Mastercard announced plans to offer on-chain settlement using regulated USD stablecoins, initially supporting six options including USDC and PayPal's PYUSD. The move addresses growing demand for real-time money transfers.
Mastercard will enable settlement across USDC, PYUSD, USDG, USDP, RLUSD, and SoFiUSD, each issued by different financial institutions. The initiative expands the payment giant's blockchain capabilities beyond traditional banking hours.
Stablecoin settlement allows transactions to occur 24/7, including weekends and holidays—a key advantage over conventional payment systems. The move reflects broader institutional adoption of blockchain-based payments as enterprises seek faster settlement times.
Mastercard joins other major payment networks exploring cryptocurrency infrastructure. The company previously launched crypto credential programs and blockchain-based B2B payment solutions.
The initial stablecoin roster represents major players in the regulated digital dollar space, including Circle (USDC), PayPal (PYUSD), and specialized issuers. Mastercard's support could accelerate stablecoin integration into mainstream payment flows.
The company did not specify a launch timeline for the service.
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