Visa and Mesh are bringing crypto spending to more than 175 million merchant locations without requiring users to get a separate card. The partnership, announced on October 19, 2026, will let customers use crypto and stablecoin balances for purchases while merchants continue receiving payments through Visa’s existing network.
Key takeaways
- Purchases will use a Visa credential generated in the background.
- Mesh will convert balances when customers pay.
- The service’s stated reach exceeds 200 countries and territories.
- Visa reports annual stablecoin card payment growth of nearly 200%.
How Visa and Mesh will handle crypto spending
The Visa-Mesh crypto spending service will support purchases online and in stores through a Visa credential created behind the scenes. Customers will not have to move their assets or sell them before making a purchase.
Mesh will manage funding and conversion at checkout, drawing on crypto, stablecoin or fiat balances. Merchants will receive payment through the regular card network rather than taking crypto directly, with no new hardware or checkout changes required.
Crypto “never had a spending problem, it has a last-mile problem,” Mesh CEO Bam Azizi said, adding that the previous solution involved getting a separate card.
Global reach through one wallet integration
The service covers more than 200 countries and territories, according to Visa’s global head of growth, Rubail Birwadker. He said the partnership gives consumers more ways to use their digital asset balances.
Wallet providers can enable the service through a single integration with Mesh. Mesh will serve as program manager, taking responsibility for customer onboarding and know-your-customer checks as well as funding and conversion.
Stablecoin card payments grow nearly 200%
Visa said stablecoin card payments across its network are growing nearly 200% annually. Its fiscal second quarter of 2026 included more than 160 stablecoin card programs, whose payment volume rose nearly 200% from a year earlier; an October update showed growth continuing at about that rate.
Visa’s stablecoin settlement business separately exceeded an annualized rate of $20 billion. Across its broader payments business, Visa processed $14.2 trillion in fiscal 2025.
Paymentscan data put stablecoin card spending above $10.9 billion by August 2026. July’s total exceeded $1 billion, setting a record at the time. Crypto card volume had been near $1.5 billion a month late in 2025, while Crypto.com estimated worldwide crypto ownership at 774 million people by June.
Rollout details are still pending
The companies have not announced a launch date for the Visa-Mesh crypto spending service. Supported devices and wallets remain pending, and Mesh has not identified the eligible coins.
Mesh said it will announce those details as it finalizes rollout plans.
Article produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editorial team.