ZeroHash is in discussions with investors to raise $250 million at a valuation above $1.5 billion, CoinDesk reported on May 19, 2026 — a fresh fundraise that comes roughly four months after the company walked away from late-stage acquisition talks with Mastercard.
The Chicago-based firm provides crypto settlement and stablecoin infrastructure to fintechs, banks, and neobrokers through an API layer. Its clients use ZeroHash's rails to embed crypto payments, stablecoin transfers, and digital asset custody into their own products without building regulated infrastructure themselves. The B2B positioning kept the company out of retail headlines but put it at the center of institutional demand for compliant crypto plumbing.
The Mastercard episode underlines how that positioning has changed. Bloomberg reported in October 2025 that Mastercard was in late-stage talks to acquire ZeroHash; the deal was said to value the company in the billions. ZeroHash walked away in January 2026. The $250M raise — at a target valuation above $1.5B — marks the company's return to the independent financing track. Its prior disclosed round was a $104 million Series D.
The timing matters beyond ZeroHash alone. The GENIUS Act, signed into law in July 2025, created a federal regulatory framework for stablecoin issuance in the United States and legitimized the category for regulated financial institutions. In the months since, enterprise demand for compliant stablecoin rails has grown, and infrastructure vendors that sit between banks and on-chain settlement have become a distinct investment category rather than acquisition targets for card networks. ZeroHash's willingness to stay independent — and investors' willingness to fund that bet at $1.5B-plus — signals that the market is pricing that category as a stand-alone business.
No close date for the round was disclosed. Figures and deal status are per CoinDesk's reporting dated May 19, 2026; ZeroHash has not issued a public statement confirming the fundraise.
Source: CoinDesk, "Zerohash Pursues New Funding at More Than $1.5 Billion Valuation After Mastercard Drops Investment Plans," May 19, 2026.