Airtm is expanding its stablecoin payment infrastructure through a partnership with BVNK, the digital asset payments provider acquired by Mastercard. Announced on October 29 at the Stellar Meridian Conference, the agreement will use the Stellar blockchain to connect Airtm wallets with participating retailers, giving users in emerging markets a direct way to spend digital dollar balances without moving funds to a separate payment service.
The integration will operate through Airtm Connect, a platform designed to link digital asset businesses with Airtm’s existing financial services network. Once available, eligible users will be able to pay participating merchants directly from their wallets. Airtm CEO Rubén Galindo Steckel said the company has spent the past decade building financial infrastructure that connects underserved markets with the global dollar economy, adding that practical spending options are as important as reliable wallet funding.
BVNK will add another infrastructure option for Airtm, supporting payment flows alongside the company’s existing providers. The agreement also gives Airtm access to Mastercard’s Global Money Platform through BVNK, potentially broadening payment options for participating businesses. Mastercard completed its acquisition of BVNK in August 2026 under a deal valued at up to $1.8 billion.
Stellar will handle the blockchain component of the integration. The network supports digital asset transfers and cross-border payment applications, making it relevant for moving value internationally without relying exclusively on traditional banking rails. The companies plan to begin rolling out the service in Q4 2026, though initial markets, supported merchants, eligible stablecoins, fees, transaction limits and consumer protections remain undisclosed.
BVNK’s Global Head of Partnerships Kimberly Mescal Julien framed Airtm Connect as a way to treat wallets as distribution channels for commerce. However, merchant-side acceptance, local corridors and conversion steps will determine whether the service reduces friction or adds another technical path behind the wallet.
