Mastercard Joins Forces with Ripple and Gemini to Settle Card Payments via RLUSD Stablecoin on XRPL

Mastercard is deepening its footprint in the digital asset space, announcing a new partnership with Ripple and Gemini to pilot fiat card settlements using the RLUSD stablecoin on the XRP Ledger (XRPL). The initiative, also involving WebBank, could mark one of the first real-world use cases where a U.S.-regulated bank clears card transactions through a regulated stablecoin on a public blockchain.

The collaboration reflects Mastercard’s evolving approach to integrating blockchain infrastructure into its traditional payment rails. By leveraging RLUSD on XRPL, Mastercard aims to streamline fiat transaction settlements while demonstrating how stablecoins can serve as efficient intermediaries between legacy finance and digital assets.

Gemini, founded by the Winklevoss twins in 2014, has been steadily expanding its crypto card ecosystem. Following its Solana credit card edition that offers up to 4% SOL rewards, the exchange now moves closer to embedding stablecoin technology into day-to-day payments. “Through the Gemini Credit Card, we’re advancing the way that digital assets are integrated into everyday spending,” said CFO Dan Chen.

For Ripple, which continues to champion XRPL as a high-speed, low-cost settlement network, Mastercard’s involvement represents a significant validation of blockchain’s role in mainstream finance.

The partnership builds on Mastercard’s growing list of blockchain initiatives. In June, the company teamed up with Chainlink to enable direct onchain crypto purchases through secure fiat-to-crypto conversion. And on the same day as the RLUSD announcement, Mastercard revealed a separate deal with digital identity provider Humanity Protocol to expand access to credit and financial services through open finance technology.

Together, these moves signal Mastercard’s steady pivot from traditional payments to programmable finance — where stablecoins and public ledgers play a key role in powering the next generation of real-world settlements.