Stripe Aims to Expand Stablecoin Cards to 100 Countries by 2026

Stripe, the global payments giant, is aggressively expanding its stablecoin card programs, aiming to reach over 100 countries by the end of 2026. This move is part of a broader strategy to integrate stablecoins into everyday spending and financial services. Henri Stern, Stripe’s head of stablecoins and CEO of its subsidiary Privy, shared the company’s vision on X, highlighting partnerships with firms like Kraken, Ramp, and Morse.

The expansion leverages Stripe’s existing card-issuing business and its 2024 acquisition of Bridge, a stablecoin infrastructure company. Bridge enables businesses to offer cards linked to stablecoin balances, allowing users to spend digital dollars through traditional card networks. Stripe and Visa have already launched these cards in 18 countries, with plans to extend the service to Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East.

Stablecoin card spending is surging, with $1.2 billion spent through cards in September 2023, triple the amount from a year earlier. Visa reported a nearly 200% year-over-year increase in stablecoin-linked card payment volume, indicating a shift from crypto trading to mainstream payments. Bridge’s technology allows users to spend stablecoins via familiar card payment systems, simplifying adoption for merchants and consumers alike.

Stripe is also enhancing its stablecoin compatibility, recently adding support for Open USD (OUSD) across various products. The company emphasizes a blockchain-agnostic approach, allowing businesses to choose the stablecoins and networks that best fit their needs. This strategy positions Stripe as a key player in the evolving stablecoin ecosystem, alongside Visa and Mastercard.