Mastercard Just Pivoted to Crypto Infrastructure – Can BTC Hit $1 Million in 2026?
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Mastercard’s crypto pivot sparks bold debate — Bitcoin price prediction now asks if $1 million by 2026 is back on the table.
$BTC Bitcoin is trading near $88,200, down more than 3% on the day, but the current pullback is unfolding alongside a deeper structural shift that long-term investors can’t ignore. Mastercard’s renewed push into crypto infrastructure highlights a growing reality: global payment networks are no longer experimenting with digital assets, they are embedding them into core financial systems.
That raises a serious question for investors: if Bitcoin continues to be integrated into global payment rails, does a seven-figure valuation by 2026 move from speculation to trajectory?
Mastercard Bets on Crypto Infrastructure, Not Tokens
Mastercard is reportedly considering a strategic investment in Zero hash, a regulated crypto infrastructure firm providing custody, settlement, and fiat on- and off-ramps. While earlier acquisition talks valued at up to $2 billion did not materialize, the shift toward a minority stake signals long-term alignment rather than control.
Zero hash already supports institutional clients including Interactive Brokers, Stripe, Franklin Templeton, and products linked to BlackRock, serving over 5 million users across 190 countries. For Mastercard, investing in infrastructure offers exposure to digital asset flows without balance-sheet risk tied to token prices.
This approach mirrors a broader Wall Street pattern. Capital is increasingly flowing into backend rails, where compliance, custody, and settlement create durable value. Adoption bottlenecks are being addressed quietly, long before price reflects them.