Mastercard continues to strengthen its position in the digital asset market by combining expanded regulatory capabilities in the US with the development of infrastructure for mainstream crypto access.
Mastercard and Chainlink have announced a partnership that will allow more than 3 billion cardholders to purchase cryptocurrencies directly on blockchain networks. The new service combines Mastercard’s traditional payment infrastructure with decentralized finance services and is designed to simplify access to the crypto market for users.
The companies said users will be able to buy digital assets directly through onchain transactions paid with bank cards. The solution is built on Chainlink’s infrastructure and Mastercard’s payment network, while zerohash handles fiat-to-crypto conversion.
The project also involves Shift4 Payments, Swapper Finance, and XSwap. XSwap provides access to liquidity through decentralized exchanges, including the Uniswap protocol. The service operates as follows:
- Mastercard processes card payments;
- zerohash manages regulatory compliance, custody, and fiat-to-crypto conversion;
- Shift4 Payments integrates card payment processing;
- XSwap executes swaps through decentralized exchanges;
- Chainlink connects traditional financial infrastructure with blockchain ecosystems.
Chainlink co-founder Sergey Nazarov said the partnership demonstrates the convergence of traditional and decentralized finance. According to him, Chainlink’s infrastructure makes it possible to connect Mastercard’s global payment network with blockchain ecosystems.
Mastercard said demand for easier access to digital assets continues to grow. Raj Dhamodharan, the company’s Executive Vice President for Blockchain and Digital Assets, noted that the partnership is intended to simplify cryptocurrency usage for mainstream users and accelerate the adoption of onchain commerce.
Another factor supporting Mastercard’s crypto expansion was the company receiving a BitLicense from the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). The license allows Mastercard to operate with digital assets in one of the strictest regulated jurisdictions in the United States.
The company stated that the license confirms compliance with high standards in:
- cybersecurity;
- consumer protection;
- financial stability;
- risk management;
- regulatory compliance.
Mastercard Chief Product Officer Jorn Lambert said clear regulatory frameworks play a key role in the development of the digital asset market and help increase trust among users and financial institutions.
Mastercard continues to develop infrastructure for stablecoins, tokenized assets, and digital currencies as it seeks to bridge traditional payment systems with the blockchain economy. Notably, cooperation between Mastercard and Chainlink first became public in 2025, when the companies launched Swapper Finance, a service allowing Mastercard cardholders to buy cryptocurrencies directly through decentralized exchanges.
