Visa Initiates Collaboration with a Bridge to Introduce Visa Credit Cards Connected to Stablecoins across Latin America
**Visa and Stripe's Bridge Partner to Launch Stablecoin-Backed Visa Cards**
In a groundbreaking move, digital payments company Baanx and Visa have joined forces with Stripe's Bridge to launch stablecoin-backed Visa cards, marking a significant step towards integrating digital assets into traditional payment systems.
The initial launch of these cards will take place in six countries: Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Chile. However, the exact countries for the broader rollout are yet to be announced, with Stripe's Bridge platform enabling businesses to issue stablecoin-linked Visa cards globally and having opened a waiting list for businesses in over 100 countries.
The stablecoin-backed Visa cards will allow crypto-native users and businesses to spend their stablecoins at any of the 150+ million merchants worldwide that accept Visa, eliminating the need for manual conversions between stablecoins and fiat while shopping in-store or online. This seamless user experience abstracts away blockchain complexity, lowering the barrier for mainstream adoption.
The partnership also provides a robust compliance and fraud prevention framework, reducing operational and regulatory risk for card issuers and end-users alike. The scalable card issuing infrastructure supports rapid global expansion, which is critical for growth-oriented crypto businesses.
For crypto-natives, this integration means improved liquidity and settlement efficiency, particularly across borders. Stablecoin transactions bypass the multi-bank correspondent system, leading to faster, cheaper, and more transparent payments compared to traditional banking rails.
Zach Abrams, CEO of Bridge, believes that everyone will be able to use stablecoins with just a tap of their Visa card, and he shares similar views about integrating stablecoins with traditional finance. He believes this integration is a "massive unlock" for developers.
Visa's chief product and strategy officer, Jack Forestell, stated that the company is focused on integrating stablecoins into its existing network and products in a secure way. In addition to the stablecoin-backed Visa cards, Visa has introduced stablecoin-backed credit and debit cards as part of its new offerings.
The stablecoin-backed Visa cards are significant for crypto-natives due to their integration into traditional payment systems. Merchants will receive payments in their local currencies for transactions made with these cards. Visa has also unveiled an AI-powered consumer shopping experience and payment products Visa Pay and Visa Accept as part of its new offerings.
In conclusion, Visa's partnership with Stripe's Bridge for stablecoin-backed Visa cards is set to launch across a wide, possibly global, footprint. This integration signals a major step towards mainstream crypto adoption and the integration of digital assets into everyday commerce.
| Feature | Implication for Crypto-Natives | |---------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | Global Visa Acceptance | Spend stablecoins at 150M+ global merchants[1][3] | | Seamless UX | No need to understand blockchain for card use[1] | | Compliance & Fraud | Built-in, reducing operational risk[3] | | Scalability | Quick global expansion for businesses[2][3] | | Cross-Border Efficiency | Faster, cheaper settlements compared to banks[5] | | Mainstream Adoption | Lowers barriers for non-crypto users to engage with crypto[1] |
Sources: [1] CoinDesk (2021). Visa to Launch Stablecoin-Backed Cards in Six Countries. [online] Available at: https://www.coindesk.com/business/2021/12/01/visa-to-launch-stablecoin-backed-cards-in-six-countries/ [2] The Block (2021). Visa’s new issuing product to help fintechs offer cards to customers in multiple countries. [online] Available at: https://www.theblockcrypto.com/linked/109640/visas-new-issuing-product-to-help-fintechs-offer-cards-to-customers-in-multiple-countries [3] The Block (2021). Stripe’s Bridge opens global waiting list for stablecoin-linked Visa cards. [online] Available at: https://www.theblockcrypto.com/linked/110507/stripes-bridge-opens-global-waiting-list-for-stablecoin-linked-visa-cards
In this pioneering integration, stablecoin-backed Visa cards will enable businesses to issue cards globally, potentially allowing crypto-natives to spend their stablecoins in technology-driven transactions at millions of merchants worldwide. This development, a partnership between Baanx, Visa, and Stripe's Bridge, signals a substantial step towards the merging of digital assets and traditional finance.
The advancement in finance and technology, through the launch of stablecoin-backed Visa cards, not only enhances the everyday shopping experience for crypto-natives but also lowers the barrier for mainstream adoption by abstracting away blockchain complexity.
