Global payments giant Mastercard has agreed to acquire stablecoin payments infrastructure firm BVNK for up to $1.8 billion, as the company expands its presence in blockchain-based payment systems.
According to Reuters, the deal includes $300 million in contingent payments tied to performance targets and is expected to close before the end of 2026.
Mastercard said the acquisition will strengthen its ability to support stablecoin-based transactions, including cross-border remittances, business payments, and payouts.
Stablecoins like digital assets, typically pegged to traditional currencies, are increasingly being used for faster and lower-cost transfers compared with conventional banking rails.
Chief product officer Jorn Lambert said BVNK had spent several years building its technology stack and securing regulatory licenses across multiple jurisdictions.
Acquiring the company allows Mastercard to enter the stablecoin infrastructure space more quickly than building similar capabilities internally.
Payment infrastructure
Founded in 2021, BVNK develops payment infrastructure that connects traditional currencies with stablecoins across major blockchain networks.
The platform allows businesses to send and receive payments across more than 130 countries, acting as a bridge between conventional financial systems and digital asset networks.
Analysts say the acquisition aligns with Mastercard’s broader strategy to expand beyond traditional card payments and diversify its role in global money movement.
BVNK’s infrastructure could complement Mastercard’s existing payment services by enabling transactions across both fiat and blockchain-based systems.
The deal also builds on Mastercard’s wider digital asset initiatives, including its crypto partner programme, as the company works to integrate blockchain-powered payments into its global network.
Rival payment firms such as Visa are also investing in similar technologies as competition intensifies in the emerging stablecoin payments market.
