TRON has joined Mastercard’s Crypto Partner Program as the payments company expands its collaboration with blockchain, fintech and banking participants working on digital asset payments.
The move joins TRON among more than 85 companies participating in the Mastercard-led effort to connect blockchain-based payments infrastructure with existing financial networks.
According to a statement from TRON DAO and Mastercard, the program is designed to support collaboration in practical use cases such as cross-border remittances, business-to-business remittances, payments, and settlements.
Mastercard expands on-chain payment partner network
Mastercard said the Crypto Partner Program was created to bring together crypto-native companies, payment providers and financial institutions as digital assets become more widely used in the real world.
TRON has joined the @Mastercard Crypto Partner Program, reflecting our shared belief that the next stage of on-chain payments will be built through collaboration.
Digital assets move towards real-world use, connecting blockchain infrastructure with existing payment networks… pic.twitter.com/eZMyEa3M8j
— TRON DAO (@trondao) March 13, 2026
The company described the initiative as a place for dialogue and collaboration as blockchain-based payment activities work in tandem with traditional finance, supporting real-world financial activities in the background.
In a release, Mastercard reported that business and institutional applications are growing in popularity, particularly in payments, cross-border funds transfers, payments, and B2B transfers. The company says it aims to integrate the speed and programmability of digital assets into today’s card rails and global trade flows.
TRON DAO claimed that its involvement was based on the view that the next stage of on-chain payments will be collaborative. The organization also said that the integration of blockchain infrastructure and payment networks is becoming increasingly important as digital assets approach usefulness.
The program expands on previous Mastercard Bitcoin program activities, including the Start Path accelerator track for blockchain and digital asset startups and the Engage platform, which includes a crypto card program.
Stablecoins and payment tools form the core of the program
At the heart of Mastercard’s broader crypto strategy is the Multi-Token Network (MTN), which the company uses as a private payments layer connecting tokenized bank deposits and regulated stablecoins across financial institutions. Mastercard also highlighted its cryptographic authentication tool, which replaces wallet addresses with human-readable identifiers and automates compliance checks aimed at reducing transaction errors.
The partner program includes exchanges and digital asset companies such as Binance, PayPal, Ripple, Circle, Gemini, Paxos, Crypto.com, OKX, and Bybit. Also includes infrastructure providers such as Fireblocks, Chaineries, MoonPay, and Worldpay.
Mastercard’s recent product rollouts are also related to this strategy. In late February, the company launched the MetaMask Card in the US in partnership with ConsenSys and Monavate. This card allows users to make payments in yield-bearing tokens such as USDC, USDT, mUSD, and USDC via Aave. Mastercard said the product is also available in Switzerland, the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico.
Mastercard also announced in early March that it had secured SoFi Technologies as a stablecoin payment partner. Under the agreement, SoFiUSD, a fully backed USD stablecoin launched in December 2025, will serve as a payment option within Mastercard’s payments network.
Extensive strategic shift after acquisition negotiations
The new partner model comes after the company’s previous acquisition of Mastercard and negotiations with blockchain infrastructure company Zerohash. Mastercard was in the final stages of an acquisition deal estimated to total between $1.5 billion and $2 billion through the end of 2025. Zerohash rejected the deal and subsequently sought a $250 million funding round at a $1.5 billion valuation.
Based on the information presented, Mastercard is considering a strategic investment in ZeroHash, but the results have not been verified. The company had also expressed interest in acquiring BVNK, a London-based stablecoin payments platform.
