Dear PointPay Family,
News, events, changes and much more. All this has accompanied us all week, and in order not to get lost in the multitude of news, we have selected for you the top 5 - only the most important, in a convenient TL;DR format.
Mastercard Eyes Major Crypto Expansion with Potential Zerohash Acquisition
Mastercard is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire Chicago-based crypto infrastructure startup Zerohash in a deal valued between $1.5 and $2 billion. If completed, the move would mark one of Mastercard's largest commitments to the stablecoin sector, further solidifying its presence in digital asset payments.
Zerohash, founded in 2017, provides blockchain and stablecoin infrastructure for payment and trading systems. The acquisition talks come as Mastercard continues exploring opportunities in crypto infrastructure, having previously considered deals with other stablecoin providers. While negotiations could still fall through, the potential acquisition underscores Mastercard's growing confidence in the long-term role of stablecoins in global finance.
France Pushes for Bitcoin Reserve to Strengthen Financial Independence
France's center-right UDR party has proposed a national Bitcoin Strategic Reserve aimed at acquiring up to 2% of Bitcoin's total supply over the next seven to eight years. The initiative, led by lawmaker Éric Ciotti, seeks to reinforce the country's financial sovereignty by treating Bitcoin as a modern equivalent of “digital gold.”
The proposal includes the creation of a state-managed institution to oversee Bitcoin holdings and plans to fund the reserve through surplus energy used for Bitcoin mining and public investment programs. If approved, it could allow citizens to pay certain taxes in Bitcoin and would mark France's first large-scale national crypto initiative-positioning the country as a European pioneer in state-level digital asset adoption.
Visa Expands Stablecoin Integration as Usage Surges Fourfold
Visa is scaling up its stablecoin strategy by adding support for four different stablecoins across four blockchains, allowing conversions to more than 25 fiat currencies. The expansion follows a surge in demand, with stablecoin-linked Visa card spending increasing fourfold in the fourth quarter compared to last year.
Since 2020, Visa has processed over $140 billion in crypto and stablecoin transactions and now operates more than 130 related card programs in over 40 countries. The company's latest move reflects growing confidence in stablecoins, particularly after recent regulatory clarity in the U.S., and aims to enhance cross-border payments with faster settlement times and greater efficiency for businesses and consumers alike.
Japan's $2 Trillion Payment Giant TIS Launches Blockchain Platform with Avalanche
Japan's leading payment provider, TIS, has partnered with Ava Labs to launch a new blockchain-based Multi-Token Platform designed to handle digital assets, stablecoins, and tokenized financial products. Built using Avalanche's AvaCloud technology, the platform aims to modernize Japan's traditional payment infrastructure while ensuring compliance with the country's Payment Services Act.
Processing over $2 trillion annually, TIS intends to work with banks, corporations, and public institutions to introduce blockchain efficiencies across the financial ecosystem. The platform supports high transaction speeds and privacy-focused governance features, setting the stage for potential use cases like real-time settlements, embedded finance, and even CBDC experimentation.
Western Union Enters the Crypto Market with Dollar-Backed Stablecoin
Western Union, one of the oldest payment institutions in the world, is preparing to launch its first cryptocurrency - a US dollar-backed stablecoin called the “US Dollar Payment Token (USDPT).” The token will operate on the Solana blockchain and be issued by Anchorage Digital Bank, with the rollout expected in the first half of 2026.
Through USDPT, Western Union plans to offer faster, lower-cost global remittances for its 100 million customers, while also introducing a new digital asset network that enables crypto-to-cash conversions at more than 400,000 branches worldwide. The move comes amid growing adoption of stablecoins by traditional payment companies, as the sector benefits from improved regulation and stable-value frameworks introduced under the new Genius Act.
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