Visa launches stablecoin card programs in over 40 countries
Visa announced that it now operates more than 130 card programs linked to stablecoins across more than 40 countries, enabling cardholders to settle transactions directly in USDC and digital euros. The move is described as a historic bridge between traditional finance and the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem, which has already locked over $80 billion in assets and processes daily volumes exceeding $4.9 billion on decentralized exchanges.
While DeFi protocols such as Uniswap, Aave and Compound built the on‑chain infrastructure years earlier, Visa’s entry brings regulated brand recognition, existing payment networks and a massive merchant base to the stablecoin market. Mastercard followed suit, confirming a $1.8 billion acquisition of BVNK to connect its fiat rails with blockchain infrastructure.
Stablecoins processed $28 trillion in economic volume in 2025, growing at a compound annual rate of 133 % since 2023, and the total market capitalization now exceeds $320 billion. The development highlights a strategic shift: traditional payment giants are adopting stablecoins as an efficiency layer, while DeFi remains an open, code‑driven alternative.
The convergence raises questions about who will control the primary routes for stablecoin transactions as the ecosystem matures.