Mesh and Visa link wallets to 175 million merchant locations

Mesh announced on Oct. 19 that it will connect participating crypto wallets to Visa, letting users spend crypto and stablecoin balances at more than 175 million merchant locations without getting a separate card, according to Mesh’s announcement.

• Visa’s network covers more than 175 million merchant locations.
• Those locations span more than 200 countries and territories.
• Visa processed $14.2 trillion in payments in fiscal 2025.

The figures describe Visa’s overall network, not the number of merchants where the new service is already available. Mesh and Visa have not announced the launch date, supported devices or participating wallet platforms.

How will users pay from their wallets?

Mesh says it will arrange the funding and conversion for each transaction. A Visa payment credential—a digital payment authorization—will be set up in the participating wallet app, letting the user tap at a contactless terminal or pay online.

Users would not have to sell or transfer funds beforehand, or preload a separate card, according to Mesh. The company says merchants will receive a standard payment through Visa and will not need new hardware or changes to their checkout systems. The announcement does not detail which assets or wallets will be supported at launch.

Cointelegraph’s report also says Mesh will handle transaction funding and conversion between crypto, stablecoins and fiat, or government-issued currency. The release says Mesh will manage user onboarding and identity checks, known as KYC, for the service.

When can customers use the service?

There is no launch date yet. Mesh said initial availability, supported devices and participating platforms will be announced once rollout plans are finalized.

The partnership is designed to let wallet and platform companies offer Visa payments through a single Mesh integration, without building their own card program. Mesh says it already connects hundreds of wallets, exchanges and platforms; its release also says more than 200 enterprises use its network. Those figures describe Mesh’s existing reach, not confirmed partners in the Visa rollout.

What does the deal change for merchants?

For merchants, the proposed payment would use Visa’s existing network and checkout process. They would not need to accept crypto directly or add new payment equipment, according to the announcement.

For users, the intended change is where a payment can draw its funds: a participating wallet balance, rather than a separate crypto card or a bank account after cashing out. Whether that works for a particular customer will depend on their wallet joining the rollout and the service being available where they shop. Mesh has not yet named launch platforms or markets.

The partnership connects digital asset balances to Visa’s existing acceptance network; it does not mean every wallet can use the service today. The initial coverage and terms remain unannounced.

Sources and documents

• Mesh’s announcement — prnewswire.com
• Cointelegraph’s report — cointelegraph.com