Visa, Mastercard, Stripe Join Stablecoin Consortium Talks
Some of the world's largest financial institutions and payment companies are reportedly collaborating on Open USD (OpenUSD), a new institutional stablecoin initiative aimed at creating shared infrastructure for digital payments and cross-border settlement.
Summary:
- Visa, Mastercard, Stripe, Coinbase and BlackRock are reportedly backing the Open USD initiative.
- Bloomberg reported consortium members are negotiating revenue-sharing arrangements.
- The project aims to build standardized, institutional-grade stablecoin infrastructure for global payments.
While these discussions are in the early stages, the entry of major payment rails like Visa, Mastercard, and Stripe into stablecoin consortium talks signals a shift from experimental crypto usage to infrastructure-grade financial integration. For the average merchant and consumer, this could eventually mean faster settlement times and lower cross-border transaction fees, as these legacy giants look to replace traditional, slow SWIFT-based processes with blockchain-native rails.
According to information from Bloomberg, companies including Visa, Mastercard, Stripe, Coinbase and BlackRock are participating in discussions surrounding the project, with negotiations currently focused on how revenue generated by the platform would be shared among consortium members.
The initiative represents one of the most ambitious attempts by traditional financial institutions to establish a common stablecoin framework as demand for tokenized dollars accelerates globally.
Open USD Targets Institutional Stablecoin Infrastructure
Open USD is designed to provide financial institutions with a shared platform for issuing, settling and transferring digital dollars across blockchain networks.
Introducing Open USD: a stablecoin built for the internet economy, designed by the businesses growing it.https://t.co/jqgDRs6mKf
— Open Standard (@openstandard) June 30, 2026
Rather than creating isolated payment ecosystems, the consortium aims to establish standardized infrastructure that banks, payment providers and digital asset firms can integrate into existing financial operations.
Bloomberg reported that participating companies are discussing how interest income and other revenues generated by Open USD would be distributed among partners, creating a collaborative business model rather than concentrating economics with a single issuer.
The discussions remain ongoing, and no final structure or launch timeline has been announced.
Payments Giants Expand Stablecoin Strategy
The reported consortium highlights how established financial companies are accelerating their stablecoin ambitions.
Visa and Mastercard have steadily expanded blockchain payment capabilities through pilot programs and partnerships, while Stripe strengthened its digital asset strategy through the acquisition of stablecoin infrastructure provider Bridge.
Coinbase remains one of the largest institutional crypto platforms globally and has played a central role in expanding the use of regulated stablecoins within capital markets.
BlackRock has also become increasingly active in tokenized finance through blockchain-based investment products and digital asset initiatives.
Together, the participating firms represent significant portions of the global payments, custody and digital asset ecosystem.
Challenging the Existing Stablecoin Market
If launched, Open USD would enter a market currently dominated by Tether’s USDT and Circle’s USDC, which together account for the majority of global stablecoin circulation.
Rather than competing solely as another issuer, Open USD appears focused on building common infrastructure capable of supporting multiple financial institutions within a unified framework.
READ MORE: BNY Strengthens Stablecoin Push With Circle Partnership
Analysts expect the project to emphasize regulatory compliance, institutional custody standards and interoperability with existing banking systems, making stablecoin transactions easier to integrate into treasury management, cross-border payments and tokenized asset settlement.
A consortium structure could also encourage broader industry participation by aligning incentives across banks, payment processors and exchanges instead of concentrating revenue within a single company.
Regulatory Clarity Drives Institutional Adoption
The discussions come as stablecoin regulation becomes increasingly defined across major financial markets.
In the United States, the regulatory framework established under the GENIUS Act has provided greater legal certainty for payment stablecoins and the financial institutions supporting them.
Meanwhile, jurisdictions including the European Union, Singapore and the United Kingdom continue advancing comprehensive digital asset regulations that provide clearer operating standards for stablecoin issuers.
The regulatory environment differs substantially from 2019, when Meta’s Libra – later renamed Diem – faced widespread opposition amid the absence of dedicated stablecoin legislation.
Today, clearer rules are encouraging banks and payment companies to actively participate in digital dollar infrastructure rather than remain on the sidelines.
However, significant regulatory hurdles remain. Integrating stablecoins into traditional payment networks requires navigating complex anti-money laundering (AML) and “Know Your Customer” (KYC) requirements that vary wildly across jurisdictions.
Whether this consortium can create a standardized framework that satisfies global regulators remains the biggest ‘if’ in this equation. Investors and stakeholders should monitor how these companies balance the decentralization ethos of blockchain with the strict compliance requirements of central banking authorities.
Stablecoins Become Core Financial Infrastructure
The reported development underscores a broader shift taking place across global finance.
Stablecoins are increasingly being viewed as foundational payment infrastructure capable of supporting real-time settlement, programmable transactions and tokenized financial markets rather than simply serving cryptocurrency trading.
By bringing together payment networks, digital asset platforms and institutional asset managers, Open USD could become one of the most significant collaborative stablecoin initiatives to date.
If completed, the project would further blur the distinction between traditional financial infrastructure and blockchain-based payment systems, reinforcing stablecoins’ growing role at the center of the next generation of global finance.
The information presented in this article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or trading advice. Coinspress.com does not promote or advocate for any particular investment strategy, asset, or cryptocurrency project. Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile and unpredictable – always perform your own research and seek guidance from a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.
Alexander Zdravkov
Reporter at CoinsPress
Alexander Zdravkov is a market analyst and crypto journalist with interests in economics, broader financial markets and digital assets. His journey into crypto began more than four years ago, driven by a fascination with the rapid evolution of blockchain technology and the transformative potential of decentralized finance. He began analyzing market cycles and identifying emerging trends before they reach the mainstream. He holds a degree in International Relations - a background that helped shape his broader perspective on global economics, geopolitics, and the interconnected nature of modern financial markets. Whether covering the latest developments in the crypto sector or exploring broader macroeconomic themes, Alexander focuses on giving readers context rather than simply repeating headlines. During his career, he has authored more than 10,000 articles covering cryptocurrencies, traditional finance, and global market developments. His work spans everything from Bitcoin and altcoins to macroeconomic trends influencing risk assets worldwide.
