Visa to enable crypto payments at 175 million merchant locations
Payment giant Visa has partnered with crypto company Mesh to allow users to pay for purchases with cryptocurrencies and stablecoins at more than 175 million merchant locations worldwide. The new solution will enable customers to spend funds directly from their crypto wallets without having to convert them into fiat currency beforehand.
According to the press release, the technology will support both in-store and online payments. The system will automatically generate the necessary Visa payment credentials, while Mesh will handle transaction processing and digital asset conversion.
As a result, users will not need to sell their cryptocurrencies in advance or transfer funds to a separate card. Meanwhile, merchants will be able to accept payments through the existing Visa infrastructure without making any additional technical changes.
“Crypto never had a spending problem — it has a last-mile problem, and until now, closing it meant getting a separate card. Mesh handles the funding and conversion, so a balance becomes purchasing power at the moment of payment, with nothing for the user to move and nothing for the merchant to change,” said Mesh CEO and co-founder Bam Azizi.
The launch date, list of supported devices, and participating cryptocurrency platforms have not yet been announced.
Visa expands its presence in the crypto market
Mesh specializes in cryptocurrency payment infrastructure. The company previously helped launch PayPal's Pay with Crypto service, which allows merchants to accept digital assets.
In August 2025, Mesh raised funding from PayPal Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, and other investors, bringing its total funding to more than $130 million. In January 2026, the company secured another $75 million in a funding round led by Dragonfly, reaching a valuation of more than $1 billion and achieving unicorn status.
For Visa, the new partnership represents another step in its strategy to integrate cryptocurrencies into traditional payment infrastructure. The company aims to enable digital asset holders to use their funds for everyday transactions without having to handle currency conversions themselves.
In April 2026, Visa announced a partnership with WeFi that would allow users to pay for purchases with cryptocurrencies held in self-custody wallets. Users retain control of their assets until the moment of payment.
Another initiative was Visa's partnership with Bridge, established in 2025. It allows developers to issue Visa cards linked to stablecoin balances, while Bridge handles transaction processing and currency conversion.
Payment giants are betting on cryptocurrencies
An increasing number of major payment companies are launching their own cryptocurrency projects and integrating stablecoins into their existing infrastructure. For example, Mastercard completed its acquisition of BVNK in August 2026 and introduced a joint service for handling fiat currencies and stablecoins in October. The new platform enables banks and financial companies to convert currencies, issue cards, and process international transfers.
PayPal is also actively expanding its cryptocurrency business. In March 2026, the company expanded the availability of its PYUSD stablecoin to 70 markets. It also allows merchants to accept payments in more than 100 cryptocurrencies, with automatic conversion into U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, Stripe is developing stablecoin payment infrastructure through its acquired platform Bridge. As a result, cryptocurrencies are gradually becoming part of traditional payment services rather than remaining a separate financial ecosystem.
As a reminder, Visa is expanding its global payment capabilities through the launch of a commercial stablecoin.
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