Visa and Bridge, a stablecoin infrastructure firm owned by Stripe, have announced plans to expand their stablecoin-linked card program to over 100 countries by the end of 2026. The program, which currently operates in 18 markets, initially launched in 2025 with a focus on Latin America, including countries like Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico. The upcoming expansion will extend the service to Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, Africa, and the Middle East.
The cards allow users to spend directly from stablecoin balances held in self-custody wallets such as MetaMask and Phantom, with transactions processed through Visa's global network of 175 million merchant locations. Initially, Bridge converted stablecoin balances into fiat at the point of sale, but the updated arrangement now enables card transactions to be settled directly in stablecoins on-chain, thanks to Bridge's partnership with Lead Bank.
Visa is also exploring support for stablecoins issued through Bridge's infrastructure platform. These stablecoins are created programmatically by businesses rather than issued by third parties like Tether or Circle, distinguishing them from major stablecoins such as USDT or USDC. Bridge CEO Zach Abrams highlighted that this expansion will enable businesses to use their custom stablecoins seamlessly within their card programs.
The expansion follows the growing adoption of stablecoins in traditional financial services, accelerated by the passage of the GENIUSAct in the U.S., which established a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins. Stripe acquired Bridge for $1.1 billion and has since extended its crypto offerings, including stablecoin issuance tools and co-development of the Tempo blockchain with Paradigm.