Mastercard is reportedly nearing a deal to acquire the crypto and stablecoin infrastructure startup Zerohash. The companies are in the final stages of negotiations, with the acquisition potentially valued between $1.5 billion and $2 billion. However, there’s a chance the deal might fall through, according to a report by Fortune, which cited unnamed sources.
When approached for a comment, Zerohash stated via email that it does not discuss rumors or speculation about its business. Similarly, Mastercard has opted not to comment on the report.
Fortune’s article revealed that Zerohash supports corporate efforts involving a stablecoin and cryptocurrency trading platform, along with an API for tokenization.
On September 22, Zerohash announced it had raised $104 million in its latest funding round, which is part of a Series D-2 effort aimed at expanding its product offerings and hiring new employees. The company noted that this investment comes at a time when demand for advanced on-chain infrastructure is increasing, driven by heightened consumer adoption and clearer regulations in both the US and Europe.
The founder and CEO of Zerohash, Edward Woodford, mentioned in a release that the funding demonstrates the trust built with investors and clients. He emphasized the growth and track record developed since the company’s inception in 2017, stating that tokenization is no longer a future prospect—it’s happening now, with Zerohash being a key player behind it.
On September 23, it was reported that Zerohash formed a partnership with Morgan Stanley to enable cryptocurrency trading within the company’s online stock trading platform, E-Trade. This service is expected to launch in the first half of 2026, allowing E-Trade clients to trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana initially.
Then on October 3, news surfaced that Zerohash would be launching a cryptocurrency trading and storage service in partnership with One Pay, a financial app mostly owned by Walmart, which plans to introduce access to Bitcoin and Ether later this year.
Lastly, on October 9, it was disclosed that both Mastercard and the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase are vying to acquire BVNK, a FinTech firm specializing in stablecoin payment infrastructure. BVNK provides an enterprise-level infrastructure that allows companies to facilitate payments using stablecoins.
