Payoneer Taps Stripe-Backed Bridge for Stablecoin Payments

The integration is set for a phased rollout, beginning with select markets in the second quarter of 2026 before a wider expansion. This partnership aims to solve key friction points for cross-border businesses, such as converting stablecoins to local currencies and navigating complex blockchain workflows, particularly in emerging markets. Bridge, acquired by Stripe in a deal reportedly valued at $1.1 billion in late 2024, provides the underlying infrastructure for custody and payment rails. This allows Payoneer to abstract away the complexities of blockchain for its nearly two million customers, offering embedded stablecoin services without requiring deep crypto expertise from its users. Stripe's acquisition of Bridge signaled a major push by the payments giant into digital assets, aiming to leverage stablecoins for cheaper and faster cross-border transactions, especially in markets with exchange controls or volatile local currencies. Following the acquisition, Stripe's valuation reportedly soared to $159 billion, with the payment volume on Bridge quadrupling after the U.S. passed stablecoin-friendly legislation. The move taps into a rapidly growing market, with stablecoin transaction volumes reaching $27.6 trillion in 2024, surpassing the combined volume of Visa and Mastercard. This growth highlights a broader trend of enterprises adopting stablecoins for B2B payments, treasury management, and supplier settlements, moving beyond speculative use cases. This partnership follows Payoneer's application with the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to form PAYO Digital Bank. The national trust bank charter would allow Payoneer to issue its own regulated stablecoin, PAYO-USD, and expand its crypto services, positioning it alongside other major financial players seeking to bridge traditional finance and digital assets.