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Bridge vs BVNK vs Routefusion: Complete Stablecoin Payment Infrastructure Comparison (2026)

Routefusion Team

The stablecoin payment infrastructure market has exploded since Stripe's $1.1 billion acquisition of Bridge in February 2025. Platforms building cross-border payments now have multiple options for integrating stablecoin settlement, each with distinct architectures, capabilities, and trade-offs.

This guide provides an honest, comprehensive comparison of three leading providers: Bridge (now part of Stripe), BVNK, and Routefusion. We'll examine their strengths, limitations, pricing models, and ideal use cases to help you make an informed decision.

The Stablecoin Payment Infrastructure Landscape in 2026

Before diving into specific providers, it's important to understand why stablecoin infrastructure has become critical for B2B payments. Traditional cross-border payment rails like SWIFT are slow (2-5 business days), expensive ($25-50 per transaction), and operate only during banking hours. Stablecoins offer 24/7 settlement, near-instant finality, and significantly lower costs.

However, pure stablecoin infrastructure has limitations. Recipients often need fiat currency, regulatory requirements vary by jurisdiction, and not all corridors have sufficient stablecoin liquidity. This is where the three providers differ most significantly in their approach.

Bridge (Stripe): Overview and Analysis

Bridge was founded in 2022 and acquired by Stripe for $1.1 billion in February 2025, making it the largest crypto acquisition in history at the time. Bridge's core product is a stablecoin orchestration API that enables platforms to accept, hold, and transfer USDC.

Bridge Strengths

  • Stripe ecosystem integration: Deep integration with Stripe's payments infrastructure, including Stripe Treasury and Issuing
  • Developer experience: Clean, well-documented APIs following Stripe's high standards
  • USDC expertise: Purpose-built for USDC with optimized on-chain settlement
  • Virtual card issuing: Ability to issue Visa cards funded by USDC balances
  • Enterprise backing: Stripe's resources and compliance infrastructure

Bridge Limitations

  • USDC-only: No support for USDT, EURC, or other stablecoins
  • No traditional rails: Cannot fall back to SWIFT or local payment networks
  • US-centric: Strongest in US corridors, limited emerging market coverage
  • Stripe dependency: May require broader Stripe relationship for full capabilities
  • Limited fiat off-ramps: Recipients must be comfortable receiving crypto or using Bridge's off-ramp partners

Bridge Ideal Use Cases

Bridge is best suited for platforms already in the Stripe ecosystem that need USDC-based treasury operations, particularly for US-to-US or developed market corridors. If your recipients are crypto-native or you're building DeFi integrations, Bridge's pure-play approach is advantageous.

BVNK: Overview and Analysis

BVNK (pronounced "bank") is a UK-based stablecoin payments platform founded in 2020. The company has raised significant funding, achieving a valuation exceeding $750 million, and processes over $30 billion in annual transaction volume. BVNK's enterprise clients include Deel, Worldpay, and dLocal.

BVNK Strengths

  • Multi-stablecoin support: USDC, USDT, EURC, and other major stablecoins
  • Global licensing: 25+ licenses across jurisdictions including UK FCA, EU MiCA, and others
  • Enterprise focus: Built for high-volume enterprise clients with dedicated support
  • Fiat integration: Direct banking relationships for fiat on/off ramps
  • Proven scale: $30B+ annual volume demonstrates production reliability

BVNK Limitations

  • Enterprise pricing: Minimum volumes and pricing structure favor large enterprises
  • Longer integration: Enterprise sales cycle and integration process takes months
  • Limited local rails: Primarily stablecoin-focused, limited traditional payment rail coverage
  • Complex compliance: Multi-jurisdiction licensing means complex compliance requirements for clients
  • No public API docs: Developer resources are limited compared to Bridge or Routefusion

BVNK Ideal Use Cases

BVNK is best suited for large enterprises with significant stablecoin payment volume who need multi-stablecoin support and have the resources for a lengthy enterprise integration. If you're processing billions in annual volume and need USDT support for certain corridors, BVNK's licensing and compliance infrastructure is compelling.

Routefusion: Overview and Analysis

Routefusion is a multi-rail payment infrastructure provider that combines stablecoin settlement with traditional SWIFT and local payment rails. The company serves payroll platforms, fintechs, marketplaces, and EOR providers with global payout infrastructure covering 185+ countries.

