Summary
1. Eliminating Payment Friction through Integration with Existing Systems
The global payment landscape is shifting towards 'seamless integration with existing systems.' The key to supporting the next-generation economic sphere is constructing a 'universal infrastructure' that eliminates payment friction worldwide, enabling secure and instantaneous handling of all assets.
2. AI-Driven Unconscious Transactions: The Transformation to Autonomous Payments
Through AI agents, payments are transitioning from 'human-driven' to autonomous. These self-governing transactions, which intuitively understand user intentions, seamlessly integrate into daily life without conscious awareness. It is essential to monitor future technological trends closely.
3. Ensuring Trust through Integrity: A Return to Essential Value
By viewing the latest technologies as 'complementary components,' existing frameworks are elevated to a higher dimension. The underlying principle is the essential value of 'simplicity and accessibility for everyone,' grounded in unwavering security. This commitment to trustworthiness supports the next-generation payment infrastructure.
With the intensifying competition in the payment industry driven by the development of stablecoins and AI, what are the 'essence of payments' and the changes among players that must not be forgotten?
Mastercard, covering over 220 countries and regions and connecting more than 190 million merchants, was established in 1966 as the Interbank Card Association (ICA). By 2025, its annual payment volume is expected to reach $10.6 trillion (approximately ¥1,681 trillion), with over 3.7 billion cards issued as of March 31, 2026. These figures signify that the company is not merely a 'credit card company' but a 'global value circulation infrastructure' supporting worldwide economic activities.
Currently, Mastercard envisions a 'borderless value circulation' that transcends the framework of existing fiat currencies. The 'Crypto Partner Program,' explained in the previous section, represents a crucial step in this grand global strategy and lays the groundwork for a future where traditional finance and Web3.0 are inseparably integrated.
By exploring Mastercard's perspective, which surveys markets worldwide, it becomes clear that the envisioned future is not about chasing temporary trends.
It is about minimizing payment 'friction' on a global scale and seamlessly integrating digital assets like cryptocurrencies and stablecoins with existing financial systems, evolving into a 'universal infrastructure' where anyone can securely and instantly handle any asset worldwide.
Expanding 'Trust' with Leading Cryptocurrency Companies
According to Mastercard representatives, the 'Crypto Partner Program' already includes over 100 participating companies and institutions.
In recent years, digital assets such as cryptocurrencies and stablecoins have transitioned from existing parallel to traditional financial systems to being utilized in practical applications like cross-border remittances, B2B payments, and complex payment processing. Recognizing this significant turning point, the program is designed as a framework for dialogue and collaboration among players from different sectors, such as cryptocurrency companies, payment service providers, and financial institutions.
The roster of participating companies includes prominent names like stablecoin issuer Circle, cryptocurrency exchanges Binance and Bybit, and security firm Fireblocks. These companies are exploring practical possibilities such as optimizing fund allocation and reducing remittance costs through Mastercard's infrastructure. 'We plan to pursue gradual development while considering technological and regulatory trends,' said a representative.
With blockchain's potential in mind, efforts are steadily expanding to explore connections with existing payment infrastructures and practical applications across various fields.
