* Analysts see deal aligning with Mastercard's ( MA )

diversification strategy

* Deal includes $300 million in contingent payments

* BVNK bridges fiat and stablecoins across major

blockchain networks

(Adds executive comments in paragraphs 4 and 5, analysts

comments in paragraphs 7 and 9)

By Prakhar Srivastava and Arasu Kannagi Basil

March 17 (Reuters) - Mastercard ( MA ) said on Tuesday

it would buy stablecoin payments infrastructure firm BVNK for up

to $1.8 billion, as the card giant deepens its push into

blockchain-based transfers.

Increasing regulatory clarity and broader usage of

stablecoins have created opportunities for card networks to

expand beyond traditional cards into faster, lower-cost digital

payment systems. Mastercard ( MA ) and rival Visa are competing

to establish an early lead in the fast-evolving segment.

Mastercard ( MA ) said the deal would enable its users to carry out

cross-border remittances, business payments and payouts with

stablecoin, which offers advantages in speed, cost and

availability.

"BVNK has spent the last seven years building not just the

technology, but also obtaining licenses in multiple

geographies," said Mastercard's ( MA ) chief product officer, Jorn

Lambert, on a conference call.

Lambert added that building similar capability internally

"would require quite a bit of time," while an acquisition would

allow Mastercard ( MA ) to "get to market much faster."

The deal includes $300 million in contingent payments and is

expected to close before the end of 2026.

Analysts at William Blair said that BVNK's stablecoin

infrastructure "complements its (Mastercard's ( MA )) existing card

solutions, in our view, offering greater payment and money

movement choice across fiat and blockchain rails."

BVNK, founded in 2021, specializes in infrastructure to

bridge between fiat and stablecoins. The platform enables

sending and receiving payments on all major blockchain networks

across more than 130 countries.

"BVNK represents a major buy opportunity for MA given the

former's impressive existing geographic reach,

difficult-to-acquire payments licenses, and strong relationships

with key ecosystem participants," said Citi analyst Bryan Keane.

The deal builds on Mastercard's ( MA ) broader push into digital

assets, including its Crypto Partner Program, as it seeks to

integrate blockchain-based payments into its global network and

expand its addressable market.

Mastercard ( MA ) believes that stablecoin adoption is likely to

broaden across the financial industry.

(Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil and Prakhar Srivastava in

Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)