Payments processing Fintech Stripe has recently announced two significant updates that underscore its objective to advancing financial technology and enhancing user experience.
The company has partnered with Visa through its newly acquired stablecoin platform, Bridge, to launch a card-issuing product, and has expanded its AI-powered fraud prevention tool, Radar, to cover ACH and SEPA payments.
These developments signal Stripe’s strategic focus on integrating emerging technologies like stablecoins and artificial intelligence to streamline global transactions and combat fraud.
The partnership with Visa leverages Bridge—a stablecoin orchestration platform Stripe acquired for $1.1 billion in October 2024—to enable fintech developers to issue stablecoin-linked Visa cards.
This product allows cardholders to use their stablecoin balances for purchases at any merchant accepting Visa, starting with a rollout in Latin American countries such as Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Chile.
Bridge handles critical backend operations, including stablecoin balance drawdowns and fiat conversions, simplifying the process for developers and ensuring seamless user experiences.
This collaboration aligns with Stripe’s broader vision, articulated by CEO Patrick Collison, to build the world’s “best” stablecoin infrastructure.
By integrating stablecoins—digital currencies pegged to stable assets like the U.S. dollar—Stripe and Visa aim to facilitate faster, cheaper cross-border transactions, particularly in regions with underdeveloped payment infrastructures.
The move reflects the growing mainstream acceptance of stablecoins, with major institutions like Visa and SWIFT increasingly supporting their use, and follows Stripe’s earlier steps into crypto, including a stablecoin payment option adopted in over 70 countries in October 2024.
In parallel, Stripe has expanded its Radar fraud prevention product to include ACH (Automated Clearing House) and SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) payments, as announced on the same day.
Radar, which uses advanced machine learning to assess over 1,000 transaction characteristics in under 100 milliseconds, now offers enhanced protection for non-card payment methods.
This update is timely, given Stripe’s reported 40% increase in non-card payment volume over the past year.
On average, Radar users experience a 42% reduction in SEPA fraud and a 20% reduction in ACH fraud, providing businesses with robust tools to safeguard transactions.
The expansion addresses the rising demand for secure alternative payment methods, which are critical for businesses operating in diverse markets.
By applying AI-driven insights to ACH and SEPA transactions, Stripe empowers merchants to mitigate risks without compromising transaction speed or customer experience.
These updates highlight Stripe’s focus on innovation and security.
The Visa partnership via Bridge positions Stripe at the forefront of the stablecoin adoption movement, potentially unlocking significant cost savings and efficiency gains in global payments.
Meanwhile, Radar’s expansion strengthens Stripe’s fraud prevention capabilities, ensuring trust and reliability across payment types.
As the global financial landscape matures, Stripe’s strategic investments in stablecoins and AI underscore its role as a key player focused on reshaping how money moves worldwide, aiming to offer businesses and consumers more accessible, secure, and efficient financial solutions.