The news: Stripe unveiled plans to invest in AI, expand stablecoin-backed and multicurrency money management strategies, and increase partnerships with major market players like Nvidia during its internet economy conference in San Francisco.
Fighting fraud with AI: Stripe built an industry-first foundation model for payments to catch fraud faster and at a greater scale. Taking full advantage of the buzzy industry trend, Stripe’s AI can reduce labor costs and human error.
Stablecoins for a global market: Stripe thinks businesses desire the flexibility and protection of holding stablecoin balances while being able to accept diverse crypto and fiat currencies as payments. This could especially appeal to merchants in emerging markets, whose local currencies can be highly volatile.
With its $1.1 billion acquisition of Bridge last October and a new partnership with Ramp, Stripe has all the components to issue Visa-backed global cards linked to stablecoin wallets that can pay out in fiat.
After the Trump administration threw its weight behind crypto, deeper investments in stablecoins could become a savvy business move. According to Visa’s analytics, stablecoin transactions volume has surged over 50% in the last year.
But that won’t solve all exchange issues: Multinational companies constantly move between fiat currencies. Stripe's multicurrency feature lets these firms hold multiple currency balances simultaneously—helping dodge costly FX fees.
Big-time tie-ups: Nvidia transferred its cloud gaming service subscribers to Stripe’s platform in a record six weeks. PepsiCo is similarly shifting paper check payments between store managers and delivery drivers to Stripe.
Both Stripe deals display that it’s embedded within major American corporations.
Our take: Stripe co-founder and CEO Patrick Collison said it himself: “There are not one, but two, gale-force tailwinds … dramatically reshaping the economic landscape around us: AI and stablecoins.”
Recognizing that globalized commerce, AI, and crypto, embracing new tech and forging partnerships charts a way to weather—and profit—from these changing winds.
First Published on May 8, 2025