MetaMask, the famous cryptocurrency wallet provider, has just announced plans to launch a payment card that allows users to spend directly from self-custodied cryptocurrency funds, further expanding the use of digital assets in real life.
The new card is supported by Mastercard, developed in collaboration with CompoSecure and Baanx. The product utilizes smart contract applications to handle real-world transactions (IRL) with processing speeds under 5 seconds, operating on the Linea network – Ethereum's Layer-2 solution.
MetaMask and its partners present this self-custody card as a safer alternative to storing assets on centralized exchanges. This sector has recently recorded significant risks, such as the Bybit exchange – the second-largest exchange by volume – being hacked for $1.4 billion in February, shocking the cryptocurrency community.
Entering the payment card market, MetaMask will compete with major names like Binance, Bybit, Coinbase, and Crypto.com, which have already offered cryptocurrency debit cards with crypto cashback reward programs.
MetaMask is also under pressure as interest in the Ethereum ecosystem declines. According to data from Dune Analytics, in the week ending April 14, MetaMask only generated $289,312 in transaction fees, a sharp drop from $1.3 million in the same period last year.
Use cases for cryptocurrency in payments are increasing.
Payments are emerging as one of the fastest-growing areas of cryptocurrency in 2025, providing practical application value for digital assets.
Many luxury brands like Dorsia have begun accepting payments in crypto. At the same time, the messaging app Signal is reportedly considering integrating Bitcoin for peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions. In New York, a new bill has also been proposed to legalize the use of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for payment of public services.
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