Cooperation Background and Driving Forces

Stripe’s Acquisition of Bridge

Bridge, a fintech startup specializing in stablecoin clearing and settlement, was acquired by Stripe in February 2025 for approximately $1.1 billion. The deal strengthens Stripe’s backend infrastructure for on‑chain payments and accelerates mainstream stablecoin adoption.

Visa & Bridge Collaboration

Under the partnership, Bridge converts USDC into fiat in real time, leveraging Visa’s global settlement network. Consumers paying with their USDC‑funded Visa card experience instant transaction finality—just like using cash—while minimizing foreign‑exchange risk and settlement latency.

Product Mechanism and User Experience

Initial Markets and Expansion Plans

• Launch countries: Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Chile, chosen for strong demand in digital payments and financial inclusion.
• Global rollout: Visa aims to extend the stablecoin card service to Europe, Africa and Asia within the coming months, subject to local regulatory approvals and partnerships.

Seamless Payment Process

Cardholders simply link USDC balances to their Visa cards; at checkout—online or in person—the card automatically converts USDC into local currency behind the scenes. This removes the need for manual conversions and delays common in crypto‑payment flows.

Built‑for‑Scale Infrastructure

Visa’s product strategy director, Jack Forestell, highlights that the network is now ready to transition pilot capabilities into a fully scalable global service, enabling rapid deployment across multiple regions.

Regulatory Environment

• International momentum: U.S. regulators are advancing stablecoin‑specific legislation to clarify oversight and foster institutional adoption.
• Hong Kong sandbox: Since 2022, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority has released stablecoin discussion papers and, in March 2024, launched a stablecoin issuer sandbox. It further expanded into the e‑HKD retail pilot’s second phase in September 2024, demonstrating proactive digital‑asset regulation.

Implications and Outlook for Hong Kong

As a leading global financial hub with cutting‑edge infrastructure and an open regulatory stance, Hong Kong is well‑positioned to host a trial of the USDC‑powered Visa card.

852Web3 will continue monitoring developments in both issuer‑side innovations and regulatory frameworks, bringing you timely updates and in‑depth analysis as this story unfolds.