Visa, Mastercard Lead 140+ Firms Launching Open USD Stablecoin to Disrupt Market
A massive coalition including Visa, Mastercard, and BlackRock just launched Open USD (OUSD), a new stablecoin designed to steal market share from Circle and Tether. The play: share reserve yield with users, not hoard it. This is a direct assault on the existing $300 billion stablecoin economy.
Forget the old guard. Visa, Mastercard, Stripe, BlackRock, and Coinbase are teaming up with over 140 other companies to launch Open USD (OUSD). This isn't just another stablecoin; it's a direct challenge to Circle's USDC and Tether's USDT, aiming to capture a piece of the $300 billion market by redistributing the profits. The core pitch is simple: no fees, no limits, and most of the interest generated from reserves goes back to the companies using OUSD. This move sent Circle shares tumbling 15%, signaling the market's reaction to this seismic shift. Open USD plans to go live in 2026 on Solana, Stellar, Base, and Polygon, promising a more open and economically aligned stablecoin infrastructure for businesses. This isn't just about crypto trading anymore; it's about reshaping cross-border payments and corporate treasury operations.