Bridge alternatives for companies outside the US
Bridge serves companies in most countries, but its docs restrict some rails by where you're resident and list SWIFT as a limited beta. If you build on Stripe or want to issue a stablecoin, Bridge fits; for named accounts with SWIFT access, compare BVNK, Conduit and Align.
By Pavel Skalin, Founder & CEO, Align · Reviewed by the Align compliance team
Updated · 7 min read
The short answer
Bridge, Stripe's stablecoin platform, serves companies in most countries, but what you can use depends on where your company is resident. As of October 2026, its docs list countries it doesn't serve, countries without US ACH and Fedwire access, and currencies EU customers can't get, and they describe SWIFT as a limited beta.
If those gaps affect you, BVNK, Conduit, Zerohash and Align all serve companies outside the US. Bridge is still the better fit if you build on Stripe, want to issue your own stablecoin or want to offer stablecoin-backed Visa cards to your users.
What Bridge offers in 2026
Stripe completed its acquisition of Bridge on 4 February 2025. Bridge calls itself "a stablecoin platform built for developers," so you integrate it through an API or use it inside another company's product. As of October 2026, it offers:
- Orchestration: an API to move, store and accept stablecoins, including virtual accounts that turn fiat deposits into stablecoins. Accounts come in USD (ACH and wire), EUR (SEPA), GBP (Faster Payments), MXN (SPEI), BRL (Pix) and COP (Bre-B). Bridge says USD and EUR accounts are issued in the end customer's name.
- Issuance: businesses can launch their own stablecoin through Open Issuance. Bridge also runs USDB, a closed-loop stablecoin used within Bridge.
- Cards: stablecoin-backed Visa cards. In March 2026 Visa said they were live in 18 countries, with plans for more than 100 by the end of the year. In April 2026 Stripe said businesses could offer them in 30 countries.
- Wallets: digital asset wallets, with Bridge handling on-chain security and gas.
What changed in 2026:
- Trust bank charter. The OCC granted preliminary conditional approval for Bridge National Trust Bank on 12 February 2026. Final approval to open depends on meeting the OCC's preopening requirements.
- EU licenses. On 2 July 2026, Bridge said it had secured MiCA crypto-asset service provider authorization and an e-money license in Luxembourg, covering all 27 EU member states.
- New rails. At Stripe Sessions in April 2026, Bridge added GBP and COP on and off ramps, and blockchains including Tempo, Plasma, Celo and Sui.
- Partners. Payoneer said in February 2026 that it would launch stablecoin features built with Bridge in select markets from the second quarter of 2026.
What's available outside the US
Bridge decides whether it can onboard you by where your company is resident, and sets separate rules for each payment rail. As of October 2026, its docs and website say:
| What Bridge says | |
|---|---|
| Who serves you | Bridge Building Inc. in the US, Bridge Building S.A. (Luxembourg) in the EEA, and Bridge Building Limited everywhere else |
| Not served | A prohibited list that includes Russia, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela; services also unavailable in Algeria, Burundi, China, Japan and Tunisia; no new users from South Korea |
| No US ACH or Fedwire | Residents of countries including Bangladesh, Kenya, Morocco and Pakistan, though other rails are available |
| GBP, MXN, BRL and COP accounts | Not currently available to EU customers |
| Custodial wallets | Not available to residents of Hong Kong, Indonesia or Singapore |
| SWIFT | A limited beta, for USD only |
| Higher-risk countries | Served "with additional due diligence requirements and controls," including Nigeria and Pakistan |
Two practical points follow. First, a customer paying you from a bank outside the US will normally send a SWIFT wire, and Bridge's virtual accounts FAQ says they "do not currently support SWIFT payments, only ACH and US domestic wires." Second, because Bridge is built for developers, you may reach it through another product, such as Payoneer's, and that product sets its own eligibility rules.
Alternatives for companies outside the US
As of October 2026:
| Who it's for | Accounts for non-US companies | Licensing highlights | |
|---|---|---|---|
| BVNK (Mastercard) | Payment companies and enterprises processing $500,000+ a month | Named USD, EUR and GBP accounts; SEPA for EUR, SWIFT for USD and EUR; GBP only for companies in the UK, Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey or Gibraltar | FCA and Malta e-money licenses; MiCA authorization; US money transmitter licenses |
| Conduit | Fintechs, payment providers, large enterprises, treasury teams | Named USD accounts with no US entity required; EUR and GBP virtual IBANs; onboarding in 100+ countries | FINTRAC MSB and Bank of Canada PSP; FinCEN MSB |
| Zerohash | Banks, brokers and fintechs serving their own customers | Embedded stablecoin pay-ins, payouts and ramps; lists 200 available jurisdictions | FinCEN MSB and money transmitter in 51 US jurisdictions; FINTRAC; MiCA and e-money in the Netherlands |
| Align | Companies paying and getting paid across borders | Named USD, EUR, GBP and AED accounts in your company's name, with SWIFT for USD; AED for companies outside the UAE | FINTRAC MSB; services through licensed banking partners |
BVNK became part of Mastercard on 3 August 2026, and the two launched the Mastercard Global Money Platform on 15 October 2026. BVNK supports more than 130 countries and works with businesses that process at least $500,000 a month and have 6 months of trading history. Its named virtual accounts come in USD, EUR and GBP, and its docs list SEPA for EUR and SWIFT for USD and EUR. Our BVNK alternatives guide covers it in more detail.
