Mastercard is in the final stages of negotiations to acquire the American crypto startup Zerohash, which specializes in infrastructure solutions for working with stablecoins and other digital assets. The potential deal value could range from $1.5 billion to $2 billion, although the finalization of the contract is not yet guaranteed.
This is reported by Finway
Mastercard’s Strategy in the Digital Asset Market
Zerohash is known as a provider of key technologies for facilitating transactions in stablecoins and ensuring the integration of digital assets into financial services. Previously, the company raised $104 million in a funding round led by brokerage firm Interactive Brokers, with participation from financial giants such as Morgan Stanley, SoFi, Apollo, and other strategic investors.
According to sources, Mastercard had also considered acquiring another cryptocurrency startup — BVNK, which specializes in similar solutions for stablecoins. Negotiations with BVNK reached an advanced stage, but exclusive negotiation rights were granted to Coinbase. The potential value of the deal with BVNK was also estimated at $2 billion.
Prospects for Mastercard’s Cryptocurrency Services
In the context of developing cryptocurrency services, the head of Mastercard’s cryptocurrency division in Europe, Christian Rau, emphasized that the company views cryptocurrencies primarily as a potential payment technology that can simplify and accelerate transactions between users and businesses.
“Mastercard is already implementing crypto services, and stablecoins are considered a useful tool for speeding up transactions.”
Through these initiatives, Mastercard aims to strengthen its position in the digital finance market and offer customers cutting-edge solutions for secure and fast transactions using stablecoins and other digital assets.