The deal connects BVNK’s fiat-to-stablecoin infrastructure across 130+ countries directly to Mastercard’s global network, as digital currency payment volumes reached $350 billion in 2025
Mastercard has agreed to acquire BVNK, a stablecoin infrastructure provider, for up to $1.8 billion, including $300 million in contingent payments, in a deal expected to close by year-end subject to regulatory approval.
BVNK, founded in 2021, enables customers to send and receive payments across major blockchain networks in more than 130 countries, working with clients including Worldpay, Deel and Flywire. The acquisition gives Mastercard direct infrastructure for connecting stablecoins and tokenised deposits to its existing fiat payment rails.
The rationale centres on use cases beyond simple acceptance. While cards already serve as the default credential for crypto wallets globally, Mastercard sees the bigger opportunity for stablecoins and tokenised deposits in cross-border remittances, payouts, and peer-to-peer and business-to-business payments, areas where speed and programmability matter more than at the point of sale. Over time, the company expects similar benefits to extend into capital markets and treasury management.
“We expect that most financial institutions and fintechs will in time provide digital currency services, be it with stablecoins or tokenized deposits,” said Jorn Lambert, Mastercard’s chief product officer. “Adding on-chain rails to our network will support speed and programmability for virtually every type of transaction.”
BVNK co-founder and CEO Jesse Hemson-Struthers framed the deal as combining complementary capabilities to deliver “an unprecedented infrastructure for digital currency-based financial services.”
The acquisition follows Mastercard’s earlier Crypto Partner Program and sits alongside its broader 2026 push into digital assets, including expanded stablecoin settlement options across its network and the Agent Pay for Machines launch. Together, these moves point to Mastercard building a chain-agnostic approach: financial institutions and fintechs gain access to stablecoin rails through Mastercard’s existing compliance and security infrastructure, without needing to build that connectivity themselves or commit to a single blockchain ecosystem.