MoneyGram Partners with Stripe for Blockchain Settlement
BITmarkets Team
May 21, 2026
The companies said Stripe intends to settle transactions with MoneyGram through Tempo’s infrastructure as part of broader efforts to move payment and treasury operations onto stablecoin-based rails. Tempo is a layer-1 blockchain incubated by Stripe and Paradigm, designed specifically for stablecoin transfers and international payments. Earlier this year, Visa became one of the first validators on the network, joining participants including Stripe and Zodia Custody.
MoneyGram said it will act as an “anchor remittance validator,” taking on a more direct role in validating network transactions rather than only using blockchain infrastructure.
Stablecoins gain traction in remittance markets
Stablecoins have increasingly been viewed as a potential solution to inefficiencies in international payments.
In a March 30 FEDS Notes publication, the Federal Reserve described stablecoins as a “potential remedy” for friction in cross-border transfers. The report noted that traditional remittance services, dominated by firms such as MoneyGram and Western Union, are “generally viewed as slower, more expensive, and not very transparent to end-users relative to domestic payments.”
Global remittance costs remain elevated. According to World Bank data, average remittance fees worldwide reached 6.36% in the third quarter of 2025 — more than double the United Nations target of 3%.
Remittance companies accelerate blockchain adoption
Major remittance providers have increasingly expanded into stablecoins and blockchain infrastructure. MoneyGram recently partnered with Kraken to allow users to convert crypto assets into cash through its retail payout network. The service initially focuses on cash withdrawals but is expected to expand into bank deposits and international payouts.
Meanwhile, Western Union partnered with Crossmint in March to support its planned Digital Asset Network, designed to connect stablecoins with the company’s global payment infrastructure. In recent weeks, Western Union also began rolling out its dollar-backed USDPT stablecoin on the Solana network, initially targeting markets including Bolivia and the Philippines, with plans to expand to more than 40 countries next year.
The trend is especially visible in Latin America, where remittances play a significant role in household income. Stablecoins have increasingly become tools for dollar-based savings and cross-border transfers. A report released in April by Mexico-based crypto exchange Bitso found that stablecoins accounted for 40% of crypto purchases on its platform in 2025, surpassing Bitcoin for the first time among its nearly 10 million users across the region.
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