Crypto payment firm Mercuryo has partnered with Visa to enable near-instant withdrawals from digital assets to Visa debit and credit cards, addressing one of the biggest friction points in mainstream crypto adoption.
The integration, powered by Visa Direct, allows users to convert and receive funds in minutes rather than days—potentially transforming how millions of crypto holders access their money for everyday spending.
How the Visa Direct Integration Works
Under the new setup, eligible Mercuryo users can initiate Crypto-to-Fiat Payments and receive funds almost instantly on their Visa cards. The system connects Mercuryo’s network of non-custodial wallets, exchanges, and payment providers with Visa’s global settlement rails, unlocking faster access to local currencies.
Visa Direct already supports real-time transfers across brokerage accounts, digital banks, and crypto platforms. This latest expansion deepens its role in Crypto-to-Fiat Payments by making card-based off-ramping faster and more predictable.
“This partnership with Visa will further enhance Mercuryo’s ability to deliver a fast, low-cost user experience,” said Mercuryo co-founder and CEO Petr Kozyakov. “Crypto-to-Fiat Payments have historically been slowed by friction at the last mile. With this integration, users can access their funds in local currency much faster.”
Converted funds can be spent immediately at more than 150 million merchant locations worldwide that accept Visa, effectively turning Crypto-to-Fiat Payments into a near-instant bridge between blockchain assets and everyday commerce.
Cross-Border Use Case Drives Demand
Cross-border payouts remain one of the strongest drivers of demand for Crypto-to-Fiat Payments. Freelancers, remote workers, and businesses operating across jurisdictions often face delays, correspondent banking fees, and foreign exchange markups when moving money internationally.
Mercuryo said the Visa Direct integration sharply reduces those costs by bypassing multiple intermediaries. For users in emerging markets or regions with limited banking access, Crypto-to-Fiat Payments via cards can offer a faster and more reliable alternative to wire transfers.
Anastasia Serikova, head of Visa Direct in Europe, said the collaboration is focused on closing the gap between crypto platforms and traditional finance.
“This service enables Crypto-to-Fiat Payments in near real time, improving convenience, reliability, and access to funds for everyday use,” she said.
Visa Expands Its Crypto Strategy
The Mercuryo deal fits into Visa’s broader push to modernize payments and position itself at the center of digital asset flows. Over the past two years, Visa has steadily expanded infrastructure supporting Crypto-to-Fiat Payments, stablecoin settlements, and on-chain money movement.
In December, Visa launched a Stablecoins Advisory Practice aimed at helping banks, fintechs, and merchants explore how stablecoins and blockchain-based rails can integrate with existing payment systems. Earlier, the company reported surpassing $200 million in cumulative stablecoin settlement volume, a figure that has since grown rapidly.
Visa now reports an annualized stablecoin settlement run rate of roughly $3.5 billion, highlighting increasing institutional interest in blockchain-based settlement as a complement to traditional rails. While stablecoins are distinct from Crypto-to-Fiat Payments, both are part of Visa’s strategy to enable faster digital value transfer.
Regulation Remains a Key Variable
Despite the technical progress, Visa executives have been clear that regulatory clarity remains essential. CEO Ryan McInerney has previously noted that clearer rules around crypto custody, compliance, and consumer protection are needed before Crypto-to-Fiat Payments can scale globally without friction.
That caution has not slowed partnerships. Visa has worked with crypto infrastructure firms such as Aquanow to improve settlement speeds and reduce reliance on legacy systems. The Mercuryo collaboration builds on that momentum by focusing specifically on off-ramping, one of the most critical pain points for crypto users.
Industry analysts say smoother Crypto-to-Fiat Payments could accelerate mainstream adoption by making digital assets feel less isolated from the real economy.
“Off-ramps are just as important as on-ramps,” said payments analyst Richard Crone. “If users can’t easily convert crypto back into spendable money, adoption stalls. Faster Crypto-to-Fiat Payments change that equation.”
What It Means for Users and the Market
For everyday users, the Mercuryo–Visa integration means Crypto-to-Fiat Payments that are faster, cheaper, and more predictable. For platforms and wallet providers connected to Mercuryo, it offers a plug-and-play solution to offer card-based off-ramping without building complex banking relationships.
The partnership also reflects a broader industry shift: rather than treating crypto as a separate financial universe, companies are increasingly embedding Crypto-to-Fiat Payments directly into familiar payment tools like cards.
As competition intensifies among payment providers, speed and reliability are becoming key differentiators. Near real-time Crypto-to-Fiat Payments could soon move from a premium feature to an expected standard.
With Visa’s global reach and Mercuryo’s crypto-native infrastructure, the latest rollout signals that Crypto-to-Fiat Payments are no longer an edge case—but a core part of how digital assets connect to the traditional financial sy