Quick Breakdown:
- Mastercard expands crypto services with on/off-ramps, crypto cards, and wallet integrations.
- Stablecoins are seen as tools to speed up settlements, not replace traditional protections.
- Partnerships with MetaMask, Bitget, and MoonPay bring crypto payments closer to mainstream use.
Mastercard is deepening its involvement with digital assets but stresses that the company’s strategy remains consistent: making payments safe, seamless, and compliant. In an interview with The Big Whale, Christian Rau, Mastercard’s head of crypto in Europe, explained how the payments giant is embedding blockchain and crypto technologies into its global network without shifting from its core mission.
🔵 Interview avec Christian Rau, responsable crypto Europe de @Mastercard
Mastercard s’intéresse de près aux crypto-actifs, mais sans rupture de cap
Dans un entretien avec @TheBigWhale_ détaille comment le groupe américain intègre progressivement cette technologie dans son… pic.twitter.com/VhZyB0kNhm
— Grégory Raymond 🐳 (@gregory_raymond) September 2, 2025
Crypto as a Payment Rail, Not a Revolution
According to Rau, Mastercard views crypto primarily as an extension of its existing infrastructure rather than a disruptive overhaul. The company already offers on-ramp and off-ramp services and crypto-linked cards that allow users to spend digital assets while merchants receive fiat.
The firm has partnered with platforms such as MetaMask, Bitget, and MoonPay to bring crypto payments into mainstream commerce. Rau highlighted the complexity of integrating non-custodial wallets, noting that Mastercard worked with MetaMask to design a smart contract architecture that verifies available funds in real time.
Stablecoins, whose daily transaction volumes now surpass Mastercard’s, are considered an important tool rather than a threat. “We see them as settlement technology,” Rau said, pointing to their ability to streamline cross-border payments and reduce foreign exchange risks. However, he stressed that they cannot replace the consumer protections and compliance standards embedded in traditional networks.
In a recent development, Mastercard announced a new initiative that will enable over 150 million merchants in its global network to accept payments in stablecoins. The rollout is being launched in partnership with payments processor Nuvei and stablecoin issuers Circle and Paxos, signaling another major stride toward mainstream crypto adoption.
Scale, Security, and Future Options
While blockchain networks boast high throughput, Rau emphasized Mastercard’s broader value proposition. “It’s not just about speed,” he said. “Fraud prevention, compliance, and dispute resolution are integral parts of our network.” Mastercard currently processes around 5,000 transactions per second, underscoring the difference in scale and reliability compared with emerging platforms.
On the question of building its own blockchain, Rau said the company favors interoperability with existing solutions but left the door open. “If no option meets our needs, we could explore creating one,” he said.
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