Crypto Card Spending Surpasses $1 Billion as Stablecoins Enter Everyday Purchases

Crypto card spending more than tripled over the past year, reaching $1.04 billion in July, as dollar backed stablecoins increasingly fund everyday purchases like groceries, ride hailing, and food delivery.

Stablecoins Drive Most Transaction Volume

Dollar backed stablecoins funded 70% of over 10 million tracked transactions, according to data cited by venture capital firm a16z. USDC accounted for 50.8% of July volume, while USDT made up another 20.3%, both significantly higher than a year earlier. The average transaction value also rose to about $86, up from $59 year over year.

From Digital Savings to Daily Spending

Crypto cards allow users to spend stablecoins through existing payment networks like Visa and Mastercard, with balances converted at checkout so merchants receive local currency. Visa reported more than 160 stablecoin-linked card programs currently live or in development globally. Platforms like RedotPay, EtherFi, and KAST led tracked volume, together accounting for roughly 77% of total activity.

Regional Usage Patterns Emerging

In Latin America, spending data shows groceries and food purchases making up a significant share of activity, with Brazilian and Argentine users relying heavily on stablecoins for daily expenses. Binance reported user growth and spending volume both rising sharply in Brazil, while Kraken saw weekly card payments more than double over the past year.

Stablecoins Becoming a Payment Rail

Industry leaders describe this shift as stablecoins evolving into a foundational payment infrastructure rather than simply a crypto off-ramp, with card issuers increasingly focused on making stablecoin balances usable for ordinary purchases without requiring merchants to change how they accept payments.