Visa, Mastercard Aren't The Real Casualties In Citrini's AI-Stablecoin Scenario
View original at finance.yahoo.comVisa, Mastercard Aren't The Real Casualties In Citrini's AI-Stablecoin Scenario Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below…
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When software controls transactions, it optimizes for efficiency, putting pressure on models built on friction and fees
80% confidenceThe market reaction conflated two distinct layers of the payments stack - networks versus issuers
80% confidenceThe Citrini piece got the direction right while misidentifying the primary casualties
80% confidenceIn machine-to-machine commerce, a 2-3% interchange fee is significant, especially when stablecoins can settle near-instantly at a fraction of the cost
80% confidenceIf AI agents are optimizing for cost and efficiency, they will naturally route transactions toward cheaper rails when possible
80% confidenceAI agents will autonomously reroute transactions away from card networks toward stablecoin rails, wiping out interchange economics
80% confidenceIncumbents won't vanish overnight, but companies are already exploring stablecoins and alternative rails, because even a 1-2% savings can materially change the economics for low-margin businesses
80% confidenceCard-focused banks including American Express, Synchrony, Capital One, and Discover carry the sharpest exposure, noting their 'moats were made of friction'
80% confidenceVisa and Mastercard take only a small number of basis points and pride themselves on being 'technology companies', while most of that 2-3% goes to issuers and other intermediaries
80% confidence
