Mastercard launches crypto partner program with 85 companies to reshape global payments

Mastercard has launched a Crypto Partner Program, uniting over 85 digital asset companies to enhance infrastructure for cross-border payments, business-to-business transactions, and global payouts. This initiative responds to the rapid growth of stablecoin transaction volumes, which surpassed $1.26 trillion in February 2026 and exceeded the combined transfer volumes of Visa and Mastercard in 2025. The program leverages Mastercard’s Multi-Token Network (MTN) to facilitate real-time settlement across multiple digital assets, with JPMorgan Chase already connected to the network. While Visa is also actively expanding its stablecoin services, Mastercard’s move signals a fundamental shift towards integrating crypto payments as a core business line, driven by the potential for significant revenue growth and the risk of becoming obsolete. The success of the program hinges on execution, interoperability, and navigating regulatory complexities, but it represents a major step towards establishing stablecoins as a permanent layer of global finance.

(Source：Crypto Briefing)