October 30, 2025 — Global payments giant Mastercard is reportedly in advanced negotiations to acquire crypto infrastructure startup Zerohash in a deal valued between $1.5 billion and $2 billion, according to multiple sources.
Strategic Move of Mastercard into Stablecoin and Tokenisation
Zerohash, founded in 2017, provides blockchain‐based infrastructure that enables banks, fintechs and brokerages to embed crypto, stablecoins and tokenised assets into existing platforms. The startup reportedly processed more than $2 billion in tokenised fund flows over a recent four-month period and has raised over $100 million in a recent funding round that valued it at more than $1 billion.
For Mastercard, the proposed acquisition would mark one of its largest moves yet into the stablecoin and digital assets arena — a space increasingly viewed as the next frontier of payments and settlement. Sources say the deal follows the payments company’s earlier interest in another stable-coin infrastructure provider, BVNK, where it was reportedly outbid by Coinbase.
Why This Matters
The deal signals Mastercard’s wider push toward integrating crypto rails and stablecoins into its global payment network. With stablecoin transaction volumes expected to grow significantly over the coming years, acquiring a platform like Zerohash helps Mastercard secure the infrastructure required to support institutional flows, token-ised assets and blockchain-based settlement.
Industry analysts note that traditional payment firms are racing to build out capabilities for on-chain payments, tokenisation and embedded crypto services. By securing Zerohash’s stack, Mastercard could accelerate its roadmap and further position itself as a bridge between legacy finance and blockchain innovation.
Key Considerations
- Valuation & Funding: Zerohash’s latest funding round, led by Interactive Brokers with participation from Morgan Stanley and SoFi, raised just over $100 million and placed the startup’s valuation at over $1 billion.
- Deal Terms: While the $1.5–$2 billion range is reported, the transaction remains subject to due diligence and regulatory approval. Sources caution the deal could still fall through.
- Regulatory Climate: As a major card network, Mastercard’s deeper involvement in crypto will attract regulatory scrutiny across jurisdictions — from financial services licencing to anti-money-laundering controls and stablecoin oversight.
- Competitive Landscape: Mastercard’s rival Visa and other fintech players are also actively expanding into stablecoin and crypto infrastructure. The acquisition of Zerohash could give Mastercard a first-mover advantage in the institutional tokenisation space.
Implications for the Crypto Ecosystem
This acquisition would underline the increasing overlap between traditional finance and digital assets. Stablecoin issuance, custody, tokenised fund flows and blockchain payment rails are no longer niche — they are becoming core infrastructure for global fintech platforms.
For crypto firms, the deal sends a strong signal: large-scale crypto infrastructure is now being viewed as strategic to major payment networks. For investors, it points to continued consolidation in the infrastructure layer of digital assets.
Looking Ahead
If completed, Mastercard’s purchase of Zerohash could close by late 2025 or early 2026, subject to regulatory review and final agreement on terms. The move may trigger further M&A activity in the stablecoin and crypto infrastructure sector, as payments firms seek to own the rails underpinning the future of money.
For now, stakeholders across banking, fintech and crypto will be watching closely. The integration of Zerohash into a global payments network would accelerate the convergence of legacy and blockchain finance — and mark yet another milestone in the mainstreaming of digital assets.
Your Trades. Our Priority. Hotcoin.
Hotcoin Official Site: https://www.hotcoin.com
Hotcoin Twitter: https://x.com/HotcoinGlobal
Hotcoin Telegram: https://t.me/HotcoinEX
Hotcoin Chinese Twitter: https://x.com/hotcoinzh
Hotcoin Chinese Community: https://t.me/hotcoinglobalcn
Hotcoin YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hotcoinglobal