MetaMask, a well-known software solution for the self-custody of cryptocurrencies, has launched a pilot program with its crypto card aimed at expansion towards the United States.
Soon, users residing in the USA will be able to take advantage of the MetaMask service, spending their digital currencies at a wide range of merchants.
Linea and Baanx are partners of the project.
Let’s see all the details below.
MetaMask Card and the polita project to expand its reach to USA residents
According to what is reported on its account, the provider of decentralized wallets MetaMask is positioning itself to offer its “crypto card” service to USA residents.
This move is part of a broader effort to accelerate the adoption of cryptocurrencies by removing some of the entry barriers to the sector, such as fiat onboarding and offboarding.
The pilot project aims to provide residents of the United States the opportunity to use their crypto for daily transactions, starting with a self-custodial solution.
https://twitter.com/MetaMask/status/1869422402696032348
With the pilot program available for a limited time, users in the United States can make daily purchases with cryptocurrencies wherever Mastercard is accepted.
The card works like any debit card, but it manages internal transactions in crypto through Ethereum’s economical layer-2 Linea.
Users in the United States can already register using the MetaMask Portfolio and create their own account on the Crypto Life website (the manager that issues the card).
Once this is done, they will be able to request the card and convert the cryptocurrencies in their account and spend them for fiat currencies at the time of a payment.
As written in the announcement, at the moment the MetaMask Card is not yet available for users in New York and Vermont, where local regulations are stricter in terms of cryptographic transactions and payments.
For the residents of these areas, it will be necessary to join the waiting list and wait for new positive developments from Consensys, the company that leads MetaMask.
Regarding the news, Lorenzo Santos, Senior Product Manager at Consensys, commented, reiterating the great milestone for this web3 product:
“The Card represents an important step in removing the friction that traditionally existed between the blockchain and commerce in the real world. It is a paradigm shift that offers the best of both worlds”.
MetaMask Card and its main functions
The MetaMask Card, despite being introduced only now in the USA market, was actually already announced in August 2024.
It is available in the EU, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia, and has already achieved a fair amount of success thanks to its partnership with the fintech company Baanx.
The MetaMask Card works like a crypto debit card, allowing users to make purchases directly from their MetaMask wallet without the need to transfer funds to a centralized exchange or a bank.
Eliminating the need for costly intermediaries, solutions like this can offer a more efficient and user-friendly alternative to conventional payment methods.
The card supports popular tokens such as USDC, USDT, and WETH on the Linea network, known for its scalability and for the lower cost of network fees compared to Ethereum.
https://twitter.com/MetaMask/status/1823700296281022804
Users can manually set spending limits and access their funds up to the exact moment of payment. Both online and in-store purchases are valid, being available at a wide range of merchants that support Mastercard.
This ensures a fast, convenient, and secure shopping experience, aligning with the growing needs for flexibility in the world of payments with digital assets.
Furthermore, users can also add the MetaMask Card to their digital wallets, such as Apple Pay or Google Pay, to facilitate immediate transactions.
Looking to the future of crypto payments
MetaMask Card will be launched on a larger scale once the initial limited supply is finished.
Outside the United States, the project aims to further expand its payment services, targeting a mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies. The inclusion of U.S. residents in the MetaMask Card pilot project is expected to have significant benefits for the sector, leading to greater trust in new technologies.
In fact, allowing people to spend their crypto directly, without relying on third-party intermediaries, can reduce the friction of conversion with fiat currencies.
Providing a simple and secure way to use crypto for daily purchases, MetaMask is paving the way for greater adoption and integration of tecnologia blockchain in the financial world.
As the pilot project continues to be implemented globally, it will be interesting to see how it will influence the future of crypto spending within the current financial landscape.
