Mastercard is reportedly in advanced discussions to acquire Zero Hash, a regulated crypto-settlement platform, for a price between $1.5 billion and $2 billion. This acquisition would allow Mastercard to integrate a compliant stablecoin infrastructure into its global payment network, facilitating real-time, T+0 settlements and expanding its reach into institutional treasury flows. Zero Hash, known for processing tokenized assets for major financial institutions, operates under regulatory frameworks in the US, Europe, and Australia. The company has previously raised $104 million, achieving a valuation of $1 billion.