Stripe Expands Stablecoin Card Program Globally

Stripe Accelerates Global Stablecoin Card Rollout

New York, NY – October 5, 2026 – Payment processing giant Stripe is set to dramatically expand its stablecoin-backed card program, aiming for availability in over 100 countries by the close of 2026. This ambitious target represents a significant acceleration from the program’s initial launch just months ago.

Rapid Expansion Underway

The stablecoin card initiative, a collaboration with Visa, debuted in March 2026 across 18 countries, with a primary focus on Latin America. The rapid transition from 18 to more than 100 markets in less than a year signals a strategic sprint rather than a gradual deployment. Stripe officially announced this aggressive expansion plan today.

Infrastructure Fuels Growth

The technological backbone for this global push is largely provided by Bridge, a stablecoin infrastructure company Stripe acquired for $1.1 billion in 2024. Bridge’s capabilities include on-chain settlement, allowing for the direct movement and finalization of funds on a blockchain, bypassing traditional banking channels. Stripe further bolstered its digital asset capabilities by acquiring Privy in 2025, with both companies now forming the core technical foundation for the international card service.

Cardholders will be able to utilize these stablecoin-backed cards across Visa’s extensive merchant network, which encompasses over 175 million locations worldwide. Since 2018, Stripe has processed more than 400 million cards.

A Booming Market

The stablecoin card sector itself is experiencing robust growth. In September 2026, spending on these cards reached approximately $1.2 billion, a threefold increase compared to the previous year. This surge occurs within the broader digital dollar market, which now exceeds $300 billion.

Prominent users of Stripe’s existing stablecoin card programs include the cryptocurrency exchange Kraken and the corporate spending platform Ramp.

Strategic Vision

Stripe’s stablecoin strategy has been developing over the past few years, with the Bridge acquisition in 2024 marking a pivotal first step, followed by the Privy acquisition in 2025. The March 2026 partnership with Visa served as the program’s initial market test.

Beyond card services, Stripe’s wider stablecoin ambitions include facilitating financial services in over 100 countries and issuing stablecoins in more than 30 markets.

Navigating Regulatory Hurdles

Expanding to over 100 countries presents a complex challenge, requiring Stripe to navigate diverse regulatory landscapes, licensing requirements, and local banking partnerships. Achieving this expansion within a few months is a highly ambitious undertaking, and the year-end target remains a goal rather than a completed rollout.

Key indicators for tracking the program’s success will include the actual number of countries that go live by year-end, the continued growth of monthly stablecoin card spending beyond the September figures, and the addition of new platforms alongside Kraken and Ramp as users of the service.