Stripe, Mastercard and Circle agree to pay up to $3.3 billion for stablecoin operators

Stablecoin startups now have something founders crave even more than funding: a clear way out. Stripe, Mastercard and Circle have together agreed to buy three stablecoin payments operators in deals worth approximately $3.3 billion. The buyers are Bridge, BVNK and Tazapay. Collectively, the deals suggest that the plumbing behind digital dollars has become a strategic asset that large payment companies are willing to pay for. The three deals, one by one Stripe and Bridge. Stripe’s acquisition of Bridge closed in February 2025 for $1.1 billion. Bridge handles stablecoin orchestration, which strengthens Stripe’s cross-border payment capabilities. Stripe has also announced plans to expand stablecoin-backed cards to more than 100 countries by the end of 2026. Mastercard and BVNK. Mastercard agreed to pay up to $1.8 billion for BVNK. The deal closed on August 3, 2026, and it is Mastercard’s largest digital-asset acquisition. BVNK helps businesses move between fiat currency and stablecoins in more than 130 countries. The purchase centers on on-chain settlement and interoperability. The “up to” wording matters. It means the full $1.8 billion is a ceiling. Part of the price likely depends on...