Payments made through crypto cards have reached a record $12.5 billion, highlighting the growing use of digital assets for everyday spending and cross-border transactions.
Transaction volume processed by crypto-linked cards has risen 140% since the start of the year, according to data from paymentscan.xyz first shared by The Kobeissi Letter and reported by Bitcoin Magazine. The latest total is also 247% above the level recorded in October 2025.
The increase comes as stablecoins gain a larger role in payments. Stablecoins are digital tokens designed to maintain a relatively stable value, often by tracking a fiat currency, and can be used as a payment rail between users, merchants and financial services. The data points to increasing interest in using them for transactions that proponents say can be cheaper and faster, particularly across borders.
QR payments and card activity
QR-code spending is also contributing to the expansion. Activated cards on Jupiter Spend, described as one of the largest on-chain card providers, increased 55% quarter over quarter as demand for QR-based payments grew.
The Kobeissi Letter characterized crypto cards as the next stage of cryptocurrency adoption. Unlike crypto assets held solely for investment or trading, crypto cards connect digital-asset balances or rewards to familiar card-payment networks, allowing users to spend at merchants that accept those networks.
The trend is emerging alongside efforts by established financial and payments companies to enter the market. The developments include both cards designed for spending and products that use bitcoin as collateral for borrowing.
Fold and Aven take different approaches
Fold Holdings, which trades on Nasdaq under the ticker FLD, said earlier this year that it had begun issuing its Fold Bitcoin Credit Card to selected members of its waitlist. Wider availability is being introduced in batches over the following weeks and months, according to the source material.
The Fold card operates on the Visa network, is powered by Stripe Issuing and is accepted at 175 million merchants. It provides a base bitcoin reward of 1.5%, with the potential to reach 4% through behavior-based boosts and partner offers. Customers who pay their bill in bitcoin receive an additional 0.5% back.
Aven’s product follows a different model. Its Aven Bitcoin Visa Card, unveiled at the Bitcoin Conference 2026 in Las Vegas, allows cardholders to borrow as much as $1 million against bitcoin without selling the asset. Rates start at 7.99% APR, with repayment periods of up to 10 years. BitGo holds the collateral, while Coastal Community Bank issues the card.
Moneyiar market picture
Moneyiar market data at 10:49 a.m. on October 7, 2026, showed Bitcoin at $83,692.61, down 2.88% over 24 hours and 0.21% over seven days. STABLE was priced at $0.02734, down 2.78% in 24 hours and 4.97% over seven days.
Aethir stood at $0.006669, down 9.66% over 24 hours but up 10.43% over seven days, while AKEDO traded at $0.02757, down 10.47% daily and 19.76% weekly. These market figures are separate from the crypto-card payment-volume data.
