Mastercard Expands Stablecoin Settlements for 24/7 Payments Across Global Network

Mastercard is accelerating its digital asset strategy with plans to introduce around-the-clock settlement capabilities across its global payments network, enabling transactions to be settled during weekends, holidays, and outside traditional banking hours using both fiat currencies and regulated stablecoins.

The payments giant revealed that its expanded settlement framework will support several regulated stablecoins, including Circle’s USDC, Paxos-issued PYUSD, USDG, and USDP, Ripple’s RLUSD, and SoFiUSD. The system will operate across multiple blockchain ecosystems such as Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, Base, Arbitrum, Canton, Tempo, and the XRP Ledger.

Mastercard said the initiative is designed to give issuers and acquirers greater flexibility by allowing payment settlements to occur continuously rather than being restricted to conventional banking schedules. Existing settlement processes will remain in place, with institutions able to choose stablecoin-based settlement as an additional option.

Several financial institutions are expected to participate in the initial rollout, including ARQ, CBW Bank, Cross River, Lead Bank, and Nuvei, covering markets in the United States and Latin America. The company indicated that broader adoption across additional regions and partners is planned through 2026.

According to Mastercard, the new infrastructure has been built to maintain compatibility with its current payments ecosystem while preserving established safeguards such as fraud prevention measures, dispute resolution mechanisms, and security standards.

The announcement marks another step in Mastercard’s growing commitment to blockchain-based payments. Earlier this year, the company secured a BitLicense in New York, allowing it to operate within the state's regulated framework for tokenized deposits and payment stablecoins. Mastercard also strengthened its stablecoin capabilities through its acquisition agreement with enterprise infrastructure provider BVNK and by onboarding stablecoin-focused card issuer Rain as a Principal Member.

Mastercard’s latest move reflects a broader trend among global payments firms embracing stablecoin technology. Competitors such as Visa have continued to test blockchain-based settlement solutions, while MoneyGram recently launched its own stablecoin initiative to expand digital payment services internationally.

The push comes as the stablecoin market continues to expand rapidly. The combined supply of dollar-backed stablecoins is nearing $300 billion, with Tether’s USDT maintaining a dominant position and Circle’s USDC remaining the second-largest stablecoin by circulation. As adoption grows, major payment providers are increasingly positioning stablecoins as a key component of future settlement infrastructure.