Coinbase and Mastercard Locked in $2B BVNK Acquisition Race

Coinbase and Mastercard are in late talks to buy London stablecoin firm BVNK. The deal could reshape crypto payments and follow fresh institutional backing for BVNK this week.

Coinbase and Mastercard Race to Snap Up in $2B Deal

A big deal may be unfolding in crypto payments. According to Fortune, Coinbase and Mastercard have held advanced talks to acquire, a London-based stablecoin infrastructure firm. The potential price sits between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion, with many reports centering around roughly $2 billion. If it completes, the sale would be one of the largest moves yet into stable coin settlement rails.

Source : Fortune

What Bvnk Does And Why It Matters

The company builds technology that helps businesses move money using stablecoins. It offers APIs and settlement tools that link banks, merchants, and blockchains so fiat and token transfers happen quickly. That kind of plumbing is exactly what both crypto firms and card networks want to scale cross-border payments and cut costs. Recent company notes show strong growth in payments and client sign-ups.

Coinbase Leads the Bidding War — Expanding Beyond Exchange Into Payment Infrastructure

People close to the talks say Coinbase currently leads the process. For it, owning BVNK’s rails would deepen its payments stack — letting it offer merchants instant resolution and new custody options tied to stable coins. The move would extend firms beyond trading into core payment deal for global commerce.

Mastercard’s Web3 Ambitions Strengthen as It Eyes Stablecoin Rails

The company has been building Web3 tools and exploring token-based settlement. Buying BVNK would give the firm a regulated, operational bridge into stablecoin flows — improving cross-border speed and lowering fees while keeping ties to legacy card rails. This fits Mastercard’s recent public pushes into token and blockchain services.

Recent Backing That Changed The Picture

BVNK announced a strategic investment from Citi Ventures. That investment raised firm’s profile and likely shaped bidder interest and valuation expectations. Big-bank backing signals stronger institutional trust in it’s compliance-first approach.

Market Context: Stablecoin Volumes And Why They Matter

Stablecoin settlement volumes have climbed into the trillions annually. Independent research and industry reports show global stable coin flows hitting multi-trillion dollar scales in recent years, underlining why companies race to own settlement infrastructure. Faster settlement rails can cut costs, speed cross-border trade, and offer new merchant services.

What This Means For Users And The Industry

Coinbase or Mastercard, whoever wins, expect faster stablecoin payouts for merchants, more institutional partnerships, and a push toward tokenized settlements in banking corridors. For investors, the sale could be a major exit event. For regulators, the deal will raise questions about oversight and system risk as traditional finance and crypto rails converge.