March 3, 2026 – Visa announced on Tuesday the expansion of its partnership with Bridge, aiming to roll out stablecoin-linked cards to more than 100 countries by the end of 2026.

Bridge, acquired by Stripe in 2025 for $1.1 billion, provides the underlying infrastructure for Visa’s program, allowing businesses to issue cards backed by stablecoins. Some transactions can settle on-chain via Bridge and its banking partner, Lead Bank. The cards are already live in 18 countries, enabling users to spend stablecoins at over 175 million Visa merchant locations.

Pilot Programs and On-Chain Settlements

Visa’s stablecoin settlement pilot is testing whether issuers can settle payments directly on supported blockchain networks rather than traditional rails, with the goal of speeding up and enhancing transaction flexibility. The company is also exploring whether Bridge-issued assets could be supported in future transactions across Visa’s global network.

“Visa is committed to meeting businesses where they operate, and increasingly, that’s on-chain,” said Cuy Sheffield, Head of Crypto at Visa. Zach Abrams, CEO of Bridge, emphasized that the expanded collaboration will allow companies to manage payments more efficiently using their own stablecoins in card programs.

Market Reaction

Visa shares dipped over 1% in Tuesday morning trading. Retail sentiment on Stocktwits remained in bearish territory, with chatter levels dropping from neutral to low.