Significant increase in crypto card spending
The financial ecosystem is undergoing a paradigm shift. What began as a speculative asset or a store of value has made the definitive leap into everyday consumption. According to recent industry data from an Artemis study, global spending via cards linked to digital assets has climbed to an annualized run rate of approximately $18 billion.
This figure is more than just a growth indicator; it is a signal that stablecoins are no longer used exclusively for trading or international remittances, but are now integrated into day-to-day payments. We are witnessing the consolidation of cryptocurrencies as a real spending tool, already approaching the volume of traditional P2P transfers.
The Figure Marking the Change
The evolution of spending has been exponential. In early 2023, monthly volume barely reached $100 million. However, by the end of 2025, this figure surpassed $1.5 billion per month. An “annualized rate” means projecting that, if current trends hold, total annual volume will completely transform merchant perceptions of digital payments.
This sustained growth indicates that we are not looking at an isolated peak caused by a bull market, but rather a shift in consumer habits. When the average user chooses to top up their prepaid Bitcoin card for routine purchases, they are validating the technology as a functional payment method and not just an investment.
Why is it Growing Now?
The main driver of this shift is the convergence between stablecoins and traditional payment infrastructure. While cryptocurrencies used to move mostly “person-to-person,” they are now spent “at merchants.”
Three key factors are driving this phenomenon:
- Stablecoins as practical balances: Users no longer fear their balance will lose value between their morning coffee and dinner.
- Bridges to traditional commerce: Cards act as the perfect translator between the on-chain world and the supermarket’s Point of Sale (POS) terminal.
- Improved User Experience: Integration with mobile payments and the ability to manage recurring subscriptions have made using crypto as easy as using any other card.
Stablecoins: The Main Protagonists
For everyday payments, stability is non-negotiable. You don’t want your monthly budget to depend on market volatility. Therefore, crypto card usage relies heavily on assets like USDT and USDC. These coins allow users to enjoy the benefits of blockchain technology (speed and control) while maintaining parity with the Euro or the Dollar.
Who is Driving This Growth?
A revealing data point from the 2025 infrastructure report is that Visa accounts for more than 90% of on-chain crypto transaction volume. This is due to early agreements with infrastructure providers and card issuers.
The importance of this lies in the infrastructure: for a prepaid crypto Visa card to work, it needs a solid connection to the global payment network. When traditional payment giants commit to these alliances, consumer confidence increases and growth accelerates.
How Does a Crypto Card Work?
The process, though technologically advanced, is extremely simple for the user:
- Balance: You hold your funds in the issuer’s app or wallet.
- Conversion: At the moment of top-up or payment, the crypto balance is converted to Euros (FIAT).
- Payment: The network (Visa) processes the transaction and the merchant receives local currency.
In this flow, options like Bitsa make this transition invisible. The merchant receives Euros, but you are managing your digital wealth.
Real Advantages for the User
Paying with cryptocurrencies today is not a promise of the future; it is a present-day solution with tangible benefits:
- Banking Independence: Manage your leisure and expenses outside of traditional bank accounts.
- Budget Control: As a prepaid model, you will never spend more than you decide to load.
- Security: You can use a free virtual card for online subscriptions, protecting your main funds.
- Availability: If you have gains, you can withdraw cash or use it directly without waiting 48 hours for transfers.
Conclusion: From Theory to Practice
The surge in annualized spending to $18 billion confirms that the card is the ultimate bridge. People don’t want to reinvent how they pay; they want to use their new assets (like stablecoins) in the way they already know how to pay.
It is a step toward financial freedom where you decide which assets to use for your real needs. If you are looking for a practical way to take this step, creating your Bitsa account allows you to convert your cryptocurrencies into Euros and pay anywhere in the world, just as you always have.