Payments with Visa crypto cards soared by 525% in a year

Cryptocurrencies have finally moved beyond speculative exchanges and become a real means of payment. According to recent data from the analytics platform Dune Analytics, the sector of crypto cards issued in partnership with payment giant Visa showed phenomenal growth in 2025. Total net user spending increased from $14.6 million in January to $91.3 million by the end of December—a net increase of an impressive 525%.

Market Leaders: Who Dictates the Rules?

The main contributors to the statistics were six key blockchain projects that integrated Visa solutions. The main battle for user attention unfolded between DeFi platforms and specialized payment services:

EtherFi is the undisputed leader of the ranking. The transaction volume for this project's cards amounted to $55.4 million, underscoring user confidence in the integration of restaking protocols with everyday spending.
Cypher took second place with $20.5 million, confirming its status as one of the most convenient solutions for fast payments.

GnosisPay, Avici Money, Exa App, and Moonwell also showed significant activity. These platforms proved that decentralized finance (DeFi) can be understandable and accessible even for those who are not blockchain experts.

The End of the Experimental Era

Polygon researcher @obchakevich_ notes that these figures are not just dry numbers, but a signal of a paradigm shift. According to him, cryptocurrencies and stablecoins have become a strategically important element of the global Visa ecosystem.

>>>>"The growth in spending confirms that cryptocurrency is no longer an experimental technology." Today, it's a fully-fledged tool for everyday financial transactions," the expert emphasizes. <<<<<

Plans for 2026: Focus on Stablecoins

Visa doesn't intend to rest on its laurels. In 2026, the company plans to further integrate digital assets into its network. The primary focus is shifting to stablecoins—assets pegged to fiat currencies that minimize volatility risks.

Currently, Visa already supports stablecoins on four different blockchains. To accelerate the adoption of the technology, a dedicated advisory group was established in mid-December 2025. Its mission is to help banks, retailers, and fintech startups around the world launch their own products based on stablecoins.

Infrastructure developments and new partnerships are making access to digital assets easier for both everyday consumers and large institutional clients, blurring the boundaries between traditional finance and the Web3 world.