Crypto Cards Fuel Stablecoin Spend Surge to $759M Monthly
Crypto payment cards have become a significant driver of stablecoin adoption, processing over $759 million in monthly transactions as of July 2026. This represents a 2.5x increase from $306 million a year earlier and a sharp rise from less than $1 million when tracking began in October 2023.
USDC is the dominant stablecoin used for these transactions, accounting for 58% of the volume in July. USDT came in second with 26%. The growth of USDC aligns with broader trends in the stablecoin market, where its stability and integration into payment card programs have made it a preferred choice for global transactions.
Visa leads the charge in crypto card activity, operating over 130 stablecoin-linked card programs across 50+ countries. This number is expected to double by the end of 2026. Mastercard is expanding its settlement capabilities to include regulated stablecoins, enabling faster and more efficient cross-border transactions.
The rise of stablecoin-powered cards underscores the importance of monitoring liquidity flows in tokens like USDC and USDT. These assets are increasingly viewed not just as trading tools but as functional currencies for real-world transactions.