Crypto: Visa And Mastercard Are Hindering Innovation By Betting Millions!

Visa and Mastercard, the undisputed leaders in card payments, are in the spotlight for their attempt to block the competition. According to a recent report, these two giants have spent millions to ensure they maintain their dominant position. But what is truly interesting is the impact this might have on the emergence of decentralized alternatives, such as cryptocurrencies, which pose a threat to their business model.

Visa and Mastercard: Keeping a Grip at All Costs

Visa and Mastercard have built colossal empires by controlling a significant share of card transactions worldwide.

However, as technology advances at a breakneck pace, their domination proves more fragile than ever. Cryptos, and particularly blockchains, offer powerful alternatives that are more transparent and often less costly.

To curb this competition, these two giants have chosen a strategy that might seem archaic: lobbying.

According to recent data, they have together invested over 80 million dollars to influence lawmakers and push back any reform of the payments sector.

This lobbying focuses on laws that, if passed, would pave the way for increased competition.

Yet, the stance of Visa and Mastercard is not just about economic dominance. It also reflects a deep reluctance to accept change.

By targeting these reforms, both companies seek to delay the inevitable: the emergence of a world where financial transactions no longer depend on physical cards or their infrastructure.

Crypto Innovation: An Existential Threat?

At first glance, it might seem that cryptos and credit cards play in different leagues. But cryptos, especially projects like Bitcoin and Ethereum, aim to redefine how we manage money, and this directly threatens Visa and Mastercard.

Cryptocurrencies are decentralized, transparent, and can significantly reduce the costs of cross-border transactions, where credit cards often apply high fees.

Many see the Visa-Mastercard duopoly as a brake on innovation, slowing the emergence of alternative solutions.

Crypto could offer a more open, less costly, and intermediary-free system. But as long as these financial giants continue to influence policymakers, small businesses, consumers, and even crypto projects will struggle to fully break through in the daily payment universe.

Yet, the growing interest in cryptos shows that consumers are ready for change.

The success of digital currencies and decentralized platforms demonstrates that demand exists, but supply is constantly stifled by anti-competitive practices.

This increasingly visible phenomenon fuels criticism against Visa and Mastercard. These companies, though dominant today, could very well see their power rapidly erode if legislation evolves in favor of competition.

Regulation: A Lever to Break the Monopoly

Calls for regulation are becoming more urgent. The Credit Card Competition Act of 2023, a bipartisan proposal, aims to introduce changes in the credit card sector to facilitate access for new entrants, including crypto solutions.

The goal is clear: to open the market, reduce fees, and promote an ecosystem where innovation can thrive. This text could well become a decisive turning point in the fight against the monopoly of credit card giants.

Yet, even though the US Senate has not yet set a date to debate this law, the shadow of cryptos already looms over discussions.

As banks and traditional financial institutions view regulation with caution, crypto players are ready to step into the arena.

The disruptive potential of blockchain could provide consumers with more tailored and, above all, less costly solutions.

In conclusion, the future of payments is being played out on two fronts. On the one hand, Visa and Mastercard are trying to protect an empire they have spent decades building. On the other hand, the emergence of crypto and decentralized solutions places unprecedented pressure on these traditional players. Meanwhile, Meta breaks records.