Mastercard Is Building More Than Virtual Cards

Hey Payments Fanatic!

Mastercard just leveled up its virtual card game.

The payments giant is expanding its virtual card platform with new security controls, an embedded payments network, and single API access — essentially making it easier for businesses to issue, manage, and secure virtual cards at scale.

Think of it as Mastercard building the one-stop shop for B2B virtual card infrastructure. One API to rule them all.

It's a smart play. Virtual cards are quietly becoming the backbone of modern commercial payments, and whoever owns that plumbing wins.

Also below: a conversation worth your time — Chris Mason, co-founder and CEO of Orbital, on why stablecoins solve a real problem in cross-border payments. Don't miss it 👇

Have a great weekend, and I'll be back in your inbox on Monday!

Cheers,

Marcel

PODCAST RECOMMENDATION

🎤 Stablecoins are popular because they solve a real problem by DashDevs. In episode 141 of  FinTech Garden, Igor Tomych speaks with Orbital co-founder and CEO Chris Mason about the evolution of enterprise payments and the growing role of stablecoins in connecting traditional banking infrastructure with digital assets. Watch the full podcast here

NEWS

🌍 Mastercard expands virtual card platform with new security controls, embedded payments network and single API access. Innovations include advanced virtual card controls that help reduce risk across the full payment lifecycle, and one scalable connection to Mastercard’s growing embedded partner network.

🇺🇸 Intuit launched the Intuit Business Credit Card, a World Elite Business Mastercard that integrates directly with QuickBooks to combine business spending, credit, and cash flow management. The card offers unlimited cashback, automated expense reconciliation, and customizable spending controls to help small businesses manage finances and access capital more efficiently.

🇰🇪 I&M Bank introduces Mastercard World Elite Credit Card to Kenya’s premium banking segment. Joining the Bank's existing premium suite, the card is designed for clients seeking convenience, security, global acceptance, and access to exclusive lifestyle and travel benefits.

🇬🇧 Visa and Airwallex join forces to build the next generation of financial infrastructure for freight platforms. The collaboration will develop embedded-finance solutions tailored to the needs of freight and shipping platforms, helping modernise how businesses manage payments, working capital and cross-border commerce across one of the world's most complex industries.

🇬🇧 Checkout.com moves Airflow to Google Cloud, reducing monthly infrastructure costs by about 30% while improving deployment speed, scalability, and reliability. The move also automates infrastructure management, allowing engineering teams to focus on product development instead of platform maintenance.

🇺🇸 Stripe harnesses AI billing deals to diversify its payments empire, combining billing, stablecoins and developer tools to support the growing AI economy. The company's recent acquisitions and investments position it to enable AI-driven and machine-to-machine payments while deepening its role in the emerging agentic commerce ecosystem. Additionally, Stripe minted $3.2 billion in Cash in 2025, driven by strong growth in AI-related payment volumes, strengthening its position to pursue acquisitions.

🇺🇸 Robinhood has begun rolling out its Platinum Card, a premium credit card offering enhanced travel, dining, and wellness rewards to eligible customers. The launch follows the milestone of more than one million Robinhood Gold Card users and expands the company's consumer financial services ecosystem.

🇰🇷 Circle signs MOU with Kakao Group to explore blockchain payment infrastructure, cross-border payments, and a potential Korean won-backed stablecoin. The partnership expands Circle's push into South Korea as the country develops its digital asset regulatory framework.

🇸🇬 SUNMI expands SoftPOS platform to bring secure contactless payments to more smart business devices. By embedding SoftPOS into commercial devices, businesses can support secure contactless payments without compromising operational efficiency.

🇳🇬 Nigerian Tech Trio launches ChatPay waitlist to integrate banking directly into WhatsApp. The innovation aims to eliminate the persistent friction associated with traditional banking applications, offering users the ability to send money, settle utility bills, and purchase mobile airtime without ever leaving their active chat windows.

🇺🇸 Samsung to Introduce Stablecoin Support in Samsung Wallet, expanding the platform into a unified hub for payments, rewards, and digital assets. The company also unveiled the Samsung Galaxy Card in partnership with Barclays and Visa, marking the first financial service built on Samsung Wallet.

🌍 OpenPayd joins Fireblocks payments network in Europe. The integration connects more than 2,400 Fireblocks Network participants directly to OpenPayd’s fiat payment infrastructure, allowing businesses to access payment services without building a separate integration.

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