Mastercard to Acquire BVNK to Connect On-Chain Payments with Traditional Finance

Cairo, 19 March 2026:

Mastercard (United States) announced a definitive agreement to acquire BVNK, a leader in stablecoin infrastructure, for up to $1.8 billion, including $300 million in contingent payments. The deal strengthens Mastercard’s end-to-end support for digital assets and value movement across currencies, rails, and regions.

The acquisition enables linking blockchain-based payments with traditional financial networks, enhancing interoperability between fiat currencies and stablecoins, and allowing financial institutions and clients to explore new use cases, including tokenized deposits and digital assets.

Digital payments are rapidly expanding, with projected volumes reaching $350 billion in 2025, driven by technological innovation and increasing regulatory clarity in multiple markets. This environment allows financial institutions and fintechs to offer customers payment options supported by stablecoins and tokenized deposits.

Mastercard’s cards currently provide unparalleled user experience, global reach, and consumer protection for billions of users. Digital wallets worldwide have adopted cards as the primary credential for integrating cryptocurrencies into consumer payments. New opportunities for stablecoins and tokenized deposits include cross-border remittances, P2P and B2B payments, with future potential to enhance transaction speed and programmability in capital markets, treasury management, and other commercial operations.

Jorn Lambert, Chief Product Officer at Mastercard, stated that the acquisition reflects the company’s commitment to leveraging innovation and technology to empower economies and individuals. Integrating BVNK’s capabilities into Mastercard’s network will enable faster, programmable transactions across virtually all payment types.

Jesse Hemson-Struthers, Co-Founder and CEO of BVNK, said: “This deal combines complementary capabilities to define the future of money and deliver unprecedented infrastructure for digital currency-based financial services.”

The partnership will provide a digital asset- and chain-agnostic approach, giving clients the freedom to access the solutions best suited to their needs without being confined to closed ecosystems. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the year, subject to regulatory review and customary closing conditions.

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