Stripe is set to significantly broaden its stablecoin card offerings globally and is also investigating tokenized deposits and DeFi applications, according to Henri Stern, the company’s new head of crypto.
By Krisztian Sandor|Edited by Cheyenne LigonOct 5, 2026, 9:46 a.m. EDT3 min readMake preferred on ShareShare this articleCopy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmailMake preferred on Henri Stern, co-founder of Privy and now head of stablecoins and crypto at Stripe (Stripe)SummaryShow- Stripe is targeting to extend its stablecoin card services to over 100 countries by the end of the year.
- Henri Stern, previously CEO of the crypto wallet infrastructure firm Privy, which Stripe acquired in 2025, has expanded his role to include oversight of stablecoins and crypto at Stripe.
- Last month, spending on stablecoin cards reached approximately $1.2 billion, reflecting a threefold increase from the previous year, as reported by PaymentScan.
Stripe, a leader in global payments, is set to roll out its stablecoin card services across more than 100 countries, aiming to provide an alternative payment method alongside traditional currencies.
Henri Stern, who co-founded the crypto wallet infrastructure company Privy that Stripe acquired last year, has taken on an additional responsibility of managing stablecoins and crypto initiatives at Stripe, as revealed in an interview with CoinDesk.
Stern indicated that Stripe's stablecoin card services are expected to operate in over 100 countries by the end of this year. Current clients include notable names such as crypto exchange Kraken, fintech company Ramp, and payments application Morse.
This expansion coincides with the rapid growth of stablecoin card transactions, which are emerging as a significant segment of the over $300 billion digital dollar market. According to PaymentScan, about $1.2 billion in stablecoins were spent via cards last month, tripling from the same period last year. Although this is still a small portion of the global card payments market, it indicates that stablecoins are increasingly being utilized for everyday purchases, not just trading or international transfers.
Stablecoin card spending volume, monthly (Paymentscan)Stablecoins as a Supplementary Payment Method
Since 2018, the company has issued more than 400 million cards and handled hundreds of billions of dollars in card transactions. The stablecoin offerings leverage this issuing capability and are enhanced by Bridge, a stablecoin infrastructure company acquired by Stripe for $1.1 billion in 2024.
For companies like Ramp, this means they can introduce corporate cards in new markets using stablecoins, avoiding the need to establish separate banking and payment systems in each region. Kraken has also been considering allowing its customers to spend directly from their accounts that hold digital assets.
Stripe is piecing together a comprehensive blockchain payment strategy. Following the acquisitions of Bridge and Privy, it has teamed up with crypto investment firm Paradigm to create Tempo, a blockchain specifically designed for payment solutions. Stripe is also a founding investor in Open Standard, which is working on Open USD, a stablecoin intended to compete with Circle's USDC and Tether's USDT. Recently, Zach Abrams, co-founder of Bridge, transitioned to managing Open Standard full-time.
Stern emphasized that these products are designed to work cohesively without locking users into the Stripe ecosystem.
“Using Stripe, Bridge, Privy, Tempo, and Open USD should provide a seamless experience, as if these systems are inherently compatible,” he stated.
The card services will follow a similar philosophy. While many programs currently utilize Circle's USDC, Stern mentioned that Stripe aims to maintain a position that is “completely stablecoin agnostic and entirely blockchain agnostic.”
This aligns with Stripe's overarching vision: stablecoins should function as an alternative option within existing products rather than necessitating businesses to adopt a separate crypto infrastructure.
“We need to accommodate users who are focused solely on stablecoins while also supporting the millions of Stripe users who rely on traditional fiat systems,” he added. “A significant aspect of crypto's value lies in its open and modular nature, and we want to ensure our users can customize their stack according to their preferences.”
Additionally, Stripe is looking into tokenized deposits, various DeFi applications, and the acceptance of more digital assets for payment, although Stern noted that “the majority of our efforts are centered around stablecoins.”
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The Definitive Stablecoin Landscape Series: Asia Pacific
The Definitive Stablecoin Landscape Series: Asia Pacific
As stablecoins move into regulated finance, APAC is becoming a key proving ground. This report maps the region’s rules, use cases, and RLUSD’s role.
By CoinDesk ResearchSep 15, 2026Commissioned byRippleAs stablecoins move into regulated finance, APAC is becoming a key proving ground. This report maps the region’s rules, use cases, and RLUSD’s role.
Why it matters:
As stablecoins move into regulated finance, APAC is becoming a key proving ground. This report maps the region’s rules, use cases, and RLUSD’s role.
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