MetaMask Partners with Mastercard to Launch Self-Custody Crypto Payment Card

Highlights:

• MetaMask teams up with Mastercard and Baanx to launch a crypto card that works without converting assets first.
• The MetaMask card uses smart contracts to complete on-chain payments directly from user wallets in under five seconds.
• Users will keep full control of their crypto funds until the moment of purchase without using an exchange.

MetaMask, a self-custodial wallet, is preparing to launch a new payment card that is set to release in Q2 of this year. The card is designed to let its holders utilize their crypto holdings for payments directly from their wallets. Users will not have to convert funds or preload assets. The product is being built in collaboration with Mastercard, payment technology company Baanx, and card manufacturer CompoSecure.

⚡️ NEW: Metamask partners with CompoSecure and Baanx to launch a self-custody crypto card backed by Mastercard, allowing users to spend crypto directly. pic.twitter.com/P294IstnFh

— Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph) April 29, 2025

Consensys developed the Linea blockchain on which the card will verify and process transactions using smart contracts. Unlike other crypto debit cards, it will not require users to transfer funds to an exchange or to convert them before making purchases. However, the MetaMask Card will handle the transactions on-chain at the time of purchase, giving users the ability to remain in charge of their funds.

It takes under five seconds for transactions to complete, and the card will work just as at any other merchant that accepts Mastercard. Users who are interested in the card can join the reserve list on the MetaMask platform before the card launches.

MetaMask introduced the product at ETHDenver earlier this year and is positioning it as a tool for everyday use. Ale Machado, product manager at MetaMask, stated, “For too long, crypto users have been locked out of everyday finance. The MetaMask Card changes that.”

Smart Contracts and Self-Custody Set MetaMask Apart from Competitors

Crypto card products from exchanges like Binance are already in use. However, most require users to give up wallet control before making payments. The solution by MetaMask is different because the funds stay in the user’s wallet until the moment of the transaction. The card uses a smart contract to approve and settle payments instantly at checkout, removing the need for asset conversion.

This approach avoids delays, and it removes reliance on centralized platforms or third-party custodians. Baanx, which powers other crypto payment solutions such as the Ledger and 1inch cards, developed the payment system for this project. Meanwhile, CompoSecure built the card’s design and integrated its security technology.

Launch Follows Shift Toward Crypto Payments and Wallet Updates

MetaMask piloted the card from August last year. The Ethereum-focused wallet announced plans to support BTC and SOL in its app later in the year. The fact that payments will continue to be a critical use case for crypto in 2025 naturally means companies are creating more tools for real-world spending. Luxury brand Dorsia recently started accepting cryptocurrency for purchases. Lawmakers in New York introduced a bill that would allow state-level transactions to be facilitated via digital assets.

Trust in centralized exchanges has waned after recent hacks. One such example was when Bybit was hacked for $1.4 billion, and this raised concerns about keeping funds off chain. With all the transactions processed on chain and controlled by the users themselves, the new card presents a unique perspective on handling crypto payments.