Mastercard in Advanced Talks to Acquire “Zerohash” to Strengthen Its Position in the Stablecoin Market
In a move that underscores its growing ambitions in the digital asset space, U.S.-based payments giant Mastercard has entered advanced negotiations to acquire Zerohash, a leading stablecoin infrastructure firm, in a deal valued between $1.5 billion and $2 billion, according to Fortune, citing five sources familiar with the matter. The potential acquisition reflects Mastercard’s strategy to expand its footprint in the rapidly evolving world of stablecoins amid intensifying competition among global fintech leaders.
A Major Deal in a Rapidly Growing Market:
If finalized, the deal would represent one of the largest acquisitions in the stablecoin industry, surpassing Stripe’s $1.1 billion purchase of Bridge, a stablecoin technology firm, last year. Reports also indicated that both Mastercard and Coinbase had engaged in talks earlier this year to acquire BVNK for approximately $2 billion, signaling a broader race among payment giants to secure key positions in digital asset infrastructure.
Record Growth in the Stablecoin Sector:
The stablecoin market has witnessed remarkable expansion in 2025, with total market capitalization increasing by over $100 billion since the start of the year, reaching $312 billion, according to data from CoinGlass. Analysts expect the momentum to continue, with Standard Chartered forecasting the market to exceed $750 billion by the end of 2026.
Meanwhile, data from prediction platform Myriad revealed that more than 50% of participants expect the market cap to rise above $360 billion before February 2026, reflecting growing investor confidence in the sector’s near-term prospects.
Supportive Regulatory Environment and Institutional Adoption:
This rapid growth has been supported by a more favorable regulatory climate, particularly following the enactment of the GENIUS Act in the United States, which established a legal framework for issuing and trading stablecoins. Traditional financial institutions and major retailers have also shown increasing interest in stablecoins, recognizing their potential to streamline transactions and reduce operational costs.
Commenting on this shift, Chris Miglino, co-founder of the digital venture firm DNA Fund, told Decrypt:
“Just as digital trading tools became part of Wall Street, stablecoins are set to become a primary vehicle for financial transfers.”
Zerohash: A Rising Power in Digital Infrastructure:
Founded in 2017, Zerohash has rapidly positioned itself as a leading provider of crypto and stablecoin infrastructure. In September 2025, the company closed a $104 million Series D-2 funding round, valuing it at $1 billion and bringing its total funding to $275 million.
The latest round was led by Interactive Brokers, with participation from Morgan Stanley and Jump Crypto, underscoring growing institutional confidence in the stablecoin ecosystem.
In addition, Zerohash recently partnered with Morgan Stanley to enable clients of its trading platform E*Trade to buy and sell cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana, further cementing its role as a key player in the digital asset infrastructure market.
No Official Confirmation Yet:
Despite multiple reports, a Mastercard spokesperson declined to comment on what was described as “market speculation,” while Zerohash has not issued any official statement regarding the potential deal. The lack of confirmation leaves room for various scenarios, including changes in valuation or deal structure.
Mastercard’s negotiations to acquire Zerohash represent a strategic move to strengthen its position in the emerging digital financial ecosystem. As the stablecoin market matures and regulatory clarity improves, such a deal would mark a significant step in Mastercard’s evolution from a traditional payment processor to a foundational player in digital asset infrastructure. In this new financial era, where money increasingly exists as programmable code, global payment giants like Mastercard are racing to own the technological backbone of tomorrow’s monetary systems.
