Wirex Partners With Tempo for Stablecoin Card Settlement
Wirex is adding Tempo as a settlement layer for enterprise stablecoin card programmes.
Wirex and Tempo partnership for stablecoin card settlement
# Wirex Partners With Tempo for Stablecoin Card Settlement
What Wirex and Tempo announced
Wirex is adding Tempo as a settlement-layer option to its banking and payment infrastructure, targeting enterprises building stablecoin-backed card programmes.
The announcement does not introduce a new consumer Wirex card. Instead, it expands the infrastructure available to businesses that want to build card products around stablecoin payments.
Wirex said the two sides will combine their respective infrastructure: Wirex handles regulated card issuance, wallets, compliance and card infrastructure, while Tempo provides a payments-focused blockchain settlement layer.
What is Tempo?
Tempo is a payments-focused Layer 1 blockchain incubated by Stripe and Paradigm. It was built specifically for stablecoin payments and settlement at scale.
Tempo is designed around payment flows rather than general-purpose blockchain activity, with features focused on fast settlement, stablecoin transactions and payment-related transaction data.
Wirex said Tempo recently crossed $1 billion in 30-day stablecoin transfer volume, citing data shared by Tempo.
How the partnership works
The two companies are targeting enterprise card programmes rather than replacing the infrastructure used by existing retail Wirex cardholders.
Wirex provides the infrastructure needed to launch payment products, including:
- Regulated card issuance
- Wallet infrastructure
- Compliance
- Card and payment infrastructure
Tempo adds another blockchain settlement option for stablecoin payment flows.
This allows businesses building stablecoin-backed card programmes to use Wirex's existing infrastructure while incorporating Tempo into the settlement layer.
Why stablecoin settlement matters for cards
Card programmes involve multiple layers between a payment being authorised and the underlying funds being settled.
Stablecoin settlement can allow value to move on-chain continuously instead of relying entirely on traditional settlement processes.
Wirex is already developing infrastructure around stablecoin settlement. Its platform supports stablecoin accounts, payments and card flows, with on-chain settlement and API-based integration for businesses.
Wirex's enterprise infrastructure also connects stablecoin balances with corporate cards, allowing businesses to issue cards for employees and contractors and spend directly from stablecoin balances.
This is a B2B infrastructure development
The main significance of the Wirex-Tempo announcement is on the infrastructure side.
It does not announce a new consumer Wirex card, a new consumer rewards programme or an immediate change to existing retail card fees.
Instead, Tempo becomes a settlement-layer option for companies building stablecoin-powered payment and card products through Wirex.
That fits with Wirex's broader push into enterprise infrastructure. The company provides infrastructure for stablecoin payments, cards, banking, settlement and reconciliation to businesses building financial products.
What each company brings
The partnership is built around complementary roles.
Wirex
Wirex provides the financial and card infrastructure needed for payment programmes, including card issuance, wallets, compliance and connections to payment networks.
Its infrastructure supports both consumer and business card programmes, including branded cards for companies and stablecoin-funded corporate cards.
Tempo
Tempo provides the blockchain settlement layer designed around stablecoin payment activity.
Its role in this arrangement is focused on settlement architecture and implementation for enterprise payment programmes.
What happens next?
Wirex said its teams will work with customers on architecture, settlement design and implementation.
For businesses building stablecoin-backed card programmes, the partnership provides another possible settlement option while keeping card issuance, compliance and payment infrastructure within the Wirex stack.
The practical impact for consumers will depend on which companies eventually use the infrastructure and how those businesses structure their card products.
For now, the clearest takeaway is that Tempo is being added as another settlement-layer option within Wirex's enterprise payment infrastructure.
Sources
Common questions
What did Wirex and Tempo announce?
Wirex announced that Tempo will be added as a settlement-layer option for enterprise stablecoin card programmes built through Wirex's payment infrastructure.
Is this a new Wirex consumer card?
No. The announcement concerns enterprise payment and card infrastructure and does not announce a new consumer Wirex card.
What does Tempo provide?
Tempo provides a payments-focused blockchain settlement layer for stablecoin payment activity.
What does Wirex provide?
Wirex provides card issuance, wallets, compliance and card and payment infrastructure for businesses building payment programmes.
Will existing Wirex cards move to Tempo?
Wirex has not announced that existing consumer cards are being migrated to Tempo.
Cards mentioned in this article
Card figures referenced here come from each issuer's published terms and each card page shows when its data was last verified — see our methodology for how, and the changelog for what has changed since. Rewards and availability vary by region and move often. Not financial advice.