Kraken and Mastercard Join Forces to Enable Everyday Bitcoin Spending
Crypto exchange Kraken has announced a major partnership with Mastercard, aimed at bringing Bitcoin and crypto payments to the mainstream across Europe and the UK. The collaboration will enable Kraken users to spend their crypto at over 150 million global merchants that accept Mastercard, through a new rollout of crypto-connected debit cards, both digital and physical.
“Together, we will unlock the full potential of crypto assets in everyday life,” said Kraken Co-CEO David Ripley.
NEW: Mastercard partners with Kraken to allow European users spend #Bitcoin at over 150 million merchants worldwide 🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/sRvU38eT1r
— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) April 8, 2025
NEW: Mastercard partners with Kraken to allow European users spend #Bitcoin at over 150 million merchants worldwide 🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/sRvU38eT1r
— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) April 8, 2025
From Crypto Wallet to Shopping Cart
As part of the deal, Kraken is integrating Mastercard’s payment infrastructure into its platform, allowing users to link crypto balances directly to real-world retail payments. This is a continuation of Kraken’s broader push with Kraken Pay, a product enabling fast, borderless transactions in both crypto and fiat.
In just three months:
- 🧾 Over 200,000 users have activated their “Kraktag”, a personal crypto handle for simple P2P transfers.
The new debit card initiative builds on that momentum, moving from P2P to consumer-to-retail (C2R) spending.
Mastercard Doubles Down on Crypto Integration
- Partnered with Mercado Bitcoin last year to launch Crypto Credential, supporting alias-based P2P transactions.
- Rolled out a number of pilots focused on simplifying blockchain UX, including address masking and compliance tools.
“We’re committed to unlocking the true potential of cryptoassets for everyday use,” said Scott Abrahams, Mastercard’s EVP of Global Partnerships.
Mainstream Adoption One Swipe at a Time
Kraken’s new Mastercard-linked debit cards are currently open for waitlist sign-ups in the UK and Europe. Once launched, users will be able to:
- Spend Bitcoin, stablecoins, and other crypto.
- Use digital or physical cards.
- Tap into Mastercard’s global merchant network.
This marks a big step in bridging centralized finance with decentralized assets, with Kraken positioning itself at the frontline of crypto-powered commerce.
