Mastercard Prepares to Expand Network Capabilities for New Settlement Choices

Mastercard plans to expand its settlement capabilities to provide issuers and acquirers with more choices regarding how and when transactions are settled. The new features, announced in a Wednesday press release, include stablecoin, intraday, holiday, and weekend options. These enhancements will support both fiat currencies and on-chain card settlement using regulated stablecoins, aiming to improve liquidity management and expand the flexibility of money movement while operating alongside existing processes. The capabilities are particularly relevant for cross-border payments, treasury, and payouts where timing and transparency are critical. Accessible through the company's existing global infrastructure, the new settlement options ensure consistency, scalability, and interoperability across Mastercard's ecosystem. "The next phase of stablecoin adoption is about real-world utility, especially in settlement, where timing and liquidity matter most," said Raj Dhamodharan, Mastercard's executive vice president of Blockchain & Digital Assets. "By introducing intraday and weekend on settlement options across our global network, we're expanding how partners manage liquidity and operate in an always-on digital economy while maintaining the trust, resilience and safeguards they expect from Mastercard." Mastercard has been integrating stablecoins into its network, viewing them as essential rails for transactions. CEO Michael Miebach noted that the company has spent over a decade in digital assets and considers stablecoins another currency to support within its network. The announcement comes shortly after Mastercard secured a BitLicense from the New York State Department of Financial Services, highlighting the company's commitment to compliance in the evolving digital asset landscape.

(Source：Pymnts)