Stripe, once wary of crypto, has acquired Bridge, a startup focused on stablecoin payments, for $1.1 billion. Bridge processed $5 billion annually, but Stripe’s interest lies in the team’s expertise and the product’s readiness to scale stablecoin-based financial services. With stablecoins processing $7 trillion in 2022, Stripe sees them as a modern alternative to legacy systems, aiming to unlock their potential for corporate banking. This strategic move parallels tech acquisitions like Facebook’s purchase of Instagram, positioning Stripe to leverage stablecoins for future growth in business finance.