Mastercard and MoonPay Bring Stablecoin Cards to Stores

Mastercard teams up with MoonPay to launch a payment card that spends stablecoins directly at over 150 million merchants worldwide.The card auto-converts stablecoins into fiat during transactions, simplifying how users pay with crypto in everyday situations.Imagine you are having coffee at your favorite coffee shop, then pay using stablecoin from your personal crypto wallet. No need to bother exchanging to fiat, no need to open an exchange. Just swipe your card as usual, and you’re done.Well, that’s no longer just talk. Mastercard has officially partnered with MoonPay to launch a stablecoin-based payment card that can be used at more than 150 million merchants worldwide. This ambitious project is built on technology from Iron—a stablecoin payment startup that was previously acquired by MoonPay in March 2025.JUST IN: MASTERCARD TEAMS UP WITH MOONPAY TO LAUNCH STABLECOIN-POWERED PAYMENT CARDS— BSCN Headlines (@BSCNheadlines) May 15, 2025A Seamless Way to Spend Stablecoins Like CashWhat makes it different is that this card will automatically convert your stablecoin into local currency when used for shopping. So, users can use digital assets like USDC or USDT like cash. And it all happens without any additional steps. Just click, pay, and you’re done.With this collaboration, Mastercard is further expanding its reach in the crypto world. They seem to be really serious about making stablecoin a part of everyday transactions.Mastercard’s Long Road to Entering the Crypto SpaceHowever, this is not the first time Mastercard has played in this area. On the other hand, CNF previously reported that they are also collaborating with MetaMask to launch a metal card that can be used directly from a self-storage wallet.The card is planned to be available globally in the second quarter of 2025 and will allow users to access their crypto funds without having to go through a centralized exchange. Transactions that usually take time due to intermediaries now only take less than five seconds.Not only that, on April 8, 2025, Mastercard also joined Kraken. This collaboration allows users in the UK and Europe to shop using Bitcoin and other crypto assets, directly from their balances. Through the launch of physical and digital cards and the integration of Kraken Pay, the cross-border payment process can be faster and more practical.Furthermore, Mastercard is not silent in long-term development. In April 2025, they announced a big vision to create a blockchain-based digital payment network, similar to Venmo but more decentralized. They developed the Multi-Token Network (MTN) and launched more than 100 crypto card programs worldwide.In fact, they have also partnered with giants like JPMorgan and Standard Chartered to explore use cases such as asset tokenization and cross-border payments.However, the road to full integration of stablecoins into the global financial system is not so smooth. There are still quite complicated regulatory challenges. Some types of stablecoins are already “safe” according to guidelines from authorities such as the SEC, but other types are still questionable. And this will certainly be a big homework for Mastercard and MoonPay, especially if they want to reach a wider market.