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.

04 Jul, 2025

Stablecoin: Surpassed $250 Billion — New Regulations and Big Tech Drive Mainstream Adoption

The stablecoins reach a historic milestone. In June 2025, the total supply exceeded 253.7 billion dollars. It is the first time that these dollar-pegged cryptocurrencies surpass the threshold of 250 billion, with a growth of 23.3% compared to the end of 2024.Behind these record numbers lies a deeper transformation: a combination of technological innovation, growing market confidence, and a regulatory push that could bring millions of people closer to the digital economy.Accelerated growth: USDT and USDC dominate the sceneIn the first six months of 2025, the global supply of stablecoins increased by a significant 47.9 billion dollars, indicating a continuously expanding demand. According to data from DeFiLlama and Binance Research, more than 79% of this increase was driven by USDT (Tether) and USDC (Circle), which added 20.4 billion and 17.6 billion respectively.The new stablecoins — grouped under the category “others” — have also shown dynamism, with a growth of 7.7 billion, demonstrating that the market is diversifying and that there is room for innovators and new players.The on-chain transaction volumes confirm the trend: in 2025, over 21.5 trillion dollars have already been moved, 7.5 trillion more compared to the same period in 2024. More and more users and companies are choosing stablecoins for their stability, speed, and ease of use.The regulatory turning point: the GENIUS ActTo give further momentum was politics. In June, the Senate USA approved the GENIUS Act (Generalized Enforcement for New Institutional and Universal Stablecoins) with a wide majority — 68 votes in favor and 30 against.This is the first comprehensive federal framework for stablecoins fully backed by reserves and compliant with AML standards. If also approved by the House, the GENIUS Act will allow banks, fintech, and large retail chains to issue stablecoins under a single supervisory system, providing the long-awaited regulatory clarity.“The rules are finally arriving. And this is a positive signal both for institutional operators and for consumers”, commented a market analyst.Big tech and traditional finance come into playThis new regulatory confidence has attracted the attention of large investors and companies. The most striking case is that of Circle, the company behind USDC, whose shares have increased by nearly 500% compared to the IPO, fueled by optimism for future expansion.The big tech companies are already moving: Shopify and Stripe have announced that millions of merchants can accept USDC at checkout. Giants like Walmart and Amazon are studying their own internal stablecoins, while the banking world is not lagging behind: on June 17, JPMorgan launched “JPM-D”, a tokenized deposit on a public blockchain.These developments show how stablecoins are no longer just a tool for crypto traders, but a concrete solution for payments, remittances, and commercial transactions.The bridge to the mainstream publicWhat was once considered a niche product for blockchain enthusiasts is rapidly transforming into a bridge to the digital economy for millions of people.With clearer rules, everyday use cases, and the entry of well-known brands, stablecoins are set to enter the mass financial experience. The goal is clear: to offer a faster, cheaper, and more transparent alternative to traditional circuits, while maintaining the stability that users expect from a currency pegged to the dollar.Conclusion: towards a new chapter of digital financeExceeding the threshold of 250 billion dollars is not just a symbolic milestone, but marks the beginning of a new era for stablecoins.With a favorable regulatory context, leading companies accelerating its adoption, and increasing use in real life, these criptovalute are demonstrating their potential to revolutionize traditional finance.The year 2025 could be remembered as the year in which stablecoins finally found their way into the mainstream, becoming a pillar of the new global digital economy.