Stablecoin-powered card payment transactions surged nearly 230% year-over-year, with monthly volume reaching $7.8 billion. Major financial technology companies including Mastercard and Block are expanding their stablecoin-linked card offerings, driving the growth.
Why the surge
The jump reflects broader adoption of stablecoins for everyday spending. Consumers and businesses are increasingly using cards that settle transactions in digital currencies pegged to fiat, like USDC or USDT. The $7.8 billion monthly figure marks a sharp acceleration from the roughly $2.4 billion recorded a year earlier.
Who's behind the expansion
Mastercard has been rolling out programs that let card issuers process payments in stablecoins, converting them to fiat at settlement. Block, the payments company founded by Jack Dorsey, has also deepened its stablecoin card infrastructure. Both firms are betting that stablecoins can lower transaction costs and speed up cross-border payments.
For cardholders, stablecoin-linked cards work like traditional debit or credit cards but draw on crypto balances. They can be used anywhere that accepts the card network's brand. The growth suggests that stablecoins are moving beyond trading and into real-world commerce.
Neither Mastercard nor Block has disclosed specific targets for their stablecoin card programs. The next milestone will likely come when more major merchants and issuers announce support for the payment method.