Routefusion Strengths

  • Multi-rail architecture: USDC funding combined with SWIFT and local payment rails in one API
  • 185+ country coverage: Extensive global reach including emerging markets
  • Developer-first: Well-documented REST API with fast integration (weeks, not months)
  • Fiat fallback: When stablecoin off-ramps aren't available, transactions route through traditional rails
  • B2B-only focus: No consumer brand baggage, purpose-built for platform infrastructure
  • Local payment rails: ACH, SEPA, Faster Payments, PIX, and more for same-day settlement
  • 24hr account approvals: Global bank accounts with 90% approval rate and 24hr SLA

Routefusion Limitations

  • Newer stablecoin offering: Stablecoin capabilities are newer compared to Bridge's specialized focus
  • Not crypto-native: Better suited for fiat-focused platforms than pure crypto/DeFi use cases
  • Mid-market positioning: May not have the enterprise resources of a Stripe-backed Bridge

Routefusion Ideal Use Cases

Routefusion is best suited for platforms that need both stablecoin speed and traditional rail reliability. If you're a payroll platform, fintech, or marketplace that pays recipients in diverse geographies and needs guaranteed delivery regardless of local crypto infrastructure, Routefusion's multi-rail approach eliminates single points of failure.

Feature Comparison Table

The following table provides a detailed feature-by-feature comparison of Bridge, BVNK, and Routefusion across key capability areas.

Stablecoin Capabilities

USDC Support: Bridge (Yes), BVNK (Yes), Routefusion (Yes). USDT Support: Bridge (No), BVNK (Yes), Routefusion (Planned). Other Stablecoins: Bridge (No), BVNK (EURC, others), Routefusion (EURC planned). 24/7 Settlement: All three providers support this.

Traditional Payment Rails

SWIFT: Bridge (No), BVNK (Limited), Routefusion (Yes, full coverage). Local Rails (ACH, SEPA, etc.): Bridge (No), BVNK (Limited), Routefusion (Yes, 40+ countries). Mobile Money: Bridge (No), BVNK (Limited), Routefusion (Yes, via partners).

Geographic Coverage

Countries Supported: Bridge (50+), BVNK (80+), Routefusion (185+). Emerging Markets: Bridge (Limited), BVNK (Moderate), Routefusion (Strong). Local Currency Payouts: Bridge (Limited), BVNK (30+), Routefusion (80+).

Integration and Developer Experience

Public API Documentation: Bridge (Yes, excellent), BVNK (Limited), Routefusion (Yes, comprehensive). Typical Integration Time: Bridge (2-4 weeks), BVNK (2-6 months), Routefusion (2-4 weeks). Sandbox Environment: Bridge (Yes), BVNK (Enterprise only), Routefusion (Yes).

Additional Capabilities

Virtual Card Issuing: Bridge (Yes, via Stripe), BVNK (No), Routefusion (No). Global Bank Accounts: Bridge (No), BVNK (Limited), Routefusion (Yes, 9 countries). FX Hedging: Bridge (No), BVNK (No), Routefusion (Yes). Multi-Currency Ledger: Bridge (Limited), BVNK (Yes), Routefusion (Yes).

Pricing Comparison

Pricing in the stablecoin infrastructure space is notoriously opaque, with most providers requiring custom quotes. Here's what we know publicly:

Bridge: Pricing is integrated into Stripe's fee structure. Expect transaction-based fees plus potential volume commitments. Specific rates require direct engagement with Stripe sales.

BVNK: Enterprise pricing with minimum volume commitments. Public pricing isn't available; expect negotiated rates based on volume tiers and corridor mix.

Routefusion: Transparent pricing model with per-transaction fees that vary by payment rail and corridor. No minimum volume requirements for standard API access. Contact sales for volume-based pricing.

When to Choose Each Provider

Choose Bridge When

  • You're already deeply integrated with Stripe
  • Your use case is primarily USDC-based treasury operations
  • You need virtual card issuing capabilities
  • Your corridors are US-centric or developed markets
  • Recipients are crypto-comfortable or you're building for DeFi

Choose BVNK When

  • You're processing $1B+ in annual stablecoin volume
  • You need USDT support for specific corridors (Asia, emerging markets)
  • Your compliance requirements demand multi-jurisdiction licensing
  • You have resources for a 3-6 month enterprise integration
  • You're a large enterprise with dedicated treasury operations

Choose Routefusion When

  • You need stablecoin speed with fiat rail reliability as backup
  • Your recipients are in diverse geographies including emerging markets
  • You want a single API for all payment rails (stablecoin + SWIFT + local)
  • You need fast integration (weeks, not months)
  • You're a payroll platform, fintech, or marketplace needing guaranteed delivery
  • You need global bank accounts for multi-currency collection

The Multi-Rail Advantage

One of the most important architectural decisions in payment infrastructure is whether to bet on a single rail or build multi-rail redundancy. Here's why this matters:

Pure stablecoin providers like Bridge offer optimized performance for crypto-native flows. But what happens when your recipient is in a country with limited crypto off-ramp infrastructure? Or when regulatory changes temporarily restrict stablecoin transactions in a key corridor?

