Visa has teamed up with Bridge, a Stripe-owned stablecoin infrastructure platform, to launch stablecoin-linked Visa cards, marking a major step toward bringing crypto-backed payments into everyday life. Announced on April 30, the new initiative enables consumers and developers to spend stablecoins at over 150 million merchants worldwide that accept Visa—without requiring merchants to handle any crypto.
Seamless Crypto Spending with a Single API
The innovation lies in its simplicity. With just one API integration, fintech developers using Bridge can now issue Visa cards that draw directly from stablecoin balances. At checkout, Bridge converts the stablecoins to local fiat currency in real-time, allowing consumers to use crypto as effortlessly as traditional debit cards, while merchants receive payments in their native currency.
“This is a massive unlock for developers,” said Zach Abrams, CEO of Bridge. “Everyone already knows how to use cards, and now everyone will be able to use stablecoins with just a tap.”
Rollout Begins in Latin America
The pilot program is launching across six Latin American countries—Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Chile—where economic volatility has accelerated the adoption of stablecoins as a reliable store of value and medium of exchange.
Backed by Lead Bank as the financial partner, the cards will be programmatically managed, giving developers full control over card issuance, balance management, and fund movement.
Visa Doubles Down on Stablecoin Strategy
Visa’s Chief Product and Strategy Officer, Jack Forestell, emphasized the company’s vision to integrate stablecoins securely into the global payment infrastructure:
“We’re committed to expanding the utility of stablecoins by embedding them directly into the Visa network. This partnership offers more choices for consumers while preserving the seamless experience they expect from Visa.”
The move reflects Visa’s broader ambition to be at the forefront of the digital currency evolution, aligning with earlier experiments using USDC on Ethereum and other blockchain partnerships.
Global Expansion on the Horizon
With crypto adoption accelerating worldwide, Visa and Bridge plan to extend this stablecoin card product to Europe, Africa, and Asia in the coming months. The collaboration represents a significant step toward bridging the gap between decentralized finance and traditional financial systems.
As global stablecoin transaction volumes continue to climb, this initiative may well set the standard for how digital currencies are used in real-world commerce.
