Mastercard, as part of its crypto expansion strategy, is close to acquiring crypto technology company Zerohash for approximately $1.5 billion to $2 billion. For the uninitiated, Zerohash, founded in 2017 and based in Chicago, provides backend support that allows fintechs and other financial institutions to add cryptocurrency, stablecoin, and tokenization features to their platforms via APIs.
The backend solution package also includes escrow, conversions and payments.
According to a report from October 29 report According to Fortune, if Mastercard manages to bring Zerohash in-house, its tools will help the financial giant strengthen its role in handling stablecoins and other blockchain-based payments.
Plus, you can better control how money moves through your network, especially as banks and payments companies explore 24/7 digital transactions.
According to Fortune, Mastercard is in talks to acquire crypto infrastructure startup Zerohash for between $1.5 billion and $2 billion. Zerohash creates cryptocurrency and stablecoin trading infrastructure, including tokenization APIs and other services for institutional clients. Yeah…
– Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) October 29, 2025
If the deal goes through, it would be Mastercard’s biggest move into crypto yet and a nod to how major financial companies are turning to blockchain to make faster international transfers at lower costs.
It has already tested services that allow people to convert cryptocurrencies into traditional fiat currency at checkout. However, the competition is heating up. Stripe bought a similar company called Bridge earlier this year for $1.1 billion.
Meanwhile, Coinbase is in talks to acquire BVNK, a London-based crypto company.
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Mastercard seeks to accelerate Stablecoin payments with Zerohash deal
Mastercard hopes to accelerate the movement of stablecoins between companies and markets. With this acquisition, Mastercard could offer faster and programmable payments that work 24 hours a day in the near future, imitating cryptocurrencies.
With increasing demand for 24/7 transaction support, banks today are experimenting with new ways to move money using blockchain, and this is where companies like Zerohash come in.
These companies act as bridges between regular bank accounts and crypto systems that help businesses connect without having to create an entirely new payment setup.
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Zerohash is backed by major financial investors and offers plug and play crypto tools for regulated businesses. Businesses can use these tools to add crypto features, including sending and receiving stablecoins without having to handle them themselves.
Additionally, with Mastercard adding Zerohash, it will be much easier for fintechs and merchants to get started with cryptocurrencies. As it stands, stablecoins have become popular for payroll, supplier payments and cash management as they settle instantly and offer clear records.
But the system remains complicated. There are different blockchains with different rules and ways to convert cryptocurrencies into cash, which needs a more agile and structured approach.
Players like Mastercard are trying to fix this mess by building unified systems.
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Beyond Zerohash: Mastercard’s Steady Crypto Expansion
Since last year, Mastercard has pursued a multi-layered blockchain strategy. Central to this strategy is its Multi-Token Network (MTN), a blockchain-based infrastructure that is designed to support tokenized assets, stablecoins, and CBDCs.
In June this year, Mastercard partnered with JPMorgan to link its MTN with Kinexys, JPMorgan’s blockchain settlement platform.
We are introducing the Mastercard Multi-Token Network to make transactions within this ecosystem secure, scalable and interoperable as part of our commitment to supporting the #digital asset industry. https://t.co/Vb1JtnSTjx#blockchain pic.twitter.com/MwkkxbyAuk
– Mastercard News (@MastercardNews) June 29, 2023
Additionally, for regular customers, Mastercard has launched Crypto debit cards with companies like Binance and BitPay. These cards allow people to spend cryptocurrency as if they were cash, and the money is converted to local currency at checkout.
Also associated with Chainlink to help over 3 billion cardholders purchase cryptocurrency directly using secure blockchain connections.
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Key takeaways
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Mastercard is expanding its crypto infrastructure with the acquisition of Zerohash and API tool integrations for 24/7 payment transactions
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Mastercard acquisition could streamline crypto integration for fintechs already using its network
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The company is partnering with firms like Chainlink and JPMorgan to build interoperable crypto rails.
The post Mastercard Eyes $2B Zerohash Deal to Expand Crypto Influence appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

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+ Now the payroll giants that move more than 100 billion dollars a year are in play. Backed by $35 million, Zebec is building the operating system for money.