Multi-rail architecture means your payments always have a path to completion. If USDC settlement isn't optimal for a particular transaction, the payment can automatically route through local rails or SWIFT. This redundancy is particularly valuable for platforms with guaranteed delivery SLAs.

Routefusion's approach treats stablecoins as one rail among many in a comprehensive payment network. You get the speed and cost benefits of stablecoin settlement where it makes sense, with the reliability of traditional banking infrastructure as a fallback.

Migration Considerations

If you're currently using one provider and considering a switch, here are key migration considerations:

From Bridge to Routefusion: Relatively straightforward since both have modern REST APIs. Main work is mapping Bridge's USDC-specific flows to Routefusion's multi-rail model. You'll gain traditional rail coverage and lose Stripe ecosystem integration.

From BVNK to Routefusion: May require significant re-architecture if you've built deeply on BVNK's enterprise-specific integrations. You'll gain faster iteration cycles and broader geographic coverage.

To Bridge (from any): Requires Stripe relationship and likely involves broader Stripe ecosystem adoption. Consider if the Stripe ecosystem lock-in fits your long-term strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is stablecoin payment infrastructure?

Stablecoin payment infrastructure refers to the APIs, settlement networks, and compliance tools that enable businesses to accept, hold, and transfer stablecoins (like USDC or USDT) for payment purposes. These platforms handle the complexity of blockchain settlement, fiat on/off ramps, and regulatory compliance.

Is Bridge the same as Stripe?

Bridge was acquired by Stripe in February 2025 for $1.1 billion. While Bridge operates as a distinct product within Stripe's ecosystem, it benefits from Stripe's infrastructure, compliance, and developer resources. Using Bridge typically involves a relationship with Stripe.

Can I use multiple providers simultaneously?

Yes, many platforms use multiple payment infrastructure providers for redundancy or to optimize for specific corridors. However, this adds integration complexity and reconciliation overhead. Routefusion's multi-rail approach is designed to reduce the need for multiple providers by offering stablecoin, SWIFT, and local rails in a single integration.

What's the difference between USDC and USDT for payments?

USDC (USD Coin) is issued by Circle and is known for regulatory compliance and reserve transparency. USDT (Tether) has larger market cap and liquidity, particularly in Asian markets. Bridge supports only USDC, BVNK supports both, and Routefusion currently supports USDC with USDT planned.

How long does integration typically take?

Bridge and Routefusion both offer developer-friendly APIs that can be integrated in 2-4 weeks for standard use cases. BVNK's enterprise-focused approach typically requires 2-6 months due to custom integration requirements and enterprise sales cycles.

Do I need crypto expertise to use these platforms?

Modern stablecoin infrastructure abstracts away blockchain complexity. With Routefusion, you interact with a standard REST API and don't need to manage wallets, gas fees, or blockchain transactions directly. The platform handles all crypto operations behind the scenes.

What happens if stablecoin settlement fails?

With pure stablecoin providers, failed settlement may require manual intervention or refund processing. With Routefusion's multi-rail approach, failed stablecoin transactions can automatically fail over to traditional rails, ensuring payment completion.

How do these providers handle compliance?

All three providers include KYC/AML compliance as part of their platforms. Bridge leverages Stripe's compliance infrastructure. BVNK holds 25+ licenses globally. Routefusion provides built-in compliance with sanctions screening, transaction monitoring, and regulatory reporting across all supported jurisdictions.

Conclusion

The choice between Bridge, BVNK, and Routefusion ultimately depends on your specific use case, volume, and strategic priorities.

Bridge excels for Stripe-native platforms building USDC-based treasury operations. BVNK serves large enterprises needing multi-stablecoin support with comprehensive licensing. Routefusion provides the most flexible infrastructure for platforms that need guaranteed global payment delivery across any rail.

If you're evaluating stablecoin payment infrastructure and want to learn more about Routefusion's multi-rail approach, schedule a call with our solutions team. We'll help you understand which architecture best fits your payment flows and geographic requirements.

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