Mastercard, a key player in the world of traditional payments, is getting into cryptocurrency.
In a blog post today, the credit card company announced that it will “start supporting select cryptocurrencies directly on our network” in 2021.
Though Mastercard already works with cryptocurrency payment companies Wirex and BitPay on crypto debit cards, today’s news represents a shift to allowing cryptocurrencies to move within the actual network.
“Our crypto partners convert the digital assets on their end to traditional currencies, then transmit them through to the Mastercard network,” the blog post explains. “Our change to supporting digital assets directly will allow many more merchants to accept crypto—an ability that’s currently limited by proprietary methods unique to each digital asset. This change will also cut out inefficiencies, letting both consumers and merchants avoid having to convert back and forth between crypto and traditional to make purchases.”
But which cryptocurrencies? The announcement is cagey on that point, noting that it’s looking for “crypto assets that offer reliability and security.” Namely, stablecoins.
According to Mastercard, its criteria for integrating cryptocurrency payments boil down to consumer protection, rigid regulatory and compliance measures such as KYC, and—crucially—a popular desire to use the cryptocurrency rather than merely invest it. It is a payments platform, after all, designed to take a percentage of every transaction.
This article is being updated as more information becomes available.