Crypto-native payment cards are experiencing rapid adoption, with daily transactions surging 22x from December 2024 levels to reach nearly 60,000 transactions by mid-January 2026. These cards function by automatically converting cryptocurrency holdings into fiat currency at the point of sale, enabling users to spend digital assets at traditional merchants without manually offramping through exchanges.
The growth trajectory reflects increasing demand for practical crypto spending solutions. Rather than selling assets on centralized exchanges and withdrawing to traditional bank accounts, users can seamlessly spend their holdings through Visa or Mastercard-enabled crypto cards, streamlining the offramp process while maintaining exposure to digital assets until the moment of purchase.
Transaction activity has translated into nearly $4 million in daily USD volume processed through these cards. Etherfi currently dominates the space, accounting for roughly half of all transactions, though the competitive landscape includes multiple providers, including Gnosis, Metamask, and Solayer, among others.
Card issuers are still refining their economic models, with significant variance in incentive structures and fee arrangements across providers. Many cards enhance appeal by offering yields generated through DeFi lending protocols and other onchain sources, effectively allowing users to earn returns on balances while maintaining spending flexibility.
The Block recently published a comprehensive review comparing features across providers.
The dominance of Visa and Mastercard infrastructure within crypto card issuance demonstrates how traditional payments giants have established meaningful footholds in digital asset adoption. These legacy payment networks have found a foothold in facilitating the bridge between decentralized finance and everyday commerce.
This is an excerpt from The Block’s Data & Insights newsletter. Dig into the numbers making up the industry’s most thought-provoking trends.
© 2026 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
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