Visa partners with Mesh to let consumers spend crypto at 175 million merchants

Visa announced a partnership with crypto‑payments infrastructure firm Mesh that will let users pay with cryptocurrency or stablecoins directly from wallet apps at more than 175 million merchant locations worldwide. Mesh will handle the conversion and funding of each transaction while Visa provides the underlying credential, so merchants receive a standard Visa payment. The companies did not disclose launch dates, supported wallets or eligible digital assets. Mesh CEO Bam Azizi and Visa’s global head of growth Rubail Birwadker highlighted the deal as a solution to crypto’s “last‑mile” problem.

The collaboration gives Visa exposure to the growing crypto‑spending market without requiring merchants to change their checkout systems, potentially increasing transaction volume on Visa’s network. Mesh gains access to Visa’s global reach, which could accelerate adoption of its crypto‑payment solution among wallet providers and exchanges.

  • 1The partnership was announced on Oct. 19, 2026.
  • 2The service will enable crypto and stablecoin payments at more than 175 million merchant locations worldwide.
  • 3Visa processed $14.2 trillion in payment volume in fiscal 2025.
  • 4Mesh CEO and co‑founder Bam Azizi said the deal closes crypto’s “last‑mile” problem.
  • 5Visa’s global head of growth Rubail Birwadker said the partnership widens ways digital asset balances can connect to payment experiences.
  • 6Mesh raised $75 million in a Series C round in January 2026, valuing the company at $1 billion.

Sources