Mastercard Bets Big on Crypto
In a parallel move, Mastercard is preparing to acquire cryptocurrency startup Zerohash for up to $2 billion, according to Fortune. The deal, still in advanced negotiations, would mark one of Mastercard’s largest entries into the stablecoin and blockchain sector.
Zerohash—valued at over $1 billion after a recent funding round—builds infrastructure for digital payments and tokenized finance. The acquisition would cement Mastercard’s position at the intersection of fintech and blockchain innovation, joining partnerships with Crypto.com, OKX, and Kraken.
Energy, Healthcare, and Global Markets Join the Surge
The wave of high-stakes deals isn’t confined to tech. Brookfield Asset Management is in talks to acquire two inactive nuclear reactors in South Carolina from Santee Cooper, a state-owned utility. The proposal, greenlit for exclusive negotiations, could reach multi-billion-dollar value as Brookfield explores reviving the long-idled reactors.
In healthcare, Blackstone Group is reportedly eyeing a purchase of Optum UK, owned by UnitedHealth Group, which includes software provider EMIS—acquired for £1.2 billion ($1.6 billion) in 2023. The potential sale could reshape Britain’s digital healthcare infrastructure.
Meanwhile, in Asia, Indian eyewear unicorn Lenskart, backed by SoftBank, is preparing for an $828 million IPO in Mumbai. Founded by entrepreneur Peyush Bansal, the company’s offering—priced between 382 and 402 rupees per share—represents one of India’s most anticipated public listings of 2025.
