Mastercard has teamed up with MoonPay to facilitate stablecoin payments for users and businesses globally, leveraging infrastructure from Iron, a stablecoin payment firm acquired by MoonPay earlier this year. Transactions will be automatically converted into fiat, enhancing accessibility. Stablecoins, known for their price stability due to fiat pegs, are gaining traction in crypto trading and payments, though regulatory uncertainty persists. The U.S. SEC recently clarified that some stablecoins aren’t securities but left questions about yield-bearing and algorithmic variants unresolved. Meanwhile, Mastercard continues expanding its crypto partnerships, including recent deals with OKX and Nuvei, while Visa pilots stablecoin services in Latin America. The move underscores card networks’ growing confidence in stablecoins for remittances, cross-border commerce, and creator economies.
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Solana Surpasses Ethereum as Fastest-Growing Blockchain in 2025
Solana has emerged as the leading Layer 1 blockchain in 2025, surpassing Ethereum in developer growth and transaction volume, according to 21Shares’ State of Crypto report. The network processed $364 billion in volume in the first two months of the year and now supports over 100 million monthly active users. With sub-second transaction finality and fees under $0.01, Solana is gaining traction in DeFi, payments, and AI, with major players like Visa, Shopify, and Stripe adopting its infrastructure. Stablecoin supply on Solana surged 600% year-over-year, exceeding $12 billion, while its DeFi ecosystem now holds $8 billion in total value locked. Memecoins and AI projects are also driving activity, with Solana leading in DePIN and crypto-AI adoption. Despite concerns over validator centralization, valuation models suggest SOL could be significantly undervalued, with potential fair value estimates ranging from $520 to $1,800. The report positions Solana as Ethereum’s primary competitor and a cornerstone of future blockchain infrastructure.
read moreUSDT Hits $150B as Stablecoins Outpace Visa, PayPal
Tether USD (USDT) has exceeded $150 billion in circulating supply, now representing 63% of the total stablecoin market. Stablecoins collectively processed over $521 billion in weekly transfers in 2025, far surpassing Visa ($319B) and PayPal ($32B). This growth is attributed to rising global demand, with over 400 million users adopting USDT since its 2014 launch. Traditional financial firms, including Visa and Mastercard, are adapting by integrating stablecoin solutions, while PayPal’s PYUSD has seen fluctuating adoption. Regulatory optimism under the Trump administration is also accelerating institutional interest in the sector.
read moreMeta Explores Stablecoins for Cross-Border Payments
Meta is reportedly exploring the use of stablecoins to facilitate cross-border payments, targeting lower transaction fees compared to traditional wire transfers. Discussions with crypto infrastructure firms are still in preliminary stages, with Instagram potentially using stablecoins for small payouts to creators. The company has also hired Ginger Baker, a Stellar Development Foundation board member, to lead its stablecoin efforts. This aligns with growing interest from non-crypto firms like Visa and Fidelity Investments, which are also advancing stablecoin-based payment solutions. Regulatory developments in the U.S. may further shape Meta’s strategy in this space.
read moreRedotPay Launches Crypto Cards in South Korea
RedotPay has launched its crypto debit cards—both physical and virtual—in South Korea, accepted at all Visa-supported merchants. This expansion follows a February 2025 partnership with Visa and StraitsX to improve cross-border crypto payments. The initiative positions RedotPay as a potential disruptor in South Korea’s payment landscape, traditionally controlled by credit card firms and mobile payment providers.
read moreMeta Explores Stablecoins for Cross-Border Payouts
Meta is revisiting stablecoin-based payment solutions, engaging with crypto firms to assess their potential for cross-border transactions, especially for content creators on Instagram. This follows the failed 2019 Diem project, which faced regulatory hurdles. Led by VP Ginger Baker, Meta is in ‘learn mode’ but has not committed to a specific stablecoin provider. The move aligns with growing industry interest, as firms like Fidelity and Visa explore stablecoins. Meta’s outreach focuses on reducing international payment costs, with Circle among the firms in discussions. CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged Diem’s failure but hinted at Meta’s readiness to re-enter crypto markets.
read moreStripe Expands Crypto & AI with Stablecoin Accounts & AI Model
Stripe has announced major expansions into crypto and AI, unveiling Stablecoin Financial Accounts for businesses in 101 countries and a new AI model trained on billions of transactions to enhance fraud detection. The company, which processed $1.4 trillion in payments in 2024 (up 38% YoY), is re-engaging with crypto after earlier setbacks, now supporting USDC and USDB stablecoins. Stripe also acquired Bridge, a stablecoin payments platform, for $1.1 billion, further solidifying its crypto strategy. Additionally, multi-currency accounts will simplify cross-border transactions for businesses. CEO Patrick Collison emphasized AI and stablecoins as transformative forces, positioning Stripe to capitalize on these trends.
read moreStripe Launches AI Payment Model & Stablecoin Support
Stripe announced a major expansion of its payment and financial services, including the world’s first AI foundation model for payments, trained on tens of billions of transactions to improve fraud detection accuracy from 59% to 97%. The company also deepened its stablecoin integration with Stablecoin Financial Accounts, enabling users in over 100 countries to manage stablecoin balances via fiat and crypto rails. Additional updates include Orchestration for multi-processor management, Authorization Boost for transaction success, and a forthcoming USDC-denominated Visa card. Stripe also introduced embedded finance tools, global payout expansions, and real-time revenue recognition, solidifying its position as a leader in digital payments and financial infrastructure.
read moreVisa Invests in BVNK to Boost Stablecoin Payments
Visa has announced a strategic investment in BVNK, a company specializing in blockchain-based payment solutions for businesses. BVNK, which recently raised $50 million in a Series B round, aims to create a real-time, 24/7 payments network using stablecoins. This follows Visa’s recent partnership with Bridge (a Stripe unit) to offer stablecoin services in Latin America. Stablecoins, like USDT and USDC, are gaining traction as global payment tools, especially in regions with unstable currencies. Visa’s Head of Growth Products highlighted the growing role of stablecoins in commerce, while rival Mastercard also advances its own crypto initiatives. Neither Visa nor BVNK disclosed the investment size.
read moreVisa Invests in BVNK to Boost Stablecoin Payments
Visa has made an undisclosed investment in BVNK, a UK-based stablecoin payments network, to streamline global B2B transactions. BVNK’s CEO, Jesse Hemson-Struthers, highlights the firm’s focus on automating stablecoin payments, processing $12 billion annually. The collaboration with Visa will support BVNK’s expansion into the US market, as stablecoins gain traction in global payment flows. Visa’s Rubail Birwadker emphasizes the importance of staying ahead in commerce innovation. BVNK recently raised $50 million in a Series B round, backed by investors like Coinbase Ventures.
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