Mastercard’s $2B Power Move: Acquiring Stablecoin Pioneer Zerohash in Landmark Deal
Financial giant Mastercard is making a seismic shift into digital assets with a massive $2 billion acquisition play for stablecoin infrastructure firm Zerohash.
The Banking Behemoth's Crypto Gambit
Mastercard isn't just dipping toes anymore—it's diving headfirst into the stablecoin pool. This $2 billion deal signals traditional finance's full-throated embrace of blockchain infrastructure. Zerohash's technology could let Mastercard bypass legacy payment rails entirely.
Why This Changes Everything
Forget speculation—this is about infrastructure. Mastercard wants to own the pipes that power stablecoin transactions worldwide. The move positions them against Visa's crypto initiatives and potentially reshapes how global payments flow.
Wall Street's watching with mixed awe and skepticism—another 'if you can't beat 'em, buy 'em' strategy from the suits who once called crypto a passing fad. Funny how a few trillion dollars in market cap changes perspectives.
GENIUS Act fuels stablecoin rush among payment giants
Since the passing of the GENIUS Act earlier this year, Mastercard has expanded its settlement capabilities through a new partnership with Circle, which would allow it to facilitate merchant settlement across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa using stablecoins.
Less than 48 hours ago, Mastercard’s direct competitor, Visa, announced plans to support four additional stablecoins across four new blockchains, after reporting a fourfold jump in stablecoin-linked card spending over the last quarter.
Other players like PayPal, which expanded the reach of its PYUSD stablecoin to blockchains like Avalanche, Aptos, and Tron after the GENIUS Act, and Stripe, which introduced its Open Issuance platform through crypto unit Bridge to let businesses create their own branded stablecoins, have also deepened their involvement in the sector.
Nevertheless, most traditional payment companies have so far focused on building or acquiring the infrastructure that supports stablecoin payments, rather than directly issuing stablecoins themselves.
