Stripe Loses Key Executive Amid Stablecoin Expansion Plans

Stripe has lost Connor Fitzgerald, the executive who helped build its global stablecoin card infrastructure after the acquisition of Bridge. Fitzgerald left Stripe after a year of working on building sponsor bank relationships and partnerships with payment networks to support global card issuance. The departure comes as Stripe continues to expand regulated stablecoin payment services across more than 100 markets.

The company's acquisition of Bridge for approximately $1.1 billion has strengthened its blockchain-based payments business, allowing it to expand stablecoin products and regulated payment services across several regions. Bridge secured EU approvals earlier this month, which allow regulated services throughout all 27 European Union member states.

Visa expanded its partnership with Bridge to support stablecoin-backed card programs, targeting availability in more than 100 countries by the end of 2026. Stripe continues to pursue broader payment expansion beyond Bridge, including a proposed acquisition of PayPal's digital payment products with its growing stablecoin infrastructure.