Cryptocurrency cards today play a key role in bridging digital assets with the offline economy. They are what allowed stablecoins to move beyond crypto exchanges and become a familiar means of payment, according to analysts at the Artemis platform.
Based on their estimates, the monthly transaction volume of crypto cards grew from around $100 million in early 2023 to $1.5 billion by the end of 2025. Experts attribute this rapid growth mainly to the fact that most merchants still do not accept cryptocurrencies directly.
Technically, crypto cards rely on the infrastructure of international payment systems such as Visa and Mastercard. When making a purchase, they automatically convert stablecoins into fiat currency, making the process invisible to the merchant.
The highest demand for such solutions is observed in emerging economies. The growing popularity of crypto cards in these regions is driven by weakening national currencies, high inflation, and limited access to traditional banking services.
At the same time, in the United States and the European uniоn, traditional payment instruments function relatively smoothly. As a result, stablecoins do not address critical market needs there and are mainly used by experienced users, crypto investors, freelancers, and companies working with digital assets, Artemis analysts note.
Experts believe that crypto cards will continue to dominate retail payments, including purchases of goods, restaurant bills, travel expenses, and subscription services. Direct payments in stablecoins, however, are expected to gain wider adoption in the B2B segment and in cross-border transfers, where speed and low fees matter more than convenience for end users.
Earlier, Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, announced a partnership with payment giant Worldpay. The collaboration will allow users to purchase cryptocurrencies using Apple Pay and Google Pay.