Visa and Bridge, a Stripe-acquired startup, launched stablecoin-backed cards in Latin America on April 30, 2025, enabling users in Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Chile to spend stablecoins at any Visa-accepting merchant, bridging crypto and traditional finance.
Stablecoins, pegged 1:1 to the dollar, aim to solve crypto volatility issues; Chainalysis reported a 880% global adoption surge from 2020-2021, with Latin America ranking 5th, driven by financial inclusion needs in a region where 70% of El Salvador’s population lacked bank accounts in 2022.
This move aligns with growing regulatory clarity, as the U.S. Congress is likely to pass a stablecoin bill in 2025, per Reuters, potentially encouraging more financial firms to adopt stablecoins, which Bridge CEO Zach Abrams says act as “room-temperature superconductors” for faster, cheaper global payments.
