Cardano News Today: EMCD's Crypto Card Bridges Blockchain to Mainstream Spending

EMCD, a leading crypto-fintech platform, has launched the EMCD Payment Card, a global cryptocurrency payment solution enabling users to spend USDT at any Mastercard-accepted location, including via Apple Pay and Google Pay, according to a GlobeNewswire report. The card, powered by KazeFi, is free to issue and has no monthly fees, aiming to bridge the gap between crypto holdings and everyday spending. CEO Michael Jerlis emphasized the tool's role in transforming digital assets into usable currency, expanding EMCD's ecosystem beyond mining and storage to seamless spending, as noted in the GlobeNewswire report.

The launch aligns with a rapidly growing crypto payments sector: stablecoins processed $46 trillion in transactions in 2025, doubling from the prior year, and eMarketer projects that 19% of crypto owners will use digital assets for payments by 2026, as the GlobeNewswire report noted.

The EMCD Payment Card joins a wave of crypto-enabled financial tools. Exodus, a self-custody wallet firm, unveiled its own debit card in partnership with Baanx, allowing users to spend stablecoins like USDT and USDC at Mastercard- and Visa-accepting merchants, as reported by Coindesk. Beta testing began at the BTC Vegas conference, with a wider rollout planned for later 2025. Exodus CEO JP Richardson highlighted the tool's potential to serve the 1.7 billion unbanked individuals globally, offering financial access through mobile wallets, as Coindesk reported. Similarly, Jour Cards expanded its crypto gift card platform to include iTunes and Apple purchases, enabling users to convert Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies into digital gift cards for instant, bank-free access to Apple services, as the Business Insider article noted.

Traditional financial institutions are also entering the space. SoFi announced a crypto trading platform integrated into its banking app, allowing customers to buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum alongside traditional accounts, as Morningstar reported. CEO Anthony Noto framed the move as part of a broader strategy to leverage blockchain for faster global remittances and stablecoin integration, according to Morningstar. Meanwhile, Standard Chartered and DCS Card Centre launched Singapore's first stablecoin credit card, the DeCard, enabling direct spending of stablecoins at physical stores without converting to fiat, as Yahoo Finance reported. The card uses a proprietary D-Vault system for real-time crypto-to-fiat settlements, aligning with Singapore's progressive regulatory framework for stablecoins, the Yahoo Finance report noted.

These developments reflect a broader trend of bridging decentralized finance (DeFi) with traditional financial infrastructure. EMURGO and Wirex announced the Cardano Card, a Visa-enabled crypto card integrated into the Wirex app, allowing Cardano (ADA) holders to spend 685+ cryptocurrencies and access yield and loan services, according to a PRNewswire announcement. The partnership aims to expand Cardano's reach to Wirex's six million users, with a non-custodial version planned for 2026, as PRNewswire noted.

As crypto payments gain traction, platforms are addressing real-world utility. Jour Cards' iTunes integration and EMCD's Mastercard partnership underscore efforts to make digital assets practical for everyday purchases. Meanwhile, institutions like SoFi and Standard Chartered signal growing institutional confidence in crypto's role in mainstream finance.