Overview

• Mastercard is integrating crypto through on-ramp and off-ramp services and cards linked to crypto accounts, with assets converted to fiat at checkout for seamless merchant acceptance.
• The company says non-custodial wallets require bespoke solutions, citing a MetaMask integration that uses a smart contract to verify funds in real time.
• Rau states there are no public plans to launch a Mastercard blockchain, though the firm could consider one if existing technologies fail to meet security, scale or interoperability needs.
• Partnerships with MetaMask, MoonPay, Bitget, Kraken and Circle extend crypto access to traditional commerce, and the company says millions can spend stablecoin balances at over 150 million merchant locations worldwide.
• Reported data show stablecoin transaction volume reached about $27.6 trillion in 2024, exceeding the combined volumes of Visa and Mastercard and underscoring why card networks are engaging with the sector.