Digital asset funds accelerated in 2025 as a surge in visa crypto card spending highlighted how blockchain-based cash is shifting into on a regular basis monetary life.
Visa-backed crypto playing cards report 525% surge in 2025
Knowledge from Dune Analytics reveals web spending throughout six Visa-backed crypto playing cards rose sharply throughout 2025. Complete web spend climbed from $14.6 million in January to $91.3 million by December, marking a 525% annual enhance. Furthermore, this soar indicators rising client confidence in utilizing crypto-linked playing cards for routine funds somewhat than solely speculative publicity.
These playing cards, linked to Visa‘s international community, enabled customers to spend digital property at acquainted retailers. Nonetheless, the fast acceleration in quantity suggests a structural shift, as extra holders deal with crypto balances as a spendable medium for every day bills. This pattern aligns with the broader push to combine blockchain property into mainstream cost rails.
EtherFi leads Visa-linked crypto card spending
The six tracked playing cards had been issued by GnosisPay, Cypher, EtherFi, Avici Cash, Exa App, and Moonwell. Amongst these, EtherFi dominated total spending all through 2025. Its Visa-backed card generated $55.4 million in annual spend, outpacing all opponents by a large margin and setting the benchmark for the section.
Cypher ranked second with $20.5 million in yearly spending, whereas the remaining playing cards posted smaller however steadily rising volumes. That stated, the distribution of exercise signifies customers persistently favored platforms that mix robust liquidity, dependable infrastructure, and broad service provider acceptance. EtherFi’s place underscores the significance of clean consumer expertise and immediate card usability.
From speculative holding to on a regular basis transactions
Spending patterns throughout these playing cards recommend a transparent shift away from pure speculative holding towards transactional use of digital property. Cardholders more and more used crypto balances to pay for groceries, journey, and on-line purchases. Furthermore, this habits reveals that on-chain wealth is starting to stream extra frequently into the true economic system by cost playing cards.
By linking crypto wallets to Visa rails, issuers diminished friction at checkout. Customers might pay retailers in acquainted currencies whereas funding the transaction with digital property behind the scenes. Nonetheless, this mannequin nonetheless relies on sturdy conversion, compliance, and settlement techniques, which card applications and cost networks have been constructing out aggressively since 2024.
Visa’s stablecoin technique underpins card development
Visa’s stablecoin technique performed a central function within the 2025 rise in crypto card utilization. The funds group expanded stablecoin help throughout 4 blockchains, concentrating on quicker settlement and simplified cross-border funds. Furthermore, Visa deepened its work with fintech corporations and blockchain initiatives round infrastructure, compliance, and funds entry, broadening the bottom of potential stablecoin customers.
In November 2025, Visa collaborated with Aquanow to extend stablecoin settlement in Central and Japanese Europe, the Center East, and Africa (CEMEA). Then, in mid-December, Visa launched a stablecoin advisory crew to assist banks, retailers, and fintechs design, deploy, and handle stablecoin-based merchandise. That stated, the agency framed these strikes as a part of a long-term push into programmable cash and blockchain-enabled settlement.
As stablecoins develop into extra deeply built-in into cost flows, visa crypto card applications achieve stronger operational help. Individually, a Visa card was launched that permits USDT spending straight from self-custody wallets, with out preloading or custodial companies. This construction reduces intermediaries within the cost course of whereas retaining the acquainted client card expertise intact.
Stablecoin quantity and provide hit report ranges
The rise in crypto card spending coincided with a lot broader development within the stablecoin market. Knowledge from Bridge reveals whole stablecoin transaction quantity surpassed $2.5 trillion in the course of the yr, whereas total stablecoin provide reached report highs. Furthermore, each metrics spotlight how dollar-pegged tokens and different asset-backed cash have gotten key rails for digital funds.
Between June 2024 and June 2025, USDT recorded month-to-month transaction exercise that peaked in January 2025 at $1.14 trillion. USDC additionally noticed heavy use, with month-to-month volumes reported between $1.24 trillion and $3.29 trillion. Nonetheless, the market was not restricted to the 2 largest greenback tokens, as extra specialised property gained floor.
EURC, PYUSD, and DAI skilled rising adoption in focused segments and regional markets. EURC’s month-to-month quantity, for instance, grew from about $47 million to over $7.5 billion inside one yr. That stated, these property usually serve area of interest roles, together with euro liquidity, compliance-focused settlements, or decentralized finance integrations.
Outlook for crypto-linked cost playing cards
The mixed rise in stablecoin utilization and crypto card transactions means that digital property are shifting nearer to mainstream funds. As Visa and its companions refine infrastructure, extra customers might deal with blockchain-based balances as spendable cash as a substitute of purely speculative positions. Furthermore, continued development in EtherFi and different card applications will possible push opponents to improve their choices.
Wanting forward, the problem shall be scaling compliance, danger administration, and consumer safety with out undermining the effectivity positive factors of blockchain settlement. Nonetheless, the 525% spending enhance in 2025 reveals there may be clear demand for crypto-funded playing cards that really feel like conventional cost instruments whereas working on new rails.
