What to know:
- Mastercard to acquire BVNK for $1.8B to expand stablecoin and blockchain payments integration.
- The deal includes a $300 million earnout pending approval, expected to close before the end of 2026.
- BVNK processes $30B+ in stablecoin volume as demand drives rapid valuation growth.
Mastercard is set to acquire the London-based stablecoin infrastructure company BVNK in a deal worth $1.8 billion. This is a strategic move by Mastercard to link blockchain payments with the global fiat network and expand the scope of digital assets.
The agreement between Mastercard and BVNK will see the latter receive payments of up to $300 million in the form of performance-based payments. The acquisition is still pending approval and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, according to the company’s official announcement.
In late 2025, the London-based company received significant interest from major players in the financial sector. Reports suggested that Mastercard and Coinbase were in advanced talks with the company. Valuations ranged between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion during those discussions.
BVNK Valuation Surge Drives $1.8B Acquisition
However, Coinbase appeared to lead the talks at some point. It managed to achieve exclusivity but eventually walked away from the proposed deal worth $2 billion in November 2025. Eventually, Mastercard agreed to the deal but at a lower valuation with additional earnout provisions.
The acquisition comes after BVNK’s valuation grew significantly in 2025. Previously, the company had discussed funding deals that valued the company at around $750 million. The valuation grew as the demand for stablecoin infrastructure increased in global markets.
BVNK was founded in 2021 and has operations in more than 130 countries. It processes billions in annual payment volume. In fact, its stablecoin transactions are estimated at more than $30 billion annually.
BVNK is a company that offers infrastructure that connects fiat systems and blockchain networks. Remittance, business payments, treasury, and tokenized assets utilize the company’s services. Some of the company’s clients include Worldpay, Deel, and Flywire.
Also Read: PayPal Expands PYUSD to 70 Countries as Stablecoin Competition Heats Up
The company has received investment from various companies such as Visa, Citi, and Coinbase Ventures. The company’s platform allows businesses to move between fiat and digital currencies. This allows for faster and more flexible transactions.
Mastercard Advances Digital Payments Integration
The acquisition is a continuation of Mastercard’s digital asset strategy. On March 11, 2026, the company launched its Crypto Partner Program. The program has more than 85 partners, such as Circle, Ripple, and Fireblocks.
Mastercard designed the program to connect digital assets with existing payment platforms. The company also anticipates that financial organizations will increase their digital currency offerings in the future.
Additionally, the company pointed out the role of blockchain technology in facilitating quicker and programmable payments.
According to the BVNK CEO, Jesse Hemson-Struthers, the deal is a milestone in the industry. He added that the two companies will shape the future of money. Another key aspect is the need for interoperability in payment platforms.
Recently, the stablecoin market has witnessed substantial growth. According to DefiLlama, the market cap for stablecoins sits at $316.479 billion. This is a rise of 130% since 2024 due to regulation and increased adoption.
Source: DefiLlama
Also Read: Vietnam Launches Licensed Cryptocurrency Exchanges to Limit Overseas Trading
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