Stripe announced plans on October 5, 2026, to expand its stablecoin card program to more than 100 countries before the year ends. The expansion represents a rapid scaling from the program's March 2026 launch across 18 countries, primarily in Latin America.
The program leverages technology from two Stripe acquisitions: Bridge, purchased for $1.1 billion in 2024, and Privy, acquired in 2025. Bridge provides on-chain settlement capabilities, enabling blockchain-based money movement alongside traditional banking channels. Cardholders can spend at Visa's merchant network, which spans more than 175 million locations globally.
Market Growth and Adoption
Stablecoin card spending reached approximately $1.2 billion in September 2026, roughly triple the sector's volume from a year earlier. The broader digital dollar market now exceeds $300 billion. Stripe has processed more than 400 million cards since 2018.
Current users of Stripe's stablecoin card programs include crypto exchange Kraken and corporate spend platform Ramp.
Expansion Challenges
Expanding across more than 100 countries requires navigating varied regulatory frameworks, licensing requirements, and local banking partnerships. The year-end target remains a plan rather than a completed rollout. Key metrics to monitor include the actual number of countries that launch by year-end, continued growth in monthly stablecoin card spending, and adoption by new program partners.
