Stripe, Mastercard and Circle agree to pay up to $3.3 billion for stablecoin operators

What happened

Stripe, Mastercard and Circle have together agreed to buy three stablecoin (a digital token meant to hold a fixed value, usually one dollar) payments operators in deals worth approximately $3.3 billion. Stripe’s acquisition (one company buying another) of Bridge closed in February 2025 for $1.1 billion.

Stripe has also announced plans to expand stablecoin-backed cards to more than 100 countries by the end of 2026. The deal closed on August 3, 2026, and it is Mastercard’s largest digital-asset acquisition.

The acquisitions highlight the strategic importance of stablecoin infrastructure, potentially reshaping global payment systems and competition. The post Stripe, Mastercard and Circle agree to pay up to $3.3 billion for stablecoin operators appeared first on Crypto Briefing .

12, 2026 Stablecoin startups now have something founders crave even more than funding: a clear way out. The buyers are Bridge, BVNK and Tazapay.

Collectively, the deals suggest that the plumbing behind digital dollars has become a strategic asset that large payment companies are willing to pay for. Bridge handles stablecoin orchestration, which strengthens Stripe’s cross-border payment capabilities.

Advertisement BVNK helps businesses move between fiat currency and stablecoins in more than 130 countries. The purchase centers on on-chain (recorded on the blockchain itself rather than beside it) settlement and interoperability.

Key facts

• Stripe has also — announced: plans to expand stablecoin-backed cards to more than 100 countries by the end of 2026