Mastercard launches non-custodial Bitcoin debit card denominated in euros

Mastercard has partnered with Bitcoin and crypto payment provider Mercury to launch a euro-denominated debit card that will allow users to spend Bitcoin and crypto directly from non-custodial wallets, according to Cointelegraph.

JUST IN: 🇪🇺 Mastercard launches non-custodial euro #Bitcoin and crypto debit card.

They have over 100 MILLION merchants 🚀 pic.twitter.com/xpASRDrhVx

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) September 5, 2024

The card allows European Bitcoin holders to spend from their self-hosted wallets at any of Mastercard’s more than 100 million merchants globally, without the need to hold funds with an intermediary.

Mastercard is a payments titan serving nearly 1 billion customers in over 210 countries. This latest integration reflects the company’s growing efforts to bridge Bitcoin with its extensive traditional payments infrastructure.

“We offer consumers who want to spend their digital assets an easy, reliable and secure way to do so, wherever Mastercard is accepted,” said Christian Rau, Senior Vice President of Mastercard’s crypto unit.

The card allows you to spend Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies simply by connecting a non-custodial wallet. Users avoid selling Bitcoin and crypto on an exchange before spending, keeping full ownership. However, the Mastercard has fees, including a €1.6 issuance fee, a €1 monthly maintenance fee and a 0.95% transaction fee.

However, by supporting non-custodial wallets, Mastercard addresses a major pain point and gives users the flexibility to directly control their Bitcoin and crypto. The move is aimed at a growing audience that prefers self-hosted wallets to centralized exchanges.