Payments giant Mastercard is reportedly negotiating a potential $1.5–$2 billion acquisition of crypto settlement platform Zerohash, according to people familiar with the matter. The deal, if finalized, would mark Mastercard’s largest blockchain investment to date, enhancing its real-time settlement and tokenization capabilities. Analysts said the move aligns with the company’s long-term plan to integrate crypto rails into mainstream payment systems. The acquisition would also expand Mastercard’s institutional crypto infrastructure at a time of renewed regulatory clarity and market optimism.