After developing its own version of the bitcoin technology over the past couple of years, Mastercard (MA, +0.44%) announced Friday that it is now opening up its blockchain to certain banks and merchants as an alternative—and potentially more efficient—method of paying for goods and services.
In a sign that mainstream adoption of the technology underpinning cryptocurrency is increasing, Mastercard is the second Fortune 500 company this week to begin facilitating blockchain payments. On Monday, IBM (IBM, +0.53%) revealed that it had also begun processing payments over its own proprietary blockchain between banks in the South Pacific.
source:
http://fortune.com/2017/10/20/mastercard-blockchain-bitcoin/