Mastercard is reportedly in late-stage negotiations to buy crypto trading platform Zerohash for between US$1.5 billion and US$2 billion, according to five sources familiar with the matter. The acquisition would mark one of Mastercard’s most significant bets in the digital-assets space and reflect its push into stablecoins and programmable payments. Despite the advanced status of the deal, it remains subject to regulatory review and could still fall through. The move would strengthen Mastercard’s crypto-capabilities amid competing fintech players and rising institutional interest in digital-asset infrastructure.