Mesh and Visa partner to enable direct cryptocurrency payments

Mesh, a US-based cryptocurrency payments network, has partnered with Visa to allow consumers to spend cryptocurrency and stablecoin balances directly at physical and online merchants. The collaboration utilizes Visa’s global merchant network to enable a “pay-from-balance” experience, removing the necessity for users to manually convert digital assets into bank deposits or use specialized payment cards.

Under this arrangement, a Visa payment credential is provisioned in the background, allowing users to complete transactions at standard contactless terminals or online checkouts. Merchants receive payments through their existing systems without requiring new hardware. Mesh will manage transaction funding, conversion between crypto and fiat, and oversee user onboarding and verification processes.

In a separate development in South Africa, Ezeebit has launched WalletConnect Pay. The service is being deployed at 13 locations of The Capital hotel and serviced-apartment group, allowing guests to pay using over 700 compatible cryptocurrency wallets. Merchants can choose to receive settlements in either stablecoins or traditional fiat currency to avoid price volatility.