In a groundbreaking move that signals the accelerating convergence of traditional finance and the digital asset economy, Mastercard has joined forces with MoonPay to enable global stablecoin payments at scale. Announced via a press release, the collaboration aims to revolutionize how consumers and businesses engage in digital transactions by supporting stablecoin payments across Mastercard's vast merchant network of over 150 million locations worldwide.

This new partnership allows enterprises and fintech innovators to issue Mastercard-branded cards directly linked to users’ stablecoin wallets. These cards will enable real-time spending of digital assets, with stablecoins converted instantly into fiat currency at the point of sale—removing friction from the user experience while maintaining full regulatory compliance.

Central to this initiative is Iron, a robust API-driven stablecoin infrastructure recently acquired by MoonPay. Iron transforms crypto wallets into functional digital bank accounts, enabling fast, secure, and scalable transactions for global disbursements, gig economy payouts, and cross-border commerce. The integration with Mastercard’s payment rails signifies a leap forward in making blockchain-powered financial services accessible on a global scale.

The collaboration is especially impactful for underbanked communities and regions with high remittance fees. Businesses can now streamline payments to gig workers, content creators, and freelancers using stablecoin technology, ensuring lower transaction costs and faster access to earnings—key for digital-native economies and decentralized workforces.

With MoonPay already connected to more than 500 crypto platforms and over 100 million users, the move is poised to meet growing demand for real-world utility in digital currencies. Current data shows that 20 million wallets conduct monthly stablecoin transactions, while 120 million users globally hold stablecoin balances—demonstrating robust interest in seamless, real-time crypto payments.

Mastercard’s partnership with MoonPay underscores the financial giant’s commitment to innovation and digital asset integration. By expanding support for end-to-end stablecoin payments, the company is not only adapting to the evolving fintech landscape but also setting the stage for mainstream adoption of blockchain in everyday financial transactions.