In what appeared to be a closely contested bidding race, Mastercard has finally announced its acquisition of stablecoin infrastructure firm BVNK. The company had been at the center of a acquisition battle between Mastercard and Coinbase last year before the latter backed off in later 2025.

However, according to a Bloomberg report, the deal has now been finalized, with Mastercard agreeing to acquire BVNK for up to $1.8 billion.

Mastercard Acquires BVNK For $1.8 Billion

Founded in 2021, BVNK provides the infrastructure that allows businesses to send, receive, and manage payments using stablecoins.

Its platform supports cross-border transfers, real-time (24/7) settlement and payments across multiple blockchain networks

BVNK currently operates in over 130 countries, helping companies integrate crypto payments into real-world use cases like payouts, remittances, and business transactions.

Now by acquiring BVNK, Mastercard aims to make payments faster and more efficient by adding stablecoin-based transactions to its existing network.

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In its official statement, Mastercard emphasized that card payments still offer unmatched global reach and protection. But stablecoins unlock new use cases like cross-border remittances, P2P and B2B payments which it aims to explore with BVNK.

BVNK would provide Mastercard the infrastructure need to connect crypto payments with traditional financial systems. It will help Mastercard stay competitive as payments increasingly move on-chain.

The company emphasized that stablecoins and tokenized assets are rapidly growing. This deal will help bring their benefits like speed and programmability into real-world payments. As Chief Product Officer Jorn Lambert noted, adding “on-chain rails” will support virtually every type of transaction.

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Crypto Card Issuer’s Latest Crypto Move

The acquisition from the leading crypto cards issuer adds up to its recent crypto initiatives.

Just last week, the payments giant Mastercard launched its Crypto Partner Program. With the program, it is bringing together over 85 crypto-native firms, financial institutions, and infrastructure providers to integrate blockchain-based payments into its global network.

The initiative focuses on real-world use cases such as cross-border remittances, B2B transfers, and on-chain settlement, areas where stablecoins and tokenized money are gaining traction.

And now by acquiring BVNK, Mastercard is effectively adding the missing infrastructure layer to this strategy,