Benzinga · Feb 23, 2026
Mastercard In Crosshairs: Citrini Models AI Agents Bypassing Interchange As Stablecoins Threaten Card Economics
In a Feb. 22 thought experiment, Citrini Research envisions AI agents optimizing transactions 24/7 and zeroing in on the 2–3% interchange fee as a cost to eliminate, shifting payments to stablecoins on low-fee rails like Solana and Ethereum Layer 2s — a scenario that pressures Mastercard Incorporated and other card issuers as growth slows and interchange economics erode.

