Mastercard Negotiates $2 Billion Acquisition of Zero Hash

Mastercard is reportedly in late-stage negotiations to acquire blockchain startup Zero Hash for an estimated $1.5 billion to $2 billion, according to a report by Fortune. This potential acquisition highlights Mastercard’s commitment to enhancing its offerings in the rapidly evolving stablecoin market. Zero Hash specializes in stablecoin payment infrastructure, which has gained significant traction as businesses increasingly seek efficient digital payment solutions.

The discussions follow Mastercard’s earlier talks to acquire another crypto payment infrastructure startup, BNVK. As stablecoins—cryptocurrencies pegged to traditional fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar—become pivotal for global payment systems, industry projections indicate that payment volumes could reach $1 trillion by 2030. Mastercard’s move reflects a growing trend among financial institutions to embrace blockchain technology, which provides a faster and often more cost-effective alternative to conventional banking methods.

Zero Hash is notable for having raised $104 million in funding, with participation from esteemed firms such as Interactive Brokers and Morgan Stanley. In the first four months of this year alone, Zero Hash processed $2 billion in tokenized fund flows, driven by increasing institutional demand for on-chain assets. This spike in activity underscores the rising importance of stablecoins in the broader financial landscape.

As competition intensifies within the stablecoin sector, other major players are also making strategic moves. For instance, Visa recently announced plans to launch a tokenization platform aimed at assisting banks with stablecoin issuance and management. Similarly, Stripe acquired stablecoin infrastructure provider Bridge for $1.1 billion, along with wallet provider Privy, further solidifying their position in the market.

The surge in stablecoin usage has been evident, with total payment volumes reaching $19.4 billion year-to-date in 2025. As innovative companies like OwlTing develop infrastructure that can process transactions in seconds for minimal fees, the adoption of stablecoins is likely to accelerate.

Other notable developments in the stablecoin landscape include Securitize, a tokenization specialist that has introduced a new tokenized fund aimed at integrating AAA-rated collateralized loan obligations onto the Ethereum blockchain. BNY will provide custody and fund services for this initiative, which is pending governance approval.

As Mastercard continues to strengthen its position in this evolving space, the potential acquisition of Zero Hash may serve as a significant step towards enhancing its capabilities in the digital currency arena, paving the way for broader adoption of stablecoin payment solutions across various sectors.