Stripe Doubles Down on Crypto: Aggressive Acquisition Spree Reshapes Payments Landscape

Stripe just placed a billion-dollar bet on crypto''s future—and traditional banks are sweating.

The payments giant snapped up three blockchain infrastructure startups in June 2025, signaling a full-throttle push into digital assets. Insiders say the move positions Stripe to dominate Web3 payments before legacy players even finish their compliance paperwork.

Why it matters: While Wall Street debates CBDCs, Stripe''s building the rails for real crypto commerce. Their new stack handles everything from NFT checkouts to DeFi yield settlements—no middlemen required.

The catch? These acquisitions come as SEC scrutiny reaches all-time highs. But Stripe''s playing the long game—because nothing disrupts like a payments processor that actually understands blockchain.

Bankers hate this one simple trick: cutting them out entirely.

Opening the Door to Cryptocurrency

To bolster its offerings, Stripe recently acquired Privy, a cryptocurrency wallet provider, aiming to integrate crypto-based solutions with its existing payment infrastructure. Privy will continue to operate as an independent product, with an emphasis on accelerating innovation and enhancing user experience. This move is part of Stripe’s strategic effort to broaden its range of services associated with crypto assets.

The integration of Privy into Stripe’s operations is expected to spur investment in crypto wallet technologies and user experiences, allowing users and businesses quick access to next-generation financial tools. This acquisition is set to differentiate Stripe’s current payment and money transfer services through seamless crypto wallet integration.

Growth in the Stablecoin Sector: The Bridge Acquisition

In another significant move, Stripe has acquired Bridge, a company known for issuing the stablecoin USDB, pegged to the US dollar. This stablecoin is backed by a combination of cash and money market funds, enabling businesses to fully engage with cryptocurrencies. The merger aims to provide businesses everywhere with effective digital dollar solutions.

The acquisition of Bridge signals Stripe’s intent to enhance global payment efficiency through stablecoins, potentially leading to faster international transactions and reduced costs. A pivotal aspect of this development is the planned business facilitation through stablecoin usage, promising a revolutionized approach to global financial transactions.

Banks and Stablecoins

Stripe has reportedly engaged in discussions with several banks about the use of stablecoins, receiving strong interest from the banking sector. According to John Collison, Stripe’s co-founder and president, banks are seriously considering how to integrate stablecoins into their product offerings, reflecting the growing acceptance of this technology within traditional finance.

The collaborative engagement between banks and stablecoin technology pioneers such as Stripe highlights a potential shift toward the wider adoption of crypto assets in traditional financial frameworks. Stripe’s ventures in this area are paving the way for a significant transformation in financial innovation and the adoption of crypto asset-based services.

These successive acquisitions showcase Stripe’s ambition to assert greater influence in the digital financial ecosystem. Digital wallets and stablecoin technologies are front and center, enhancing Stripe’s competitive advantage by offering unprecedented transparency, speed, and accessibility in payment systems. Businesses will benefit from a broader array of payment and transfer options, while users stand to gain services that integrate seamlessly with the digital economy.