MetaMask Announces Launch of Crypto Debit Card Backed by Mastercard

BlockBeats news, on August 14, CoinDesk reported that MetaMask announced a partnership with payment giant Mastercard Incorporated and crypto payment expert Baanx to launch a blockchain debit card. The debit card allows MetaMask users to make purchases directly from their self-hosted crypto wallets.

The card is expected to be fully launched later this year, first piloted among thousands of users in the EU and the UK. Users can spend USDC, USDT, and wETH assets on the Linea network. Mastercard has been working with Baanx on its web3 payment plan, connecting traditional payments with hardware wallet company Ledger and decentralized trading platform 1inch, among others. Meanwhile, competitor Visa (V) has partnered with Circle's USDC stablecoin and Solana (SOL) network to speed up cross-border payments.