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Mastercard has agreed to acquire BVNK in a deal valued at up to $1.8 billion, marking a significant step in its push to scale blockchain-enabled payments and digital asset infrastructure.
The transaction, announced on Tuesday, includes up to $300 million in contingent payments and is expected to close before year-end, subject to regulatory approvals and customary conditions.
The acquisition underscores Mastercard’s growing focus on stablecoins and tokenised financial instruments as the payments industry evolves. Financial institutions globally are increasingly exploring digital assets to enhance cross-border payments, remittances, and business transactions.
In a statement, Mastercard noted that advancements in blockchain technology are reshaping how value is transferred, with digital assets offering faster, more efficient, and programmable payment capabilities. The company estimates that digital currency use cases reached at least $350 billion in transaction volume in 2025.
According to Jorn Lambert, most banks and fintech firms are expected to integrate digital currency services over time, whether through stablecoins or tokenised deposits. He added that Mastercard aims to provide a compliant and interoperable framework that bridges traditional finance with emerging digital payment systems.
By integrating BVNK’s infrastructure, Mastercard plans to extend its network to support on-chain payment rails, enabling greater speed, flexibility, and programmability while maintaining the security standards associated with card-based systems.
Despite the rise of digital assets, Mastercard acknowledged that card payments remain dominant globally due to their widespread acceptance and consumer protections. However, crypto wallets are increasingly relying on cards to facilitate everyday spending, highlighting the growing convergence between traditional and digital finance.
Founded in 2021, BVNK provides infrastructure that connects fiat currencies with stablecoins, enabling businesses to send and receive payments across multiple blockchain networks in more than 130 countries.
Jesse Hemson-Struthers described the acquisition as a milestone in advancing digital currency adoption, noting that the combined capabilities of both companies would help unlock new possibilities for global financial services.
Mastercard said the integration will support a blockchain-agnostic approach, allowing institutions to adopt solutions tailored to their needs while avoiding dependence on closed ecosystems.
The deal builds on Mastercard’s broader digital asset strategy, including partnerships with fintech firms and initiatives designed to accelerate innovation in tokenised payments and interoperable financial infrastructure.
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