Will Stripe Venture into Blockchain Mainnet? Analyzing the Payment Giant's Blockchain Strategy

Recently, there have been rumors in the cryptocurrency space that payment giant Stripe may launch its own Blockchain Mainnet. Following the acquisition of Bridge and Privy, this could be Stripe's next move in the blockchain field. As a global leading payment service provider, Stripe plays a technical bridge role between transaction parties, ensuring the efficiency and security of the payment process.

If Stripe really launches a blockchain mainnet, it could basically support stablecoin payments and be deeply integrated with its customer payment and merchant settlement systems. Ideally, this could completely reshape the payment system, including:

1. Bypass traditional financial institutions for direct payments;
2. Implement a micropayment subscription model that is difficult for traditional systems to support.
3. Earn profits through short-term deposit balances.

Currently, Stripe mainly operates as a payment gateway and acquirer. If it launches its own Blockchain network, Stripe is expected to replace some functions of traditional financial institutions, which could become an important turning point in the payment industry.

Will Stripe launch a blockchain Mainnet?

Although there is currently no official confirmation, messages from multiple channels have mentioned this possibility. Similar to a certain trading platform launching stock tokenization features based on Arbitrum, Stripe may become the next large fintech company to venture into the Blockchain space.

Stripe's mission is to "increase the internet GDP" and is dedicated to building global economic infrastructure to help all kinds of businesses manage online payments, operations, and growth. From this vision, Blockchain technology undoubtedly has a high level of appeal.

In February 2025, Stripe acquired the stablecoin infrastructure company Bridge for approximately $1.1 billion, strengthening its strategic position in the stablecoin financial infrastructure sector. Subsequently, at the company conference in May, it officially launched the "Stablecoin Financial Account" service.

The service has been launched in 101 countries, and businesses can:

• Hold USDC and USDB stablecoins;
• Transfer USD and EUR through traditional banking channels to deposit and withdraw stablecoins;
• Access and deposit USDC on-chain through multiple mainstream Blockchain networks.

This means that businesses can easily use USD stablecoins on the Stripe platform and achieve efficient fiat deposits and withdrawals through seamlessly integrated traditional banking systems.

In addition, Stripe acquired the Web3 wallet infrastructure company Privy in June 2025. This company offers features such as wallet creation based on email or SSO login, transaction signing, key management, and gas abstraction. Combining existing stablecoin infrastructure with wallet technology, launching its own Blockchain Mainnet to achieve synergistic development of the system seems to be a natural progression.

The Transformation That Stripe's Launch of Blockchain Mainnet May Bring

Although the launch of Stripe's blockchain Mainnet is still a rumor, if it comes true, it could empower a range of financial services that were previously difficult to achieve. Here are a few conceptual directions based on existing businesses and potential expansions.

Stripe's existing features as a payment service provider

To understand how Stripe improves its services through Blockchain, it is essential to first comprehend its current role. As a well-known payment service provider, Stripe acts as a technical bridge between the parties involved in transactions, ensuring a smooth and secure payment process. Its main services include:

• Payment Gateway: Collects user card information, encrypts it and transmits it to the relevant institutions;
• Multiple payment methods supported: supports credit cards, digital wallets, bank transfers, etc.;
• Fraud detection and security assurance: Detecting fraudulent transactions through advanced technology and adhering to security standards;
• Multi-currency and international payment support: automatically convert multiple currencies to facilitate global sales;
• Reporting and analysis tools: Provide merchants with insights on transaction records, success rates, user behavior, etc.;
• Technical Integration and Operational Support: Provide API and SDK to assist enterprises in deploying payment systems, and handle refunds, billing, customer support, and other matters;
• Customer experience optimization: Support for payment scenarios such as subscriptions, installment payments, refunds, etc.;
• Merchant Settlement Intermediary: Collaborating with acquirers or processing independently to settle funds from the issuing bank to the merchant.

Before the emergence of payment service providers, merchants had to integrate multiple payment methods on their own and sign contracts with acquirers one by one, which greatly affected operational efficiency and user experience.

Changes that may be brought by the Stripe Blockchain Mainnet

If Stripe launches a Blockchain Mainnet, it may bring about the following changes:

Basic Scenario

1. Merchant stablecoin account integrated with Stripe Blockchain

Stripe is currently offering stablecoin account services in multiple countries, allowing merchants to hold USDC and USDB, and deposit or withdraw through traditional banking systems or on-chain networks. If they launch their own Blockchain, it is expected to further support deposits and withdrawals through their own chain, improving operational efficiency and expanding application scenarios.

2. Stablecoin Settlement Options

As a payment service provider, Stripe often collaborates with acquirers or assumes settlement functions on its own. If its own Blockchain is introduced, merchants may choose to settle sales revenue in USD stablecoins, which is particularly significant for merchants with high demand for USD but restricted access.

3. User Wallet Service

Stripe has established the infrastructure to create wallets for users through the acquisition of Privy. Although the current focus is on the merchant side, if it combines its own Blockchain and Privy services, it could potentially provide individual users with an easy-to-use wallet that supports payments and other Web3 financial activities.

4. Customer Stablecoin Payment Options

Currently, Stripe mainly supports traditional payment methods. If Web3 wallets are supported, customers will be able to choose to pay with stablecoins.

Ideal scenario

1. Direct payment between customers and merchants

Traditional payment methods rely on existing financial networks. If the Stripe Blockchain supports users to pay merchants directly with stablecoins, it is expected to bypass traditional financial institutions, significantly improving settlement speed and reducing costs. However, it is important to note that the on-chain payment cancellation or refund mechanism is relatively complex and requires the introduction of a sound protection mechanism.

2. Subscription services based on micropayments

Blockchain has micro-payment and streaming subscription capabilities. Currently, subscriptions are mostly billed on a monthly or annual basis, but Stripe Blockchain supports a per-minute billing model, enabling automatic settlement based on actual usage time, bringing a new business model for service providers and consumers.

3. Utilization of DeFi for Short-Term Deposits

The current payment system has a long settlement cycle, partly due to the need to address issues such as fraud, cancellations, and refunds. Even if customers are allowed to pay merchants directly with stablecoins, some funds may still need to temporarily stay in the Stripe Blockchain.

These short-term deposits will form a massive liquidity pool that can be used for DeFi protocols, lending markets, or bond investments, thereby enhancing capital efficiency and generating additional returns.

Conclusion

The rumors about Stripe launching a Blockchain Mainnet have attracted attention. So far, several payment giants have only treated Blockchain and stablecoins as additional features of their traditional businesses. If Stripe truly releases its own Blockchain Mainnet, it could mark an important beginning for a paradigm shift in payment systems.

In the past, Stripe's main role was as a payment gateway or acquirer, but once the Blockchain Mainnet is built, it may take on more functions at a technical level. More importantly, the Stripe Blockchain has the potential to leverage new technologies to significantly enhance payment efficiency and expand new functionalities that traditional systems find difficult to reach, such as micropayment-based streaming subscriptions and automated management of short-term idle funds.

Currently, payment systems are standing on the edge of a wave of technological innovation. Whether the rumors are true or not, any blockchain-related actions from Stripe could have a profound impact on the landscape of the payment industry. Whether we will usher in an era where Blockchain reshapes payment infrastructure remains to be seen.