BVNK Set for $1.8B Acquisition by Mastercard in Stablecoin Push
In a move to strengthen its position in blockchain payments and stablecoins, Mastercard has announced plans to acquire BVNK for as much as $1.8 billion.
In a strategic move to deepen its presence in blockchain-based payment solutions, Mastercard has announced an agreement to purchase BVNK, a stablecoin infrastructure provider, in a transaction potentially worth $1.8 billion.
The acquisition, which encompasses as much as $300 million in contingent performance-based payments, is designed to bolster Mastercard's capacity to bridge traditional fiat payment systems with blockchain transactions, according to the company's announcement on Tuesday.
We expect that most financial institutions and fintechs will in time provide digital currency services, be it with stablecoins or tokenized deposits
Jorn Lambert, chief product officer at Mastercard
Established in 2021, BVNK offers infrastructure solutions that enable companies to transmit and receive payments across leading blockchain networks spanning more than 130 countries worldwide. The company's platform serves as a bridge between traditional fiat currencies and stablecoins, supporting various applications including cross-border payments, business payouts and commercial transactions.
Coinbase walks away from BVNK deal
Back in November 2025, BVNK and Coinbase jointly announced they had mutually terminated a proposed $2 billion acquisition agreement that had advanced to the due diligence phase. Neither party provided an explanation for why the deal was abandoned.
Several prominent traditional payments companies have invested capital in BVNK. In May 2025, Visa acquired a strategic stake in the firm via its Visa Ventures investment division, a move that followed BVNK's completion of a $50 million Series B financing round with Haun Ventures serving as the lead investor.
In October 2025, Citi Ventures, the investment vehicle of Citigroup, also took an equity position in BVNK. Although the specific amount of the investment was not made public, BVNK disclosed at that time that its valuation had exceeded $750 million.
Stablecoins could power global payments within 15 years
Just last week, billionaire investor Stanley Druckenmiller predicted that blockchain technology and stablecoins have the potential to transform global payment systems over the next decade, pointing to their superior speed, operational efficiency and reduced costs relative to conventional payment infrastructure. He suggested that stablecoins might ultimately supplant current payment rails, though he continues to harbor doubts regarding cryptocurrency's viability as a store of value over the long term.
Druckenmiller's remarks arrive at a time when traditional finance institutions are progressively investigating stablecoin-enabled payment systems in the wake of advancing regulation, including the GENIUS Act in the US.