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Klarna, the global digital bank and flexible payments provider, has announced a strategic entry into the digital asset space with the launch of KlarnaUSD. This marks a significant shift for the company, whose leadership had previously expressed scepticism regarding the utility of cryptocurrencies in payments. The initiative aligns with a broader market trend, as McKinsey estimates stablecoin transactions now exceed $27 trillion annually, a figure that could surpass legacy payment networks by the end of the decade.
The launch establishes Klarna as the first bank to issue a stablecoin on Tempo, a new independent blockchain purpose-built for payments and initiated by Stripe and Paradigm. By leveraging blockchain rails, Klarna aims to address the inefficiencies of cross-border transactions, a sector currently generating an estimated $120 billion in annual fees.
“With 114 million customers and $112 billion in annual GMV, Klarna has the scale to change payments globally: with Klarna’s scale and Tempo’s infrastructure, we can challenge old networks and make payments faster and cheaper for everyone,” said Sebastian Siemiatkowski, Co-founder and CEO of Klarna. “Crypto is finally at a stage where it is fast, low-cost, secure, and built for scale. This is the beginning of Klarna in crypto, and I’m excited to work with Stripe and Tempo to continue to shape the future of payments.”
The technical infrastructure for KlarnaUSD is built on Open Issuance by Bridge, a stablecoin infrastructure platform recently acquired by Stripe. The asset is scheduled to launch on Tempo’s mainnet in 2026. Currently, the project is live on the testnet, allowing Klarna early access for advanced prototyping and systems integration.
This development deepens the existing commercial relationship between Klarna and Stripe, which already encompasses payments infrastructure across Klarna's 26 global markets. The company has indicated that this announcement represents the first phase of a broader digital asset strategy, with further partnerships expected to be revealed in the coming weeks.
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