Why Mastercard’s $2B move into crypto could end banking hours as we know them

Mastercard is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire crypto infrastructure provider Zero Hash for up to $2 billion, following earlier interest in BVNK, as part of a strategy to integrate turnkey onchain payment capabilities into its network. This move aims to accelerate settlement beyond traditional business-day constraints toward a continuous 24/7/365 model using stablecoins. By leveraging existing scaffolding like the Multi-Token Network (MTN) and Crypto Credential, acquiring funds via stablecoin settlement would allow banks and merchants to transact continuously, bypassing batch cutoffs and delays associated with fiat reconciliation. While this offers benefits like reduced prefunding requirements and improved working capital efficiency, challenges remain, including operational risks, the need to redesign compliance workflows for continuous settlement (like AML checks), and potential liquidity constraints. Therefore, the transition is expected to involve a hybrid phase where onchain settlement expands while legacy fiat infrastructure and back-office tooling adapt.

(Source：Cointelegraph)