Stablecoin Payments Expand with Guaranteed-Output Swaps and Card Platforms

Global stablecoin transaction volume reached $7.2 trillion in February 2026, rivaling the US ACH network. Major payment firms are moving into on‑chain settlements: Stripe acquired Bridge, Mastercard bought BVNK, and Visa runs a stablecoin settlement program worth $4.5 billion annually.

0x introduced its Exact Buy technology, offering guaranteed‑output swaps that let merchants receive a fixed invoice amount despite market fluctuations, aggregating over 520 liquidity sources across more than 20 networks.

Stablecoin‑linked debit and credit cards are emerging as the “last‑mile” solution, allowing enterprises to keep treasury funds in yield‑generating DeFi protocols and settle purchases instantly. Regulatory clarity from the US GENIUS Act, Canada’s Bill C‑15 and frameworks in the UAE is de‑risking institutional adoption. Visa and Stripe’s Bridge are expanding stablecoin settlement infrastructure to over 100 countries, while Western Union’s USDPT stablecoin launch integrates on‑chain settlement into its remittance network, cutting cross‑border transfer times to seconds.