Payward-backed fintech Reap and Visa are launching stablecoin-linked Visa credit card programs in more than 100 markets, extending Reap’s issuance footprint from Asia and Latin America into EMEA and Africa. Reap’s platform manages authorization, processing, compliance frameworks and operations, while Visa provides the global network, allowing cardholders to spend at more than 175 million Visa-accepting merchant locations. Visa says global stablecoin settlement has reached a $20 billion annual run rate, up 15 times year over year, and more than 160 stablecoin card programs operate worldwide. Reap also supports direct stablecoin settlement with Visa in Asia Pacific, enabling blockchain-based settlement outside traditional banking hours and potentially reducing issuers’ prefunding needs. The company is preparing a Mexican peso stablecoin and exploring tokens pegged to the Hong Kong dollar, euro, won and yen for round-the-clock foreign-exchange settlement and lower cross-border costs. Reap’s card and payments volume rose 33% year over year in the first half of 2026 after revenue and volume tripled in 2025. Visa and Reap plan to explore multicurrency cards and authenticated payments by trusted AI agents, while emphasizing that blockchain settlement will complement rather than replace traditional banking infrastructure.