Payments infrastructure company Rain has formally launched the Agentic Payments Alliance, an initiative backed by 26 founding members that bridges traditional finance and blockchain-based payments. The founding roster includes Visa, Mastercard, Circle, Solana, and Uniswap, according to announcements on August 19, 2026.
The alliance is designed to advance digital and programmable payments by combining card payment expertise, stablecoin infrastructure, blockchain networks, and decentralized finance. It reflects increasing collaboration between established payment networks and crypto-native companies, and is expected to encourage interoperability and accelerate next-generation payment solutions.
In a related expansion, Rain said its stablecoin payment network now reaches more than 100,000 merchant locations. CEO Farooq Malik told The Block that transactions are processed through Visa’s network. Rain issues cards that let users spend stablecoins at traditional retail locations, routing purchases through Visa so merchants do not need crypto-specific systems. The company is preparing to give merchants the option to settle directly in stablecoins, a move that could reduce transaction fees and processing times, particularly for cross-border payments.
Currently, most Rain transactions are likely settled in fiat, but the planned stablecoin settlement feature would let participating businesses receive funds directly in digital assets. While the expansion marks a meaningful milestone for stablecoin usability, the regulatory landscape remains in flux, and future policy changes could affect how Rain and similar companies operate.
