Stripe acquires stablecoin orchestration platform Bridge, quadruples trading volume, and actively expands VISA's global payment footprint

Although Bitcoin and most cryptocurrencies experienced intense volatility and a 50% price drop last year, stablecoins thrived. Stripe’s latest report announced that its acquired stablecoin orchestration platform, Bridge, performed remarkably well, with transaction volume quadrupling. The company is also actively pushing stablecoin-linked Visa cards to over 100 countries worldwide.

Why does Stripe need Bridge?

In the past, businesses wanting to use stablecoins for payments had to manage wallets, handle cross-chain fees, and find exchanges. With Bridge as the “orchestrator,” stablecoin payments become as simple as swiping a credit card. Users just click to pay, while Bridge handles complex conversions and routing in milliseconds behind the scenes.

Bridge is an API platform for on-demand stablecoin issuance and orchestration. The term “orchestration” is borrowed from software engineering and music conducting, meaning coordinating multiple complex, independent components to complete a smooth task. Traditional banking systems (SWIFT, ACH, SEPA) and blockchain are two entirely different languages. Bridge provides infrastructure that allows businesses to seamlessly convert fiat currencies (like USD, EUR) into stablecoins or vice versa, managing settlement, exchange rates, and liquidity pools behind the scenes.

Stablecoin transaction volume reaches $400 billion, with Bridge’s volume quadrupling

According to Stripe’s latest annual report, last year was a milestone for stablecoins, with global stablecoin payment transactions reaching an astonishing $400 billion. Amid this growth, Bridge, as Stripe’s core technology, saw its transaction volume increase over four times. Notably, about 60% of this $400 billion came from B2B payment needs, indicating that stablecoins are becoming essential tools for cross-border settlement, supply chain payments, and financial management for enterprises.

Visa issues cards via Bridge to expand stablecoin payments worldwide

Stablecoin-enabled Visa cards supporting Bridge are set for large-scale expansion. Currently, this service is live in 18 countries across Central and South America, allowing users to connect directly with real-world payment terminals through digital wallets like Phantom or MetaMask. The service will expand to Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East, covering over 100 countries globally.

Cuy Sheffield, Head of Cryptocurrency at Visa, pointed out that the speed, transparency, and programmability of stablecoins are what modern payment processes lack. Through the partnership with Bridge, Visa can offer more options to its partners, strengthening its role as a bridge connecting stablecoins with the global payment ecosystem.

Zach Abrams, founder of Bridge, said that the collaboration with Visa is not just about issuing cards but also about providing a seamless stablecoin experience for businesses. By integrating with Privy, Ramp, and Deel, companies can use a single API to offer user-friendly wallets, solving the traditional crypto wallet pain points of “hard-to-remember private keys” and “complex operations.” This allows ordinary employees to easily receive stablecoin wages. New smart contracts enable SaaS platforms to directly collect stablecoin recurring payments without wallet owners manually signing each transaction, greatly increasing automation for subscription products. Startups backed by Y Combinator can now receive funding directly in stablecoins, reducing the days-long waiting time of traditional bank transfers. Platforms like Deel leverage Bridge’s infrastructure to allow companies to deposit stablecoins into financial accounts and pay engineers worldwide directly.