Binance, PayPal and Ripple join Mastercard’s massive new push into blockchain payments

Finance Share Share this article Copy link X icon X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook Email Binance, PayPal and Ripple join Mastercard’s massive new push into blockchain payments More than 85 partners will work with Mastercard to connect on-chain payments with banks, merchants and global commerce as part of the payment giant's recent crypto program. By Helene Braun , AI Boost | Edited by Sam Reynolds Mar 11, 2026, 12:00 p.m. Make us preferred on Google (Cheng Xin/Getty Images) What to know : Mastercard has launched a Crypto Partner Program with more than 85 companies to connect blockchain technology with its global payments infrastructure. The initiative focuses on practical uses such as cross-border transfers, business-to-business payments and global payouts by linking on-chain tools with existing payment rails. The program builds on Mastercard’s earlier crypto efforts and mirrors moves by rivals like Visa, as traditional payment networks seek to integrate digital assets while navigating regulatory and operational complexities. Mastercard has launched a new Crypto Partner Program that brings together more than 85 companies from across the digital asset and payments industries, an effort to link blockchain technology more directly with the infrastructure that underpins global commerce. The program includes crypto exchanges, blockchain developers, fintech firms and banks such as Binance, Circle, Ripple, Gemini, PayPal and Paxos, the company told CoinDesk in a statement. Participants will work with Mastercard to explore how blockchain-based systems can connect with traditional payment rails used by banks, merchants and consumers around the world. Mastercard said the initiative focuses on practical use cases where digital assets are already gaining traction, including cross-border transfers, business-to-business payments and global payouts. Digital assets once operated largely outside the traditional financial system. In recent years, however, companies and financial institutions have begun experimenting with blockchain tools to move money faster across borders or settle transactions around the clock. For payment companies like Mastercard, the challenge is less about replacing existing systems and more about connecting new ones to the networks that already handle global commerce. Mastercard’s network links banks, merchants and consumers in more than 200 countries and territories. The company argues that blockchain-based payments will only scale widely if they can plug into that kind of global infrastructure. The Crypto Partner Program is designed to create that bridge. Companies in the program will work with Mastercard teams to help shape products that combine on-chain tools — such as programmable payments or tokenized assets — with established payment rails. The initiative also gives partners access to forums where they can collaborate with one another and with Mastercard’s broader ecosystem of financial institutions and merchants. The move builds on several earlier efforts by Mastercard to engage with the digital asset industry. The company has supported crypto-linked payment cards, backed blockchain startups through its Start Path accelerator and developed services aimed at helping banks manage crypto compliance and risk. Competitors have taken similar steps. Visa has worked with stablecoin issuers and blockchain firms to test settlement using digital dollars, while major banks continue to explore tokenized deposits and blockchain-based payment systems. Still, integrating digital assets into everyday commerce remains a complex process. Payments require consistent standards, regulatory oversight and systems that work across borders — areas where traditional card networks have decades of experience. Mastercard Global Payments Ripple Binance PayPal AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards . For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy . More For You Pudgy Penguins: Challenging the Pokemon and Disney Legacy in the Global IP Race By CoinDesk Research Feb 27, 2026 Commissioned by Pudgy Penguins CoinDesk Research looks into how Pudgy Penguins disrupts traditional toys market via a phygital model. With 2M+ units sold, they scale via global partnerships and events. What to know : Disrupting a Stagnant Market : Pudgy Penguins is utilizing a "Negative CAC" model to challenge the traditional $31.7B licensed toy industry by treating physical merchandise as a profitable user acquisition tool rather than just a final product. View Full Report More For You DeFi lending platform Aave sees a rare $27 million liquidations after a price glitch By Margaux Nijkerk | Edited by Aoyon Ashraf 13 hours ago The blockchain data flagged shows a spike in liquidations over the past 24 hours. Some observers believe the event may have been linked to a price update in an risk-oracle system that Aave uses to determine the value of collateral. What to know : Roughly $27 million worth of borrower positions were liquidated on the DeFi lending platform Aave on March 10, according to data from risk firm Chaos Labs. Some observers say the liquidations may have been triggered by a temporary discrepancy in the price of wstETH relative to ETH reported by Aave’s risk-oracle, which appeared lower than the market ratio at the time. 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