Mastercard is expanding its global payment network to allow 24/7 settlement of transactions using regulated stablecoins, including Circle's USDC and Ripple's RLUSD. Announced on June 3, 2026, the move aims to provide financial partners with greater flexibility for cross-border payments and liquidity management. The system will support multiple blockchains like Ethereum and Solana, with partners like ARQ and Nuvei among the first participants.
Mastercard stablecoin settlement expansion
- ▪On June 3, 2026, Mastercard announced an expansion of its settlement capabilities to include regulated stablecoins alongside traditional fiat currencies
- ▪The initiative enables intraday, weekend, and holiday settlement, allowing for 24/7 payment flows beyond traditional banking hours
- ▪The new stablecoin settlement options will operate concurrently with existing fiat-based processes, not as a replacement
Supported stablecoins
- ▪The platform will support Ripple's stablecoin, RLUSD, for credit card transaction settlements
- ▪Mastercard's expansion will support Circle’s USDC, which is already used for settlement in select markets
- ▪Paxos-issued stablecoins PYUSD, USDG, and USDP will be integrated for settlement
- ▪Settlements will be enabled on multiple blockchain networks, including Ethereum, Solana, and Base
Blockchain network integration
- ▪The enhanced capabilities are designed to improve the speed and transparency of cross-border payments
- ▪Other supported blockchains include Polygon, Arbitrum, the XRP Ledger (XRPL), Canton Network, and Tempo
Cross-border payment applications
- ▪The new settlement options are intended to support treasury management by giving financial institutions more flexibility
- ▪Mastercard previously partnered with Yellow Card to pilot stablecoin settlement solutions in Africa and the Middle East
Treasury management use cases
- ▪The initiative aims to expand how financial partners manage liquidity in an "always-on digital economy."
- ▪Initial participants in the rollout for the U.S. and Latin America include ARQ, CBW Bank, and Cross River
Early institutional participants
- ▪Lead Bank and Nuvei are also among the first financial institutions and payment providers participating in the expansion
- ▪In May 2026, a Mastercard subsidiary secured a New York BitLicense, allowing it to operate under a comprehensive U.S. virtual asset framework
Story comments
Loading comments…