Mastercard Aims to Acquire Crypto and Stablecoin Infrastructure Startup Zerohash

Core Insights - Mastercard is reportedly in late-stage discussions to acquire zerohash, a startup focused on crypto and stablecoin infrastructure, with a potential deal valued between $1.5 billion and $2 billion [2][3] Company Developments - Zerohash recently raised $104 million in a Series D-2 funding round to accelerate product expansion and talent acquisition, driven by increased demand for enterprise-grade on-chain infrastructure [3][4] - The company has established partnerships, including one with Morgan Stanley to enable cryptocurrency trading on E-Trade's platform by 2026, initially allowing trades in bitcoin, ether, and solana [4] - Zerohash will also provide cryptocurrency trading and custody services for OnePay, a FinTech company majority-owned by Walmart, enabling access to bitcoin and ether later this year [5] Market Context - The surge in demand for crypto infrastructure is attributed to growing consumer adoption and new regulatory clarity in the United States and Europe [3] - Mastercard is also competing with Coinbase to acquire BVNK, a FinTech company that specializes in stablecoin payment infrastructure [6]