Bridge, a stablecoin firm owned by Stripe, has announced a partnership with Lead Bank to facilitate the issuance of stablecoin-backed Visa cards for businesses and fintech companies. This collaboration aims to broaden the availability of stablecoin-linked payment solutions, building on a product initially launched in select Central and South American markets.
The new stablecoin-linked cards are now operational in 18 countries, utilizing popular crypto platforms such as Phantom and MetaMask. According to the companies, there are plans to extend this service to over 100 countries across Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East by the end of the year.
Lead Bank, which was recently included in Visa’s stablecoin settlement pilot, is also integrating its stablecoin infrastructure with Bridge’s offerings. Cuy Sheffield, Visa’s head of crypto, remarked, “Expanding our work with Bridge gives us one more way to bring the speed, transparency and programmability of stablecoins directly into the settlement process. This milestone gives our partners greater choice in how they move value, and it reinforces Visa’s role as a trusted network connecting stablecoins and the global payments ecosystem.”
The growing adoption of blockchain technology and stablecoins is reshaping the payments landscape, providing faster and more cost-effective alternatives to traditional payment methods for various applications, including remittances, payroll, and commercial transactions.
Major companies are increasingly investing in this trend. Stripe’s acquisition of Bridge for $1.1 billion highlights its commitment to stablecoin integration, while PayPal has also introduced its own stablecoin. Furthermore, Visa is actively developing a platform to assist banks in issuing stablecoins and tokenized assets.
Zach Abrams, co-founder of Bridge, stated that the partnership with Visa will allow businesses to seamlessly integrate their custom stablecoins into their card programs, enhancing their payment capabilities.
Bridge has partnered with Lead Bank to expand the issuance of stablecoin-backed Visa cards, now available in 18 countries, with plans for further global expansion. This initiative reflects the growing integration of blockchain technology in the payments sector.