Mastercard plans a significant push into stablecoins.
If this acquisition goes through, it would easily be one of Mastercard’s biggest bets yet on stablecoins. Of course, these high-stakes discussions could still fall through, and both Mastercard and Zerohash have understandably kept mum on the rumors.
So, why the sudden interest in stablecoins? Well, payment companies are increasingly eyeing these cryptocurrencies (which are pegged to stable assets like the U.S. dollar) as a faster, cheaper, and safer alternative to traditional payment methods. Plus, they offer a direct pathway into the exciting world of blockchain technology.
Mastercard, to its credit, isn't new to this game. They've been recognizing the immense potential of stablecoins for quite a while, demonstrated by their existing partnerships with crypto heavyweights like Crypto.com, OKX, and Kraken.
But what makes Zerohash so special? Founded in 2017, this startup is all about building the crucial infrastructure for stablecoins and blockchains. This foundational work empowers major financial firms, including Mastercard, to offer essential services like crypto trading, secure asset custody, and staking.
In fact, Zerohash recently made headlines itself. Just last month, Morgan Stanley announced that it would be rolling out cryptocurrency trading on its E-Trade platform starting in the first half of 2026, all thanks to a strategic partnership with Zerohash.
The startup has been on a strong growth trajectory. Earlier this year, Zerohash successfully closed a financing round that brought in over $100 million, pushing its valuation past the $1 billion mark. This impressive funding round was led by Interactive Brokers, with notable contributions from big names like Morgan Stanley, SoFi, and others.
Interestingly, this isn't Mastercard’s first dance in the stablecoin acquisition arena. The Fortune report also revealed that Mastercard had previously explored a potential $2 billion deal for another stablecoin startup, BVNK, alongside Coinbase. However, it seems Coinbase ultimately won that particular race and is now in exclusive negotiations with BVNK.
