South Korea is advancing stablecoin-based payment pilots with international firms to serve visitors, keeping foreign interest alive despite recent regulatory headwinds. The move aims to simplify cross-border spending and test practical use cases for stablecoins in tourism and retail.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse tweeted that Ripple Treasury facilitated $13 trillion in customer payments last year and said the unit is "only getting started." The comment underscores rapid growth in Ripple's payments business.
TRON has joined Mastercard’s Crypto Partner Program as one of more than 85 participants, advancing efforts to link blockchain payment rails with traditional finance. The move may help broaden merchant acceptance and on‑ramp options for TRX and token payments on TRON.
Wells Fargo has filed for a trademark on “WFUSD” covering crypto trading, payments, staking software and blockchain-based financial services. The move signals the bank’s intent to expand into tokenized dollar services and on-chain infrastructure.
MetaMask launched a nationwide U.S. debit card on Feb. 26, 2026, after a year-long pilot, letting users spend digital assets directly from their self-custodial wallets at many merchants.
Binance has rolled out its Mastercard crypto card across multiple CIS countries, allowing users to instantly convert Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies into local fiat at the point of sale. The launch aims to simplify spending crypto without using an exchange.
A PayPal and National Cryptocurrency Association study finds 4 in 10 U.S. merchants accept cryptocurrency, with digital natives increasingly using it for everyday purchases. The report frames crypto payments as moving from niche to mainstream in the U.S.
Bybit has launched a Mastercard-powered payment card in Georgia, allowing residents to spend digital assets at any merchant that accepts Mastercard. The rollout, announced 29 Jan 2026, aims to simplify crypto-to-fiat spending for local users.
Coinbase is close to rolling out custom stablecoins after tests with partners Solflare, R2 and Flipcash, focusing on Flipcash’s USDF. The initiative aims to broaden on-chain payment options and let issuers tailor dollar-pegged tokens.
Mesh closed a $75 million Series C at a $1 billion valuation to accelerate its platform for universal crypto payments, aiming to connect wallets, chains, and assets for seamless merchant and consumer transactions. The round funds product expansion, integrations, and go-to-market growth.