Mastercard has introduced stablecoin payment options for merchants as the company moves to seize opportunities in the cryptocurrency space.
In a statement released on Monday, Mastercard said it will now enable merchants to accept payments in stablecoins through partnerships with payments processor Nuvei and stablecoin issuers Circle and Paxos.
The company noted that the stablecoin transactions will initially focus on assets pegged to traditional fiat currencies to align with the growing trend of regulated digital finance solutions.
“With increasing global regulatory clarity, stablecoins are evolving from crypto trading tools to essential solutions that bring efficiency and programmability to payments, disbursements, and remittances,” Mastercard stated.
The decision was made after the United States government introduced the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act (GENIUS Act).
According to the people familiar with the Act, it seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for stablecoins in the United States.
Analysts expect that clearer regulation will drive broader institutional use of stablecoins in payment systems.
A recent report from Standard Chartered Bank projects that the stablecoin market could expand to $2 trillion within the next three years through rising regulatory support and demand for digital payment solutions.
In addition to the stablecoin initiative, Mastercard is collaborating with cryptocurrency exchange OKX to launch a new co-branded card product.
The company already maintains partnerships with several major crypto firms, including MetaMask, to offer crypto-enabled debit card services to consumers.
Mastercard’s expanded engagement with stablecoins and digital assets revealed its strategic commitment to positioning itself as a leading payments network within the evolving financial technology ecosystem.
The initiative aligns with the company’s broader vision to integrate blockchain-based assets into mainstream financial infrastructure while maintaining compliance with emerging regulations.
By leveraging partnerships with established players in the crypto space, Mastercard aims to streamline digital asset transactions for merchants and consumers globally, further blurring the lines between traditional and decentralized finance.
