By Staff Writer
Mastercard is in advanced discussions to acquire Zero Hash, the US-based crypto and stablecoin infrastructure provider, for a reported price between US$1.5 billion and US$2 billion, according to Fortune. While the deal is not yet finalized, it would mark a significant step in Mastercard’s digital assets strategy.
Founded in 2017, Chicago-headquartered Zero Hash provides the underlying technology for crypto trading, tokenisation, and stablecoin-based payments. The firm enables other companies to embed crypto infrastructure into their platforms and is backed by notable investors such as Interactive Brokers, Apollo, and Point72 Ventures. Its last funding round, in September, valued the company at US$1 billion.
If the acquisition goes through, it would represent one of Mastercard’s largest plays in the growing stablecoin sector—cryptocurrencies pegged to fiat currencies like the US dollar. The move follows a wave of interest among payment firms in blockchain-powered settlement systems, driven by the promise of faster and more cost-efficient alternatives to traditional networks like SWIFT.
Earlier this year, Stripe acquired blockchain settlement firm Bridge for US$1.1 billion, reinforcing the trend of major players betting on stablecoin and crypto infrastructure.
Mastercard itself has been gradually expanding its digital asset footprint, having acquired blockchain analytics firm CipherTrace in 2021. It also recently joined a consortium exploring stablecoin use cases, alongside companies like Robinhood and Kraken.
This isn’t Mastercard’s first foray into stablecoin M&A either—it was previously interested in acquiring BVNK, another crypto firm, before BVNK entered exclusive talks with Coinbase.
As crypto regains momentum, infrastructure providers like Zero Hash are becoming increasingly valuable, especially for legacy financial institutions looking to keep pace with evolving payment technologies.
