TL;DR
- Mastercard is in talks to acquire Zero Hash for up to $2 billion to strengthen its position in stablecoin payment infrastructure.
- Zero Hash provides B2B solutions for integrating payments and settlements using stablecoins.
- The deal aligns with sector growth: stablecoin payments could surpass $1 trillion by 2030.
Mastercard is negotiating the acquisition of Zero Hash for up to $2 billion to reinforce its presence in stablecoin payment infrastructure.
The transaction would mark one of the most significant moves in integrating crypto services within the global financial system. According to sources familiar with the matter, Mastercard aims to accelerate its strategy as competitors like Visa, Stripe, and Coinbase expand their operations in the same space.
Zero Hash builds B2B infrastructure for payments and settlements in digital assets. Its technology enables companies to process stablecoin transfers and tokenize funds without relying on intermediary banks. The company handled over $2 billion in tokenized fund flows during the first four months of the year and raised $104 million in September in a round led by Interactive Brokers and Morgan Stanley.
Mastercard is evaluating the acquisition as stablecoins are emerging as a new channel for international payment flows. A report by Keyrock and Bitso projects that stablecoin payment volumes could exceed $1 trillion by 2030, driven by institutional adoption and more efficient cross-border settlements.
Mastercard Doesn’t Want to Fall Behind
Visa is preparing a tokenization platform that will allow banks to issue and manage stablecoins, while Stripe acquired the stablecoin infrastructure provider Bridge for $1.1 billion and is developing its own blockchain with Paradigm. In this context, Mastercard seeks to adapt to new market dynamics and expand into blockchain-based financial services through the direct integration of crypto infrastructure.
The addition of Zero Hash could enable Mastercard to offer trading, custody, and stablecoin payment services to banks and merchants across its global network. The initiative aims to reduce transaction costs, speed up settlements, and expand access to digital financial products. The challenge will be regulation: cryptocurrency frameworks remain fragmented and will require a balance between innovation and compliance.
Like its main competitors, Mastercard is taking decisive steps toward the convergence of traditional finance and the crypto industry
