Ripple’s stablecoin joins Circle, Paxos offerings in payment infrastructure expansion
Mastercard is expanding its stablecoin settlement infrastructure to include Ripple’s RLUSD alongside offerings from Circle, Paxos, and SoFi, enabling card transaction settlement through regulated digital assets on multiple blockchains.
The expansion allows issuers and acquirers to settle transactions intraday, on weekends, and on holidays, operating alongside traditional fiat rails rather than replacing them. Supported blockchains include Arbitrum, Base, Canton, Ethereum, Polygon, Solana, Tempo, and the XRP Ledger.
Mastercard described the move as a “network-level enhancement” designed to preserve existing security standards, fraud safeguards, and dispute processes. Initial support is expected from ARQ, CBW Bank, Cross River, Lead Bank, and Nuvei, with early focus on the United States and Latin America.
“The next phase of stablecoin adoption is about real-world utility, especially in settlement, where timing and liquidity matter most,” said Raj Dhamodharan, executive vice president for Blockchain and Digital Assets at Mastercard. “By introducing intraday and weekend 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.”
Jack McDonald, senior vice president of stablecoins at Ripple, called the inclusion “a landmark validation that blockchain technology is ready for the world’s most critical payment infrastructure.” He added that RLUSD’s placement in Mastercard’s global settlement network reflects growing demand for trusted, regulated stablecoins on public blockchains like the XRP Ledger.
The stablecoin settlement framework includes Circle’s USDC, Paxos-issued assets (PYUSD, USDG, USDP), Ripple’s RLUSD, and SoFi’s SoFiUSD. Kash Razzaghi, chief commercial officer at Circle, noted that demand is growing for infrastructure that can operate beyond banking hours, positioning stablecoin settlement as a tool for institutions managing liquidity across time zones.
Luca Cosentino of Cross River described the expansion as “a powerful tool for faster and more transparent settlement.”
Mastercard plans further expansion through 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The integration sits within the company’s broader push into blockchain infrastructure, moving beyond traditional payment rails while maintaining compatibility with legacy settlement processes.
At the time of announcement, XRP traded at $1.24.
