Web2 Titans Fuel Crypto's Mainstream Moment

Web2 Giants Are Playing Their Part to Support Crypto Purchases Everywhere

Once upon a time, crypto was known as the wild west, a frontier dominated by early adopters with wallets full of BTC and dreams of Lambos. Fast forward to 2025, and that rugged landscape has been significantly tamed, yet retains its ability to surprise. One of the more pleasant surprises has been the willingness of businesses once branded as crypto's adversaries to support its integration into everyday payment systems.

Web2 giants, the familiar names powering our online lives, are now embracing crypto. PayPal, Visa, and Mastercard are among the titans cantering into the crypto corral, marking a genuine game-changer. Their involvement transforms crypto from a fringe fantasy into a practical, everyday tool. While these web2 players don't often receive credit for their conversion, they deserve praise for their role in crypto's evolution.

Financial heavyweights are leading the charge. PayPal pioneered crypto services in 2020, allowing users to buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrencies like BTC and ETH. By 2024, they had integrated stablecoin PYUSD and rolled it out to 430 million users worldwide. Visa has settled over $2.5 billion in crypto-linked transactions since 2021, while Mastercard is pushing crypto debit cards and blockchain payments. These giants are making crypto accessible to their vast user bases, turning "what's a wallet?" into "oh, I already have that."

Neo-banks, the bridge between old and new money, are also driving crypto adoption. Take Crypto.com, with over 80 million users and billboards at major sporting events. They've just added PayPal as a payment method, allowing users to fund their crypto purchases directly from their PayPal balance. This means no more interminable transfers or extra apps, just seamless integration into a trusted platform. Neo-banks like Crypto.com are flattening crypto's adoption curve.

Partnerships between web2 and web3 players are driving crypto adoption. PayPal and Visa teamed up last year to streamline crypto payouts, while Mastercard collaborated with wallet providers like MetaMask and Trust Wallet to enable users to top up cards with crypto in seconds. Mercuryo, a rising fintech star, has partnered with web3 heavyweights