07 Jul, 2025

Chainlink and Mastercard Unlock Direct Onchain Crypto Purchases for Over 3B Users

Chainlink has partnered with Mastercard to enable over 3 billion Mastercard users to buy cryptocurrencies directly onchain. This collaboration merges Mastercard’s vast payments network with Chainlink’s decentralized infrastructure, bridging the gap between traditional payments and onchain finance.The partnership makes it possible for users to convert fiat to crypto directly on decentralized exchanges, powered by a network of integrated Web3 technologies. This move is expected to bring a new wave of users into the crypto ecosystem by eliminating complexity, increasing security, and enhancing accessibility.Fiat to Crypto Made Simple and SecureOne of the most persistent challenges in crypto adoption has been the fiat on-ramp. Users often face confusing interfaces, unclear regulations, or a lack of trust when trying to buy crypto. This initiative aims to solve that.With this integration, users can now use their Mastercard to purchase crypto assets directly onchain. The process is enabled by ZeroHash, which handles onchain service, liquidity, and compliance. Swapper Finance, Shift4 Payments, and XSwap support this setup by connecting card processing, decentralized liquidity, and transaction execution.According to the announcement, the end result is a smooth, secure fiat-to-crypto conversion process that runs through the Uniswap protocol, the leading decentralized exchange framework.Chainlink Powers the Core InfrastructureAt the heart of this collaboration is Chainlink’s interoperability infrastructure, which connects offchain systems like Mastercard’s card network to onchain applications. This connection ensures that transaction data moves seamlessly between payment networks and blockchains.According to Sergey Nazarov, co-founder of Chainlink, this is the exact use case Chainlink was built for." I'm excited about Chainlink's ability to enable this critical connection between the traditional payments world and the over three billion cardholders in the Mastercard user base, directly into the next generation trading environments of onchain decentralized exchanges," said Sergey Nazarov, Co-Founder of Chainlink.He emphasized the importance of Chainlink's community and its role in facilitating a “complex and multilayered” integration that brings both scalability and real-world utility to the forefront of decentralized finance.Mastercard’s Growing Presence in CryptoThis partnership is the latest in a series of strategic moves by Mastercard to enter the digital assets space. In recent months, Mastercard has:Partnered with MoonPay to allow stablecoin spending at 150 million merchantsCollaborated with Kraken to offer crypto debit cards in Europe and the UKTeamed up with MetaMask to launch self-custody crypto cardsReported that 30% of its global transactions were tokenized in early 2025Mastercard’s Executive VP for Blockchain and Digital Assets, Raj Dhamodharan, said: “People want to be able to easily connect to the digital assets ecosystem.” He believes this collaboration marks a turning point for how consumers engage with both crypto and traditional finance.How the System Works Behind the ScenesThe user experience is kept simple, but under the hood, the integration uses a layered Web3 stack:ZeroHash manages compliance, liquidity, and the infrastructure to convert fiat into cryptoShift4 Payments facilitates secure card transactionsSwapper Finance and XSwap integrate with Uniswap to execute swaps onchainChainlink’s protocol acts as the connective tissue between the fiat and crypto layersThe combined system creates a unified, compliant, and efficient bridge between legacy finance and decentralized applications. It opens up decentralized exchanges to users who have never touched a crypto wallet before.Why This Matters for Crypto AdoptionThe ability to buy crypto directly using a Mastercard is a milestone that removes major barriers to entry. For many users, especially those unfamiliar with Web3, the idea of navigating wallets, gas fees, or decentralized protocols can be overwhelming.This partnership simplifies the process to a familiar format—a card transaction—while retaining the benefits of onchain execution, such as transparency, security, and instant settlement.It also boosts the utility of decentralized exchanges like Uniswap, which now see a path to much broader adoption thanks to integrations like this one.

02 Jul, 2025

Tourism Fuels Revenue Surge in Luang Prabang in Five Months of 2025

Luang Prabang earned nearly LAK 700 billion (USD 32 million) in the first five months of 2025, with tourism playing a significant role, said Khammouane Khambounme, Head of the Provincial Tax Department.The province now aims to attract more visitors throughout the remainder of the year through improved tax management strategies. According to Khammouane, most of the revenue came from the tourism sector, including attractions, hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants.Due to these factors, the province exceeded its revenue target by reaching 60.2 percent of the annual goal, equivalent to LAK 691 billion. This amount includes both tax and asset-related income, which will be reinvested into further developing the tourism sector. Authorities are now promoting digital tax systems such as TaxRis, an online tax administration platform, by encouraging businesses to register, submit reports online, and adopt the value-added tax (VAT) system. Legal awareness and tax regulations are being actively shared with both public and private sectors to ensure compliance.To reach the goal of collecting an additional LAK 466 billion (USD 21,49 million) in the remaining months of the year, the province has developed new measures and strategies to expand tax and asset revenue. The focus will be on increasing transparency and accountability.In 2024, Luang Prabang welcomed over 2,3 million tourists more than double its original target, boosting GDP to LAK 3,989 billion (approximately USD 183 million).