Kraken taps Mastercard to launch crypto debit cards in Europe, UK

Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken has partnered with Mastercard to issue crypto debit cards across the United Kingdom and Europe, the company announced on April 8.

The partnership will enable the crypto exchange to expand its payment offerings by launching physical crypto debit cards.

The partnership comes as Kraken continues to pursue a license under the European Union’s regulatory framework, the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA).

The debit card will allow users to spend cryptocurrencies and stablecoins directly. Kraken said the rollout will begin in the coming weeks, with a waitlist now open to customers.

Kraken said its partnership with Mastercard builds on the rapid growth of Kraken Pay, a new tool that enables customers to send money from their Kraken account.

Launched in January 2025, Kraken Pay allows users to send more than 300 crypto assets to multiple countries worldwide. It also introduces a paylink feature that enables users to send payments through a simple URL.

Since launching the service, Kraken has seen more than 200,000 customers out of its 15 million user base activate Kraktag, a unique user identifier allowing owners to receive money without exposing full bank account details.

“Crypto is evolving the payments industry, and we see a future where global commerce and everyday payments are underpinned by crypto,” Kraken co-CEO David Ripley said in a statement shared with Cointelegraph.

“Our clients want to be able to seamlessly pay for real-world goods and services with their crypto or stablecoins,” he said, adding:

Mastercard’s partnership with Kraken is another milestone for the company in cryptocurrency-related efforts.

The company has collaborated with diverse crypto service providers, such as the self-custodial crypto wallet MetaMask and the European crypto payments infrastructure provider Mercuryo.

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“Mastercard is committed to driving innovation and expanding the possibilities of digital payments,” Mastercard executive vice president of global partnerships, Scott Abrahams, said.

“Our latest partnership with Kraken is a testament to that as we work together to unlock the true potential of crypto assets for everyday use,” he added.

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