Mastercard Eyes $2B Crypto Deal

Hey Payments Fanatic!

Mastercard is in late-stage talks to acquire crypto infrastructure firm Zerohash for $1.5–$2 billion, according to Fortune.

This potentially marks one of its biggest moves yet in blockchain and stablecoins.

Founded in 2017, Zerohash powers crypto services behind the scenes, including trading, custody, and stablecoin infrastructure for major players.

Just last month, Morgan Stanley announced plans to use Zerohash to launch crypto trading via E*TRADE in 2026.

This reported deal follows Mastercard’s earlier interest in acquiring stablecoin startup BVNK (now reportedly in talks with Coinbase), and reflects the company’s deepening investment in blockchain payments.

Over the years, Mastercard has discreetly built a layered blockchain strategy:

• Partnering with Crypto.com, OKX, and Kraken;
• Piloting on-chain settlements and tokenized deposits;
• And now eyeing full ownership of a key infrastructure provider.

Meanwhile, in Europe, Mastercard partnered with Dutch neobank bunq and introduced Click to Pay in the Netherlands and Germany.

This is a one-click checkout experience that replaces manual card entry with a seamless and secure digital option. It’s the first time Click to Pay is being launched in partnership with a European challenger bank.

Mastercard is pushing forward on key fronts, from crypto rails to everyday payments. Scroll down for the full stories and more.

Cheers,

Marcel

PODCAST 

🎤 From Dollar to Digital: Building Trust in the Age of Stablecoins by Dashdevs. In the episode of FinTech Garden, Igor Tomych talks with Nobo CEO Ayo Ojerinola, breaks down what stablecoins really are, how they’re used today, and why adoption still faces hurdles. From wallet design to real-world payments and tokenized assets, they bring a clear take on crypto’s most practical tools.

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🇺🇸 Mastercard is poised to buy crypto firm Zerohash for nearly $2 billion. If the deal goes through, it would be one of Mastercard's biggest bets yet on stablecoins, adding that the talks might still fall through. The potential deal for Zerohash follows previous discussions by Mastercard and Coinbase to buy stablecoin startup BVNK.

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