Mastercard announced plans to support 24/7 on-chain settlement using regulated stablecoins, including Ripple's RLUSD, enabling settlement on weekends, holidays and outside traditional banking hours. The payments company stated the goal is to improve liquidity management and support faster payment flows. The move expands Mastercard's blockchain strategy and strengthens the role of stablecoins in global payments infrastructure, marking another milestone for RLUSD less than two years after its launch.
Mastercard Expands Settlement to Include Six Regulated Stablecoins
Mastercard will introduce intraday, weekend and holiday settlement options across its global network. The service will support traditional fiat currencies and regulated stablecoins. Supported assets include USDC, PYUSD, USDG, USDP, RLUSD, and SoFiUSD. These stablecoins will operate across several blockchain networks, including Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, Base, Arbitrum, XRPL, Canton and Tempo.
Raj Dhamodharan, Executive Vice President of Blockchain and Digital Assets at Mastercard, said: "The next phase of stablecoin adoption is about real-world utility, especially in settlement, where timing and liquidity matter most." He added that the expansion helps partners operate in an always-on digital economy while maintaining trusted payment safeguards.
Ripple's RLUSD Joins Mastercard's Settlement Network
The inclusion of Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin stands out among the supported assets. Ripple launched RLUSD to serve institutional payment and settlement needs. Since then, the stablecoin has steadily expanded across exchanges, payment providers and enterprise platforms.
Jack McDonald, Senior Vice President of Stablecoins at Ripple, called the partnership a major validation for blockchain-based finance. "Mastercard's move into on-chain settlement is a landmark validation that blockchain technology is ready for the world's most critical payment infrastructure." He added: "RLUSD's inclusion in Mastercard's global settlement network reflects growing demand for trusted, regulated stablecoins built for real-world financial use cases."
Cross River, Lead Bank and Three Other Partners Prepare for Initial Rollout
Several financial institutions and payment providers are expected to participate in the initial rollout. These include Cross River, Lead Bank, CBW Bank, ARQ and Nuvei. Mastercard said the first deployments will focus on the United States and Latin America. Additional regions and partners are expected to join throughout 2026. The initiative builds on previous blockchain pilots and live stablecoin settlement programs conducted by Mastercard.
Mastercard's Stablecoin Settlement Opens Access for Developers and Investors
For developers, the expansion opens access to payment infrastructure that operates around the clock. Building applications with stablecoin settlement may become easier as Mastercard integrates blockchain rails into its existing network. For investors, the move signals growing institutional confidence in regulated digital assets. The inclusion of RLUSD may also strengthen confidence in Ripple's long-term stablecoin strategy.
FAQ
What stablecoins does Mastercard support for 24/7 settlement?
Mastercard supports six regulated stablecoins: USDC, PYUSD, USDG, USDP, RLUSD, and SoFiUSD. These stablecoins operate across blockchain networks including Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, Base, Arbitrum, XRPL, Canton and Tempo.
Which financial institutions are participating in the initial rollout?
The initial rollout includes Cross River, Lead Bank, CBW Bank, ARQ and Nuvei. Mastercard stated the first deployments will focus on the United States and Latin America, with additional regions and partners expected to join throughout 2026.
Why did Mastercard launch 24/7 stablecoin settlement?
Mastercard stated the goal is to improve liquidity management and support faster payment flows. Raj Dhamodharan, Executive Vice President of Blockchain and Digital Assets at Mastercard, said the expansion helps partners operate in an always-on digital economy while maintaining trusted payment safeguards.
