Stripe’s Bridge to Expand Stablecoin Cards Globally

Bridge, a Stripe company, is planning a major expansion of its stablecoin-linked Visa cards. By the end of 2026, the service will extend from 18 countries to more than 100, covering regions like Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East. The cards allow users to spend stablecoin balances at over 175 million merchant locations globally, with transactions settling on-chain through Bridge’s partnership with Lead Bank.

Stripe, the parent company, is also advancing its own stablecoin card products. The company’s roadmap includes a public preview of consumer or commercial stablecoin-backed cards in 60 countries during the third quarter. Additionally, a fourth-quarter preview is planned for Stripe-issued cards to be offered to platforms’ customers. Stripe financial accounts are already available in 100 countries, with card spending set to be available in 60.

Stripe’s roadmap further highlights a fourth-quarter preview for spending stablecoin balances held in decentralized finance (DeFi) lending protocols. The company has also launched support for its stablecoin, Open USD (OUSD), across various services, including Treasury, Issuing, Global Payouts, Crypto Onramp, and Payments, as of September 30.

While Bridge’s expansion targets over 100 countries by year-end, Stripe’s roadmap figures describe distinct offerings, with previews for its card products in 60 countries. The planned rollout highlights Stripe’s broader strategy to integrate stablecoins into global payment systems.