Will Stripe Launch Its Own Blockchain Network? Analyzing the Payment Giant's Blockchain Layout

Recently, there have been rumors in the crypto space that payment giant Stripe intends to launch its own Blockchain network. After acquiring Bridge and Privy, launching a dedicated chain may be the next strategic move in its Blockchain layout. As a leading global payment service provider, Stripe plays the role of a technical bridge between merchants, acquirers, card networks, and issuing banks, ensuring transactions are efficient and secure.

If Stripe really launches a Blockchain mainnet, it could potentially support stablecoin payments, with deep integration of customer payments and merchant settlements under basic circumstances; in an ideal scenario, it could completely reshape the payment system, including:

1. Bypass traditional financial institutions for direct payments;

2. Achieve micro-payment subscription models that are difficult to support in traditional systems;

3. Generate additional income through short-term deposit balances.

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

Will Stripe launch a Blockchain mainnet?

Rumors about Stripe launching a Blockchain network have been raised by multiple industry observers. Although this has not yet been officially confirmed, several sources have mentioned this matter. Similar to a trading platform launching stock tokenization features based on Layer 2 technology, Stripe may be the next large fintech company to enter the Blockchain field.

Stripe's mission is "to increase the Internet's GDP," focusing on building global economic infrastructure to help companies from startups to large enterprises manage online payments, operations, and growth. From this vision, Blockchain is undoubtedly a highly attractive technology.

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

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

• Hold multiple stablecoins;
• Deposit and withdraw stablecoins through traditional financial channels by transferring US dollars and euros;
• On-chain access and deposit of stablecoins through multiple mainstream Blockchain networks.

This means that businesses can easily access dollar-based stablecoins on the Stripe platform and achieve efficient fiat currency deposits and withdrawals through a seamlessly integrated traditional banking system.

In addition, Stripe acquired the Web3 wallet infrastructure startup Privy in June 2025, which offers features such as wallet creation via email or SSO login, transaction signing, key management, and gas abstraction. Combining the existing stablecoin infrastructure with wallet technology to launch its own Blockchain network for the synergistic development of the system seems to be a natural progression.

Changes That May Arise from Stripe's Launch of a Blockchain Network

Although it is rumored that Stripe will launch a Blockchain mainnet, if it becomes true, it could empower a range of financial services that were previously unattainable. Below are several conceptual directions based on existing business and potential expansions.

Stripe's existing capabilities as a payment service provider

To understand how Stripe can improve its services through Blockchain, one must first grasp the role it currently plays. As one of the most well-known payment service providers, Stripe acts as a technological bridge among merchants, acquirers, card organizations, and issuing banks, ensuring smooth and secure payment processes. Its main services include:

• Payment Gateway
• Supports multiple payment methods
• Fraud Detection and Security Assurance
• Multi-currency and international payment support
• Reporting and Analysis Tools
• Technical Integration and Operational Support
• Customer Experience Optimization
• Merchant Settlement Intermediary

Before the emergence of payment service providers, merchants needed to integrate multiple payment methods on their own and sign contracts with acquirers one by one, greatly affecting operations and user experience.

The transformation that the Stripe Blockchain network may bring

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

Basic Scenario

1. Merchant Stablecoin Account and Blockchain Network Integration

Stripe is currently providing stablecoin account services in multiple countries, allowing merchants to hold various stablecoins and conduct deposits and withdrawals through traditional banking systems or on-chain networks. If it launches its own Blockchain, it is expected to further support deposits and withdrawals via its own chain, improving operational efficiency and expanding application scenarios.

2. Stablecoin Settlement Options

Stripe, as a payment service provider, often collaborates with acquirers or takes on settlement functions itself. If a proprietary 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 limited access.

3. User Wallet Services

Stripe has established the infrastructure for creating wallets for users through the acquisition of Privy. Although the current focus is on the merchant side, if combined with 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 such as credit cards and bank accounts. If Web3 wallets are supported, customers will be able to choose to make payments using stablecoins.

Ideal Scenario

1. Direct payment between customers and merchants

Payments made through credit cards or bank accounts rely on traditional financial networks. If Stripe Blockchain supports users to pay merchants directly in stablecoins, it is expected to bypass traditional financial institutions, significantly improving settlement speed and reducing costs. However, it is important to note that the cancellation or refund mechanism for on-chain payments is relatively complex, and a comprehensive protection mechanism needs to be introduced.

2. Subscription Services Based on Micropayments

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

3. DeFi Utilization of 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 large liquidity pool that can be used for DeFi protocols, lending markets, or bond investments, thereby enhancing capital efficiency and generating additional returns.

Conclusion

After long-term attention to the stablecoin industry and observing the relevant ecosystem, it is not difficult to find that the rumors about Stripe launching its own Blockchain mainnet are indeed quite interesting. So far, many payment giants have only treated Blockchain and stablecoins as additional features of their traditional businesses. If Stripe truly releases its own Blockchain network, it could mark an important beginning for the paradigm shift in payment systems.

In the past, Stripe's main role was as a payment gateway or acquirer, but once a Blockchain network is built, it may simultaneously take on the functions of both issuer and card organization at a technical level. More importantly, Stripe Blockchain has the potential to leverage Blockchain technology to significantly enhance payment efficiency and develop 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 on the edge of an innovation wave driven by Blockchain. Whether the rumors are true or not, any blockchain-related actions by Stripe could have a profound impact on the payment industry landscape. Whether we will usher in an era where Blockchain reshapes payment infrastructure remains to be seen.