Mastercard And Kraken Partner On European Crypto Card

Kraken and Mastercard are teaming up to launch a crypto debit card in Europe and the United Kingdom. This announcement illustrates the desire of the industry giants to make crypto a concrete payment tool, going beyond speculation. In a market under regulatory pressure, this initiative embodies a new phase: that of usage, and the real integration of crypto into everyday life. It is a strong signal at a time when the industry is looking for tangible and compliant use cases.

Kraken accelerates the integration of cryptos into daily life

On April 8, 2025, Kraken officially announced the launch of a crypto debit card in partnership with Mastercard, intended for residents of the European Union and the United Kingdom. This card will allow users to spend their crypto directly, including stablecoins, at any merchant accepting Mastercard.

In its announcement, the exchange asserts that this solution aims to “bridge the gap between crypto and daily payments“. A waiting list has already been opened for customers eager to obtain this card, distribution of which is expected to begin “in the coming weeks“.

This launch is part of a compliance phase with the new European MiCA regulation. Kraken aims to obtain the necessary license to operate in the European Union, a prerequisite to issuing this card within a regulatory framework. Here are the key elements of this project :

• Deployment area : available in Europe and the United Kingdom ;
• Usable cryptos : ability to pay with stablecoins and other assets supported by Kraken ;
• Technological support : Mastercard debit card accepted at all affiliated merchants ;
• Project status : pre-registrations open, operational launch in the next few weeks ;
• Strategic objective : facilitate everyday use of crypto to meet the requirements of the MiCA framework.

This project marks a new step in the integration of crypto into traditional payment circuits.

Towards a rise in crypto services from Kraken and Mastercard

Beyond this new debit card, the partnership fits into a broader expansion strategy led by Kraken. Since January 2025, the platform has launched Kraken Pay, a solution that allows for the sending of over 300 cryptos to multiple countries.

This offering is supplemented by a payment system via URL link, simplifying transactions between users. According to Kraken, more than 200,000 users have adopted “Kraktag“, a unique identifier that enables payment receipt without exposing sensitive information.

“We are building a payment infrastructure that leverages the power of crypto to make transactions smoother and safer“, the company notes in its communications.

For its part, Mastercard continues to strengthen its position in the crypto universe. The company had already collaborated with MetaMask, as well as with the European provider Mercuryo, to offer blockchain-based payment solutions.

Thanks to its partnership with Kraken, Mastercard clearly expresses a desire to become a key player in the emerging digital economy. This alliance with an exchange recognized for its stability and experience could facilitate the mass adoption of crypto as a legitimate means of payment, rather than merely a speculative asset.

This partnership could also pave the way for other similar initiatives like those of Kraken and Mastercard in other regions, particularly in the United States and Asia, if the feedback is positive. It embodies a scaling change in how crypto interacts with the real economy, and could redefine the daily uses of these assets for millions of users.