Visa, one of the world’s largest payments networks, has launched a new program that enables consumers in Latin America to use stablecoin-linked Visa cards for everyday purchases. This development follows a strategic partnership with Bridge, a stablecoin infrastructure company recently acquired by Stripe, signaling a significant expansion of crypto-powered financial services in emerging markets.
The initiative, already operational in Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Chile, allows users to spend stablecoins such as USDC at any merchant that accepts Visa. The backend technology, managed by Bridge, handles real-time conversion of the stablecoin balance into the local fiat currency at the moment of purchase, ensuring that merchants receive their funds in their native currency without any additional hassle.
“We’re building new pathways for stablecoins to become part of everyday commerce,” said Jack Forestell, Chief Product and Strategy Officer at Visa. “By leveraging Visa’s existing acceptance network and Bridge’s on-chain infrastructure, we’re delivering secure, seamless crypto-to-fiat transactions that meet the expectations of modern consumers.”
Long Term Commitment for Blockchain from Visa
The move reflects Visa’s long-term commitment to integrating blockchain-based innovations into its global payment ecosystem. Unlike pilot programs seen in previous years, this rollout represents a commercially scalable deployment targeting real consumer use across multiple jurisdictions. It also arrives at a time when many Latin American countries are experiencing high inflation, prompting increased adoption of USD-pegged stablecoins as a hedge against local currency volatility.
Bridge CEO Zach Abrams highlighted the broader implications of the collaboration, noting its impact on the developer and fintech ecosystem. “This launch allows developers and fintech builders to create card programs where users can utilize stablecoins with the simplicity and familiarity of a traditional tap-and-go card,” said Abrams. “It’s a major leap toward mainstream adoption of crypto in payments.”
Users will be able to manage their stablecoin balances through wallets and applications integrated with Bridge’s APIs, with transactions processed through Visa’s secure global network. The service is designed to be intuitive for users while remaining fully compliant with local regulatory frameworks in the participating countries.
Visa also confirmed its plans to expand the stablecoin-linked card service beyond Latin America. Rollouts in Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia are expected in the coming months, reinforcing Visa’s position as a leader in blending traditional finance with digital asset innovation.
As digital currencies gain traction worldwide, Visa’s move underscores the increasing relevance of stablecoins in day-to-day financial transactions. With this partnership, Visa is not just supporting crypto adoption—it is actively shaping the infrastructure of the future financial system.
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