Crypto Cards Hit $1.5B in 2025: Stablecoin Spending Soars
Crypto Payment Cards Revolutionize Real-World Transactions
Generally, Crypto-linked payment cards are becoming really popular nowadays. Obviously, the numbers are staggering, they jumped from $100 million to $1.5 billion in 2025. Normally, this kind of growth would be considered insane. According to a report by Artemis, these cards are beating P2P stablecoin transfers, and they made an $18 billion market this year alone, which is pretty impressive.
From Niche to Mainstream: The Rise of Crypto Cards
Basically, just two years ago nobody really talked about crypto cards, but now they are a huge part of on-chain stablecoin activity. Usually, monthly transactions grew about 106 % each year since 2023, hitting over $1.5 billion this year, which is a big deal. For the first time, crypto card payments actually topped P2P stablecoin transfers, which were $19 billion, only a little higher than the $18 billion processed through cards, so it’s a close call.
Visa Leads, Mastercard Gains Ground
Clearly, Visa dominates the space, handling more than 90 % of crypto-card traffic through its partnerships with platforms and fintech issuers, which is a lot. Meanwhile, Mastercard is catching up fast, partnering with big exchanges like Revolut, Bybit, and Gemini to roll out crypto payment options, so they are not far behind. Companies like Rain and Reap are also pushing the market forward, offering full-stack card issuance for both consumers and businesses, which is a good thing.
Why Are Crypto Cards Gaining Popularity?
Evidently, there are three main reasons that drive the surge.
- Customer Acquisition and Retention for Exchanges and DeFi Platforms – Exchanges and DeFi projects use cards to pull in users, which is a common practice. They hand out crypto rewards for everyday buys, turning routine spend into a loyalty tool, and that’s a clever move. Gemini, for example, said 56 % of its US users were grabbed through its credit-card program in Q3 2025, and 75 % stayed active, so it’s working for them.
- Revenue Stability for Crypto Wallets and Fintech Platforms – Self-custodial wallets like MetaMask and Phantom can’t earn from custody fees, so they lean on swap fees, bridges, and card interchange, which makes sense. Some even launch their own stablecoins—MetaMask’s mUSD and Phantom’s CASH—to boost card usage, and that’s a good strategy.
- Financial Inclusion in Emerging Markets – In places like India and Argentina, crypto cards are more than a convenience; they’re a lifeline, and that’s the truth. India’s crypto flow tops $338 billion, and cards give people a way around the UPI-centric system, which is helpful. In Argentina, USDC makes up 46.6 % of stablecoin use, and cards help folks hedge against runaway inflation, so they are useful.
The Future of Crypto Payments
Apparently, the momentum isn’t slowing down, and that’s a fact. As stablecoins spread, cards will grow right alongside them, turning digital assets into a simple swipe, which is the future. Visa and Mastercard are digging deeper, while fintech innovators keep finding fresh use cases, and that’s what they do. The line between traditional finance and crypto is blurring—payment cards are leading the charge, and that’s the way it is.
