Stripe completes a $1.1 billion acquisition of crypto platform Bridge
This could mark the beginning of institutional adoption in crypto payment.
Stripe, the San Francisco- and Dublin-based payment processor valued at $70 billion, has finalised its biggest acquisition yet – a stablecoin platform called Bridge – for $1.1 billion.
Bridge, co-founded in 2022 by Coinbase and Square alumni Zach Abrams and Sean Yu, focuses on stablecoin payments. With this deal, Stripe is making a clear move into the crypto space.
This isn’t Stripe’s first attempt at crypto. Back in 2014, it was one of the early adopters of Bitcoin payments, only to backtrack in 2018, saying it was too slow and unpredictable. But times have changed, and so has Stripe’s approach.
Just recently, the company integrated Circle USD (USDC) stablecoin into its platform, allowing businesses to accept stablecoin payments. Now, with Bridge in its pocket, Stripe is doubling down on digital assets—but this time, with more structure.
Stripe has never been shy about expanding through acquisitions. Over the years, it has picked up companies like Paystack, Lemon Squeezy, and BBPOS among others, mostly to strengthen its payment infrastructure.
But this one feels different.
Stablecoins are becoming a serious player in the financial world, offering a way to make cross-border payments faster and cheaper. With Bridge’s technology, Stripe could be positioning itself for a bigger role in the future of global transactions.
Of course, this doesn’t mean it’s all smooth sailing. The crypto industry is still dealing with regulatory uncertainties, and stablecoin adoption isn’t universal. Whether this acquisition is Stripe’s way of fully committing to crypto or just another strategic experiment remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: crypto payments aren’t just a passing trend, and Stripe is making sure it’s not left behind.
