Crypto exchange Kraken is teaming up with Mastercard to roll out physical crypto debit cards across Europe and the United Kingdom. The company announced the partnership on April 8, adding that a waitlist is now open, with card issuance expected to begin in the coming weeks.
This strategic move will allow Kraken users to spend cryptocurrencies and stablecoins directly on everyday purchases, signaling a broader push into mainstream financial services.
Expanding Access Under Europe’s Crypto Framework
Kraken’s Mastercard-powered debit card rollout coincides with the firm’s efforts to secure a license under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), a unified regulatory framework for digital assets across the EU.
As crypto adoption accelerates, Kraken aims to provide users with seamless ways to integrate crypto into real-world transactions.
Built on Kraken Pay’s Rapid Growth
The debit card builds on the success of Kraken Pay, a payment service launched in January 2025. Kraken Pay enables users to send more than 300 crypto assets internationally, including through an innovative paylink feature that lets users send crypto via a simple URL.
Key Kraken Pay highlights:
- Over 200,000 users have activated Kraktag, a personalized identifier that allows crypto payments without sharing full banking information.
- The platform serves Kraken’s growing global user base of more than 15 million clients.
Driving Real-World Crypto Adoption
Kraken co-CEO David Ripley emphasized the long-term potential of crypto in transforming everyday payments.
“Crypto is evolving the payments industry, and we see a future where global commerce and everyday payments are underpinned by crypto,” Ripley said. “Our clients want to be able to seamlessly pay for real-world goods and services with their crypto or stablecoins.”
He added that teaming up with Mastercard will “unlock crypto’s true everyday utility,” helping ensure digital assets remain relevant and widely usable.
