What to know:
- Mastercard added RLUSD and XRP Ledger for global settlements.
- Its initial rollout targets institutions across the United States and Latin America.
- Stablecoin market nears $300 billion as adoption accelerates globally.
Mastercard has expanded its global settlement network to include Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin and the XRP Ledger, marking another step in the company’s growing involvement with blockchain-based payments. The move allows financial institutions to settle card transactions using regulated stablecoins beyond traditional banking hours.
The payments giant announced that issuers and acquirers can now access settlement options using several regulated stablecoins. These include RLUSD, Circle’s USDC, Paxos-issued PYUSD, USDG, USDP, and SoFiUSD. Mastercard also confirmed support across multiple blockchain networks, including Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, Base, Arbitrum, Canton, Tempo, and the XRP Ledger.
Moreover, Mastercard said the new settlement capabilities will support transactions during weekends and holidays. As a result, participating institutions can process payments outside standard banking schedules while maintaining existing operational frameworks.
Among the first institutions expected to support the new settlement options are ARQ, formerly known as DolarApp, CBW Bank, Cross River, Lead Bank, and Nuvei. Mastercard stated that the rollout will initially focus on the United States and Latin America. Additionally, the company plans to expand the service further throughout 2026.
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Mastercard Deepens Stablecoin Strategy Through New Partnerships
The inclusion of RLUSD arrives as Ripple continues pushing for broader adoption of its U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin. At the same time, Mastercard has steadily increased its investment in stablecoin infrastructure and digital asset settlement services.
Mastercard recently secured a BitLicense from the New York State Department of Financial Services. That approval provides a regulatory framework for clearing tokenized deposits and payment stablecoins within New York. Furthermore, the company reached a definitive agreement in March 2026 to acquire stablecoin infrastructure provider BVNK in a deal worth up to $1.8 billion.
The company also granted a Mastercard Principal Membership to stablecoin card issuer Rain last month. Consequently, Mastercard has expanded its network of partners supporting digital asset payments and settlement services.
Meanwhile, competition among major payment companies continues to intensify. Visa has expanded stablecoin settlement pilots across several blockchain networks. Similarly, MoneyGram recently launched its MGUSD stablecoin on the Stellar network as part of its global payments strategy.
Data referenced in the report shows the supply of dollar-pegged stablecoins is approaching $300 billion. Tether’s USDT remains the largest stablecoin with roughly $188 billion in circulation. Circle’s USDC follows with approximately $76 billion.
Conclusion
Mastercard’s decision to add RLUSD and the XRP Ledger to its settlement infrastructure highlights the growing role of regulated stablecoins in global payments. As more financial institutions seek round-the-clock settlement capabilities, blockchain networks and compliant stablecoins are becoming increasingly integrated into mainstream payment systems.
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