If you think you can only pay with traditional money through debit or credit cards, you are wrong, because crypto-enabled card payments are increasingly becoming a sector to watch.
Global payments giant Visa has been increasingly moving into crypto payments, with the recent example of plans to expand stablecoin-linked Visa cards to more than 100 countries. This is not a sole expansion by the payment platform; instead, Bridge, a stablecoin infrastructure platform, has joined the wave to roll out stablecoin-connected payments.
Stablecoin payment through Visa cards and Bridge
Visa debit-style cards allow users spend stablecoins directly from crypto wallets at any checkout points where Visa is accepted. Boosting this momentum, Bridge, also a Stripe company, handles the stablecoin plumbing, or let’s say the crypto engine that links stablecoins to Visa cards.
Bridge also handles on-chain settlement by moving and settling stablecoins in a transaction. For businesses and fintechs leaping into stablecoin-based card payments, Bridge is a significant player as it provides crypto infrastructure.
And for traditional banks? Bridge integrates regulated traditional banking rails with blockchain infrastructure, meaning it ensures both the blockchain transfer and the banking side (fiat settlement) work efficiently and comply with rules.
More real-world use cases of crypto
Earlier, cryptocurrencies, including stablecoins, were predominantly used as investment assets. Now, this feature persists, but alongside it, real-world use cases started blooming. In other words, you can use stablecoins to pay for your groceries, using Visa-linked payment cards.
The plans to expand to over 100 countries will be implemented by the end of 2026. Currently, both Visa and Bridge are carrying out a pilot stage with Lead Bank, an FDIC-insured commercial bank in the US.
