Quick Breakdown
- •Crypto cards are becoming more popular. Spending on Visa-linked crypto cards rose by 525% in 2025, showing that more people are using crypto for daily purchases instead of only keeping it as an investment.
- •Several factors are driving this growth. Easier spending, strong partnerships with Visa, stablecoins, instant conversion, and global use, especially for cross-border payments, are making crypto cards practical and reliable.
- •This matters for payments because crypto cards are pressuring banks, improving how merchants get paid, attracting attention from regulators, and helping connect DeFi with traditional finance in real-world situations.
Crypto cards are moving from being niche tools for early adopters to becoming everyday payment options for more people. They let users spend digital assets as easily as regular money at checkout, helping connect crypto wallets with the global payment system.
Crypto markets usually focus on price changes, but spending data shows how much people actually use crypto in real life, not just hold it. That’s why payment data is important.
With Visa’s latest report and the move toward digital payments, the 525% jump in crypto card spending clearly shows how quickly crypto is changing the payment industry.
The Surge Explained: From $14.6M to $91.3M
Visa’s crypto cards saw a dramatic leap in 2025, with net spend jumping from $14.6 million in January to $91.3 million by December, a 525% increase.
This growth wasn’t the same for every card. EtherFi led with $55.4 million in spending, and Cypher followed with $20.5 million. Other platforms like GnosisPay, Avici Money, Exa App, and Moonwell made up the rest, showing how different companies are finding their own place in the market.
While average spend per transaction varied by platform, EtherFi users displayed higher volumes per card, helping push the total numbers upward. Compared to traditional credit and debit card growth, the pace of crypto card adoption is still early but remarkably fast, signalling that digital assets are beginning to rival conventional payment methods in everyday usability.
Key Drivers Behind the Growth
The surge in crypto card spending is driven by several clear factors reshaping how consumers use digital assets.
Retail Adoption: Everyday Spending Replacing Speculative Use
Crypto is no longer just a speculative tool for investors; it’s becoming a practical payment method. Users increasingly spend digital assets for groceries, dining, and online shopping, integrating crypto into their daily routines.
Platforms like EtherFi and Cypher have made it easy to use crypto as seamlessly as traditional cards, boosting transaction frequency and turning occasional users into regular spenders. This shift from speculation to real-world spending is a major reason for the spike in card usage.
Partnerships: Exchanges, Wallets, and Card Networks
Strong partnerships between crypto wallets, exchanges, and established card networks have fueled adoption. Visa’s collaboration with platforms such as EtherFi, GnosisPay, and Avici Money ensures that users can access crypto cards almost anywhere traditional cards are accepted. These integrations reduce friction, make onboarding simpler, and increase trust, allowing more consumers to try and stick with crypto card usage.
Crypto Integration: Stablecoins, Instant Conversion, and Better UX
The integration of stablecoins and instant conversion features has transformed the user experience. Consumers can now pay in crypto without worrying about volatility, as digital payments are instantly converted to fiat at checkout.
Smooth app interfaces, real-time tracking, and instant notifications further enhance usability, making crypto payments feel familiar and reliable, much like conventional credit or debit cards.
Global Use Cases: Cross-Border Payments and Emerging Markets
Crypto cards are especially attractive in global and emerging markets, where traditional banking is limited or cross-border transfers are costly.
Consumers in countries with currency instability or expensive remittance fees benefit from fast, low-cost digital payments, driving growth outside the US and Europe. This global applicability not only increases transaction volume but also positions crypto cards as a solution for real-world financial challenges.
Impact on the Payment and Fintech Industry
The rise of crypto cards is reshaping the payment and fintech ecosystem as a whole.
Competitive Pressure on Traditional Banks and Payment Processors
Crypto cards are forcing traditional banks and payment networks to innovate. With users increasingly seeking seamless, low-fee, and fast transactions, legacy financial institutions face pressure to improve digital offerings and integrate crypto-friendly solutions.
This competition is driving faster adoption of technology, better services, and more flexible payment options for consumers, ultimately reshaping the financial environment.
Merchant Acceptance and Settlement Efficiency
Merchants benefit from faster settlement times and reduced cross-border fees when accepting crypto payments. Platforms partnering with Visa or other networks can process crypto transactions in real-time, improving cash flow and minimizing the delays associated with international transfers.
As adoption grows, merchants see crypto cards as a tool to attract tech-savvy customers and streamline payment processing.
Regulatory Attention and Compliance Implications
The surge in crypto card usage has not gone unnoticed by regulators. Financial authorities are paying more attention to AML, KYC, and tax compliance for crypto transactions.
Payment providers and fintechs need to implement robust compliance frameworks that may shape the pace and scope of future crypto card rollouts while ensuring consumer protection and market integrity.
Role of Crypto Cards in Bridging DeFi and TradFi
Crypto cards serve as a practical bridge between DeFi and TradFi. They allow users to spend crypto from DeFi wallets in everyday transactions, creating a seamless link between blockchain-based assets and fiat payments.
This convergence promotes mainstream adoption, encourages further innovation, and signals a step toward integrating digital assets into the broader financial system.
Conclusion: The Future of Crypto Payments and Consumer Behaviour
The steady rise in crypto card use shows that more people are using crypto for daily purchases. This pushes payment systems to become faster, easier, and more secure. As more merchants accept crypto and tools like stablecoins make digital payments simple, crypto cards are showing that they could become a normal part of finance.
For consumers, this means more ways to spend digital money, and for merchants, it means reaching tech-savvy customers. It also encourages fintechs and banks to build better tools that link crypto with traditional finance. If this trend continues, crypto cards could become a regular part of daily spending by 2026.