is checked against AlphaScala publishing rules before release. Educational coverage, not personalized advice.