Bitget Wallet Launches Crypto-Powered Mastercard Payment Solution
Bitget Wallet, a prominent cryptocurrency exchange platform, has partnered with Mastercard and blockchain infrastructure provider Immersve to launch a novel payment card enabling users to spend cryptocurrency at over 150 million merchants worldwide.
Key Features
- Real-time crypto-to-fiat settlement with no transaction fees
- Available within the Bitget Wallet mobile application
- On-chain funding via crypto deposits or swaps
- No third-party custodianship, maintaining self-custodial wallet integrity
- Immediate card issuance and activation process
According to Bitget Wallet CMO Jamie Elkaleh, this innovation responds to growing demand for practical crypto usage: “Approximately 40% of surveyed Bitget Wallet users globally have utilized cryptocurrency for daily payments, with especially high adoption in Southeast Asia and Africa.”
Global Rollout Strategy
The card is initially launching in the United Kingdom and European Economic Area later this year, with planned expansions to Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand in upcoming phases. The exclusion of the U.S. market necessitates “regulatory approvals,” according to Bitget representatives.
Bitget Wallet CEO Jamie Elkaleh stated: “The UK and EEA have been prioritized due to their clear regulatory environments and crypto-friendly adoption. Launch in the US will depend on obtaining appropriate regulatory approvals and establishing local issuing arrangements.”
Technical Infrastructure
The solution leverages Mastercard’s suite of Digital First tools, enabling direct card application through the Bitget Wallet app with activation within minutes. Immersve provides the critical backend infrastructure connecting the self-custodial wallet ecosystem with Mastercard’s payment networks, as explained by Immersve CEO Jerome Faury:
“This includes APIs for card issuance, transaction processing, on-chain protocol and settlement, plus compliance tooling such as KYC and AML integration. Immersve enables real-time, blockchain-native spend from the user’s wallet while ensuring the fiat leg of the transaction is handled securely and in accordance with Mastercard and regulatory requirements.”
Market Context
The launch aligns with rising cryptocurrency mainstream adoption, evidenced by Mastercard’s strategic commitments in the space. SVP of Digital Assets Christian Rau emphasized: “We’ve been ‘committed to bridging crypto and traditional finance for several years, including a range of card products with partners like Gemini, Bybit, MetaMask, and more.”
Security features include compliance protections and Mastercard’s established anti-fraud measures. As Rau noted: “Transaction security is ensured through Mastercard’s KYC and AML requirements and other protections.”
Industry Positioning
Recent market data from CEX.io indicates crypto-linked cards are increasingly used for everyday transactions. Nearly half of all such card payments are €10 ($11.75) or less, reflecting growing mainstream acceptance alongside Bitcoin’s reported 21% year-over-year growth as a payment method.
The average crypto card transaction value stands at €23.70 ($27.85), significantly below the €33.60 ($39.48) typical of conventional bank card spending patterns.
