What Mastercard is racing to snag before Visa — or Coinbase — gets there first

Mastercard is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire Zerohash, a stablecoin infrastructure startup, for billions. This potential deal signifies a major investment by a traditional financial institution in the crypto space. Zerohash provides tools for banking companies to offer their own cryptocurrency products, including stablecoins. Mastercard previously showed interest in acquiring BVNK, another stablecoin integration startup. Stablecoins are digital currencies pegged to traditional currencies, offering stability compared to volatile cryptocurrencies, making them attractive for practical applications. Several companies, like Circle and Stripe, are also making significant moves in stablecoin infrastructure. Mastercard has previously shown interest in stablecoins, joining organizations promoting their adoption. Retail giants like Walmart and Amazon are also exploring the use of stablecoins for payments. This surge of interest coincides with an era of deregulation, potentially fueled by political changes. The rise of stablecoins suggests a shift towards practical use cases within the cryptocurrency world.