Mastercard Expands Stablecoin Settlement Capabilities, Supporting USDC, RLUSD and Others

Jun 3, 2026

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.