Conduit says it "enables USD accounts and payments for businesses around the world," with no US entity required. Its rails include Fedwire, FedNow, SWIFT, SEPA Instant, SPEI and Pix, and in December 2025 it announced multicurrency accounts holding USD, EUR and GBP with named payouts over SWIFT and Fedwire. Its Canadian entity is registered with FINTRAC and the Bank of Canada, and its US entity with FinCEN.
Zerohash sells APIs that banks, brokers and fintechs embed to offer crypto and stablecoin services to their customers. Its Dutch entity holds MiCA authorization from the AFM and, since May 2026, an e-money license from De Nederlandsche Bank. It suits a regulated platform building for end users in the EEA.
Which one to choose
| Choose it if you | |
|---|---|
| Bridge | Build on Stripe, want to issue your own stablecoin, or want stablecoin-backed Visa cards for your users |
| BVNK | Process $500,000 or more a month and want named accounts on SWIFT, UK and EU licenses, and Mastercard's reach |
| Conduit | Need USD accounts and local payouts in markets such as Brazil and Mexico, through an API or a dashboard |
| Zerohash | Are a regulated platform adding stablecoin services for your own customers, including in the EEA |
| Align | Want named accounts in your company's name on SWIFT, SEPA and Faster Payments, with a USDC or USDT balance to pay suppliers from |
How Align compares
Align is a business account built on stablecoins, and it gives companies outside the US named accounts in their own name.
- Named accounts. Named virtual accounts in your company's name in USD, EUR, GBP and AED. They're permanent: issued to you and kept for future payments, with your company shown as the account holder.
- USD. A US account number and routing number for ACH and wires through Align's US banking partner, plus a named account for SWIFT. ACH and wire access isn't switched on automatically: you request it, and the US banking partner runs a second review after Align's KYB. The partner can decline or set limits.
- Other rails. EUR over SEPA and SEPA Instant, GBP over Faster Payments, and AED over IPP and UAEFTS. Align doesn't onboard companies based in the UAE: AED accounts are for companies outside it.
- Stablecoins. Money you receive lands in your balance as USDC or USDT, and you can pay out in USD, EUR, GBP or AED. Align supports USDT on Ethereum, Tron, Solana, Polygon, Arbitrum and Optimism; USDC on Ethereum, Solana, Base, Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism and Avalanche; and EURC on Ethereum, Avalanche, Base and Solana.
- Onboarding. Create an account online in a few minutes and upload documents in 5 to 10 minutes. Align's compliance team reviews them in 1 to 5 business days.
Bridge is the better fit if you want to issue a stablecoin: Align doesn't issue stablecoins. If you need a provider authorized under MiCA, Bridge's Luxembourg entity is, and Align isn't. Align Payments Ltd. is registered with FINTRAC in Canada as a money services business (registration no. N300000203), and regulated services are provided through licensed financial institutions. Align isn't a bank. See the prohibited and restricted use list and virtual accounts. Pricing is quoted on request: contact us.
Sources
- Stripe, Stripe completes Bridge acquisition (February 2025)
- Bridge, Homepage and Legal disclosures (October 2026)
- Bridge docs, Supported countries list (October 2026)
- Bridge docs, Virtual accounts and Rail-specific rules (October 2026)
- Bridge docs, Virtual accounts FAQs and SWIFT transactions (beta) (October 2026)
- Bridge docs, Cards overview and Issuance options (October 2026)
- OCC, Corporate Decision #1365: Bridge National Trust Bank (February 2026)
- Bridge, OCC conditional approval (February 2026) and MiCA and e-money authorizations in the EU (July 2026)
- Visa, Visa and Bridge expand collaboration on stablecoin-linked cards (March 2026)
- Stripe, Everything we announced at Sessions 2026 (April 2026)
- Payoneer, Payoneer to launch stablecoin capabilities powered by Bridge (February 2026)
- Mastercard, Mastercard completes acquisition of BVNK (August 2026) and Global Money Platform (October 2026)
- BVNK, Products and FAQ, Virtual accounts overview and Licenses and registrations (October 2026)
- Conduit, Homepage and Virtual accounts (October 2026); Business Wire, Conduit multicurrency virtual accounts (December 2025)
- Zerohash, Homepage and licenses (October 2026); The Block, Zerohash secures EMI license (May 2026)
Common questions
- Can a company outside the US use Bridge?
- Usually, yes. As of October 2026, Bridge's docs say it onboards customers based on where they are resident and serves most countries outside its prohibited list. Services are unavailable in Algeria, Burundi, China, Japan and Tunisia, and some rails are restricted by country.
- Do Bridge virtual accounts accept SWIFT payments?
- Not as standard. Bridge's USD virtual accounts take ACH and US domestic wires, and its docs describe SWIFT as a limited beta for USD only. If your customers pay from banks outside the US, check SWIFT support before you choose a provider.
- Can an EU company get GBP or MXN accounts from Bridge?
- Not as of October 2026. Bridge's docs say EU customers aren't currently supported for GBP, MXN, BRL and COP accounts. EEA customers are served by Bridge Building S.A. in Luxembourg, which the CSSF has authorized as an e-money institution and a MiCA crypto-asset service provider.
- Is Bridge a bank?
- Not yet. On 12 February 2026, the OCC gave Bridge preliminary conditional approval to organize Bridge National Trust Bank. It can open only after meeting the OCC's preopening requirements, and Bridge says the charter would cover custody, stablecoin issuance and reserve management.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and providers' terms change; check the sources linked above and take advice on your own situation.
Related guides
Open a business account built on stablecoins.
Named USD, EUR, GBP and AED accounts in your company's name, with USDC and USDT in and out. Apply online; our compliance team reviews applications in 1 to 5 business days.