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Mastercard Enables Non-Custodial Crypto Wallets, Empowering Users to Be Their Own Bank
- Mastercard partners with Mercuryo to release ‘Spend’, a crypto card that converts fiat to crypto and works with multiple blockchains like Ethereum and Solana.
- The card, compatible with 90 million merchants and integrated with Apple Pay and Google Pay, empowers users to manage funds without bank dependency.
- ‘Spend’ aims to address issues of high fees and transaction risks in crypto conversions, offering a secure alternative to traditional off-ramping.
- Initially available in the European Economic Area, plans are underway to expand ‘Spend’ globally, reinforcing Mastercard’s commitment to blockchain and crypto innovations.
Ever wanted to be your own bank? With the new Mastercard and Mercuryo partnership, now you can.
But this is not just your standard payments giant-issued centralised exchange-backed card. According to a post by Mercuryo, the new wallet lets users directly convert fiat to crypto.
The web3 company said in the statement that while over 500 million people globally now own cryptocurrency, they expect to double those numbers as crypto becomes a popular means for high-yield investments, art tokenisation, and international transfers.
Related: Swyftx Lead Market Analyst Provides Insights into Bitcoin, Dogwifhat and Helium
Converting crypto to cash presents challenges like exchange risks, untrustworthy peer-to-peer transactions, and high fees. And a new card is set to change this. Although it should be mentioned that the card has a US$1.80 (AU$2.67) issuance fee, a US$1.10 (AU$1.63) monthly fee and importantly, a 0.95% ‘off-ramp fee’ – so it isn’t exactly free.
Card Works with Major Blockchains
The card, aptly named ‘Spend’, is compatible with blockchains like Ethereum, Solana, Injective, Near, ZKSync, Polkadot, and TON and will be “available to use across [a] 90 million-plus network of merchants”. It also integrates with Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Spend is a Mastercard debit card and sits directly in a user’s wallet. The company said the card doesn’t rely on banks, leaving customers in charge of their funds:
There are no P2P risks or reliance on banks to withdraw funds from crypto, and users retain full custody of their funds.
Mercuryo According to Mercuryo, using a Spend crypto card offers significant advantages over traditional off-ramping methods, including instant transactions, reduced risk of transaction blocks, and lower fees.
Pay with Digital Assets Anywhere Mastercard is Accepted
Christian Rau, senior vice president of Mastercard’s crypto and fintech enablement, told Cointelegraph that the collaboration builds on the company’s commitment to the web3 and crypto sector.
At Mastercard, we are working closely with partners to innovate and enhance the self-custody wallet experience. Through our collaboration with Mercuryo, we’re eliminating the traditional barriers between blockchain and conventional payments, providing consumers who want to spend their digital assets with an easy, reliable, and secure way to do so, anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
Christian Rau, Mastercard However, Spend won’t be available to everyone immediately, with Europeans getting the first chance to use the new card:
Spend is currently available to users in the European Economic Area (EEA), and Mercuryo plans to roll out Spend across other regions globally.
Mercuryo Mastercard is no stranger to crypto: in May 2024, they announced ‘Mastercard Crypto Credential’, which lets users choose a unique username that replaces complex crypto addresses. In October 2023 they completed a pilot with the RBA, tokenising central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).
Related: Monochrome Asset Management to Launch Ethereum ETF on Cboe Australia
In December 2023 they collaborated with Aptos blockchain to expand into DeFi and develop on-chain identity tools for payments and ticketing through its Crypto Credential initiative.
Author
Aaron Feuerstein
Aaron Feuerstein is a freelance writer based in Melbourne. His focus is on decentralised finance and the regulatory space surrounding blockchain. He holds a Master's in Accounting. When he is not studying the latest legal case, he enjoys his time as a modest but eager hobby cook.
