Zepz has revealed plans to introduce Visa cards linked to stablecoins for users of its Sendwave Wallet, in collaboration with Bridge, a subsidiary of Stripe. This pioneering initiative enables customers to utilise stablecoin-backed digital dollars across millions of merchants globally.
The forthcoming card offering will be accessible to users in various new regions, including Australia, the United States, and Canada. Zepz is particularly targeting cross-border communities, with an extensive outreach to diaspora populations worldwide. The company asserts that its Sendwave Wallet, launched in October, is now operational in over 100 countries.
New Spending Option
The Sendwave Wallet empowers customers to send, receive, and store US dollar-denominated stablecoins. These assets can now be directly spent with a Visa card at any merchant that accepts Visa. Bridge facilitates the connection between stablecoin wallets and conventional payment networks.
Upon making a purchase, Bridge converts the stablecoin balance into the local currency at the point of sale. Consequently, merchants receive payment in their standard national currency. This innovative process is designed to protect customers from currency volatility and mitigate hefty money transfer fees—common obstacles in cross-border transactions.
Global Remittances
Zepz owns both WorldRemit and Sendwave, collectively serving over nine million customers across 5,000 corridors worldwide. The company emphasises that its digital offerings provide swifter and more convenient means for individuals to send money internationally.
Stablecoins, digital assets pegged to traditional currencies—most notably the US dollar—are increasingly utilised in payments, particularly within economies with unstable local currencies.
Holders of these assets in the Sendwave Wallet can now employ their balances for daily expenditures without requiring prior conversion to local currency or transferring funds to a different account.
Expanding Partnership
Bridge, which engineered the underlying architecture for this initiative, was acquired by Stripe earlier this year. Its technology empowers fintech companies to rapidly launch linked card products across diverse countries.
Mark Lenhard, CEO of Zepz, remarked that this partnership revolutionises financial services for international users, stating that, for years, cross-border communities have been neglected by a financial system not tailored to their needs.
We’re altering that paradigm. By harnessing Bridge’s infrastructure, Sendwave customers can use their digital dollar balance not just to send, receive, and hold funds, but to spend them seamlessly in their daily lives.
This evolution transcends mere money transfer; it enhances access, stability, and financial choice through a reliable experience.
Visa cards supported by stablecoin wallets are anticipated to launch in select markets starting in early 2026. Zepz’s alliance with Stripe encompasses ambitions for broader global expansion, with Brazil earmarked as one of the initial countries to benefit from this card.
Technology Access
Zach Abrams, CEO and Co-Founder of Bridge, noted that the company devised its card-issuing platform to address a significant challenge faced by financial technology firms.
“We launched our card issuance platform earlier this year to fill a critical gap in the market,” affirmed Zach Abrams. “Global fintechs like Zepz should not endure protracted timelines to introduce cards in every country. With Bridge’s solutions, Zepz can swiftly launch card services and expand into new territories with just a few lines of code.”
Bridge’s technology facilitates users in spending digital dollars for both in-person and online transactions without the need for separate money transfers. Zepz aims to expand the availability of its stablecoin-linked Visa cards into additional markets as part of its ongoing international development strategy.
Source link: Ecommercenews.com.au.
