Payments giant Mastercard is reportedly close to acquiring ZeroHash, a cryptocurrency infrastructure and settlement company, in a deal worth around $2 billion, according to Fortune.
The agreement, still in its final negotiation stage, would expand Mastercard’s footprint in digital assets. Founded by Edward Woodford and Brian Liston, ZeroHash helps fintechs, banks, and payment firms integrate crypto services such as staking, custody, fiat-crypto conversion, and NFT transfers. Its partners include Interactive Brokers, DraftKings, and Stripe.
In September, ZeroHash raised $104 million, bringing its valuation to $1 billion. The acquisition is seen as a strategic bet on stablecoins, as ZeroHash provides infrastructure for regulated dollar-backed tokens like PayPal’s PYUSD.
Mastercard has recently strengthened its stablecoin efforts—allowing users to spend stablecoins and partnering with MoonPay to link branded cards to crypto balances.
Following the GENIUS Act, which clarifies U.S. rules around stablecoins, Mastercard appears more confident in expanding into the space. The move also positions it to better compete with Visa and crypto-native firms, though Mastercard has clarified it has no plans to launch its own blockchain. If completed, the deal would mark one of Mastercard’s biggest crypto-related acquisitions to date.
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