This Week in Credit Cards: Networks Back Stablecoins

March brings the hope of better weather for many U.S. residents who have braved below-freezing temperatures and one disruptive snowfall after another this winter. 

But for credit card issuers, turning the calendar to March can signal that it’s time to check in on their progress toward goals for the quarter. Issuers are executing on strategies by this juncture, and many companies are making sure they are in a good position heading into the rest of the year.

The credit card world was busy this first week of March. Here’s a roundup of the biggest stories that caught our attention this week.

Companies continue to seek ways to facilitate the use of stablecoins in payments. This week, both Visa and Mastercard announced endeavors that revolve around stablecoin settlement. 

This Week in Credit Cards: Visa-Mastercard stablecoin plays, breakthroughs in agentic shopping, and a new Platinum Card from Robinhood. Catch up on the week's biggest stories here: https://t.co/u9YTCJlEIG pic.twitter.com/RIe5NPB9H4

— CardRates Industry News (@CardRatesNews) March 6, 2026

Bridge, a Stripe company, empowers businesses to offer their customers stablecoin-backed Visa cards. A press release on Visa and Bridge’s latest collaboration discloses that transactions from those cards can now settle onchain with Visa.

Not to be outdone, Mastercard announced that it has deepened its partnership with SoFi Technologies, Inc. to allow for SoFiUSD to be an option for settlement on Mastercard’s payments network. 

Mastercard also revealed this week that it has been developing a way to increase trust in the use of AI agents that can locate and purchase products and services on behalf of consumers.

To that aim, the company introduced Verifiable Intent, which creates a log of what a user approved in instances when an AI agent acts for them. In a press release, Mastercard said the tool can provide proof of authorization that consumers, issuers, and merchants can trust. 

Verifiable Intent is the result of a collaboration between Mastercard and Google.

Retail-trading platform Robinhood Markets Inc. has unveiled a new credit card that comes with plenty of perks and an annual fee of $695. Robinhood Platinum cardholders can access credit limits five times higher than those that come with the company’s Gold card.

The card’s benefits include 5% cash back on dining and cash back on purchases for hotels and flights when cardholders book their reservations through the company’s banking app.

The card itself may turn some heads at the point-of-sale. Robinhood says its new product features 99.9% pure platinum plating.

Nearly 10 months have passed since Capital One completed its acquisition of Discover. Industry insiders who wondered how the company would leverage the Discover Network over time now have a few answers.

Capital One has started to originate some of its credit cards — including the Quicksilver, QuicksilverOne, Savor, SavorOne, Venture, and VentureOne products — on the Discover Network. 

A Capital One spokesperson told TheStreet that the company is keeping its attention on delivering value to consumers and businesses as it continues its integration of Discover with Capital One. The company hasn’t revealed when existing credit card accounts would shift to the Discover Network. 

Weary travelers looking for a little relaxation amid the hustle and bustle of Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas have a new spot to unwind. American Express has rolled out a new airport lounge concept at LAS called Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge.

The company designed its latest lounge to appeal to people who only have a short window of time to kick back before they’re on the move again. In a news release, American Express said it created the space for those traveling alone or in small groups.

Visitors to Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge can enjoy food from a curated menu and also access other amenities including complimentary high-speed wifi and private restrooms.

From a unique lounge in the Las Vegas airport to new projects from Mastercard and Visa, the first week in March was packed with excitement for many who work in the credit card arena.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on these stories as they develop as well as other breaking news relevant to the credit card world. So be sure to check back in with us next week to stay informed on the stories and trends shaping the industry.