Stripe stablecoin accounts go live in over 100 countries

Financial infrastructure company Stripe has launched stablecoin accounts in over 100 countries that will allow users to transact using stablecoins. The feature was announced during Stripe’s annual user event in San Francisco, where the company revealed a broader push into crypto and AI. The new Stablecoin Financial Accounts will initially let Stripe clients hold balances in Circle’s USD Coin (USDC) and Bridge’s USDB, receive payments through both traditional and crypto rails, and send stablecoins globally. The rollout is designed to serve businesses operating in countries with volatile currencies, limited banking access, or high cross-border payment costs. Stripe says the product will help businesses “hedge against inflation, more easily access the global economy.” The service is available in over 100 countries, including Argentina, Turkey, Chile, Colombia, and Peru, regions where stablecoins are increasingly used as a store of value and a hedge against local currency devaluation. The launch comes as Stripe has witnessed a sharp rise in global stablecoin usage, with stablecoin transaction volumes surging over 50% in the past year. Stripe was one of the first major payments companies to embrace crypto, introducing Bitcoin support back in 2014. But by 2018, Stripe pulled the plug, citing rising fees and slower transaction speeds. However, in late 2024, the company re-entered the sector with a “Pay with Crypto” feature, that allows merchants to accept USDC and Pax Dollar payments across Ethereum, Solana, and Polygon. Since then, Stripe has doubled down. Earlier this year, it acquired Bridge, a stablecoin infrastructure provider, for $1.1 billion. Founded by former Coinbase executives, Bridge now powers much of Stripe’s blockchain backend, handling wallet integration, real-time settlement, and on-chain transfers. Stripe joins other major players in the payments industry, such as PayPal, Visa, and Mastercard, in embracing stablecoins as they gain traction in global finance. PayPal has been actively expanding the use of its own stablecoin, PayPal USD (PYUSD). Visa has also been investing in stablecoin infrastructure and recently partnered with Bridge to launch stablecoin payments in Latin America. Source: https://crypto.news/stripe-stablecoin-accounts-go-live-in-over-100-countries/