Consumer Crypto Spending Grows in 2026 as Visa Reports Massive Card Growth
Consumer use of crypto-linked payment cards continued to gain momentum through 2026, following Visa’s 2025 surge in spending. Data from Dune Analytics shows that spending on all Visa-backed crypto cards has steadily increased throughout the year, a significant growth.
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Across all six Visa-affiliated crypto card programs, total net spending increased from $14.6 million in January 2025 to $91.3 million in December. The increase represents a 525% year-over-year jump and reflects consumers’ growing comfort with paying directly from crypto wallets at traditional retail locations.
The cards are issued by a mix of crypto payment platforms and established financial projects, including EtherFi, Cypher, GnosisPay, Avici Money, Exa App, and Moonwell.
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EtherFi and Cypher Lead Visa Crypto Card Spending
Among the programs followed, EtherFi recorded the highest spending, worth $55.4 million in sales by 2025.
That figure put him ahead of Cypher, which ranked second with $20.5 million in total spending. The remaining card issuers posted small but consistent increases, suggesting broader participation across the ecosystem rather than growth driven by a single outsider.
Monthly cost data shows a gradual increase throughout the year, without large spikes or sharp changes. Analysts say this pattern points to routine use rather than one-off events.
Commenting on the data, Polygon researcher Alex Obchakevich noted that the use of the crypto card continuously reflects the general financial behavior, indicating that crypto-linked cards go beyond experimental use cases.
Visa Expands Stablecoin Infrastructure
Visa’s growing role in crypto payments is supported by its growing stablecoin infrastructure.
The payments company now enables stablecoin payments on multiple blockchains, including Ethereum, Solana, Avalanche, and Stellar. This setup allows card issuers to convert crypto balances to fiat in real-time at the time of purchase, while relying on Visa’s global merchant network.
In December 2025, Visa also launched a stablecoin advisory team focused on helping banks, merchants, and fintech companies design and manage stablecoin-based products.
The move highlights Visa’s view that blockchain-based payments and programmable cash are becoming increasingly relevant to traditional payments.
Outlook for Crypto Card Use in 2026
As currency rates rise and infrastructure continues to expand, crypto card usage is expected to continue to grow in 2026. Although volumes remain concentrated in the US, Europe, and parts of the Asia-Pacific region, continued growth indicates that consumer crypto usage is becoming more common.
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How sustainable this trend will be may depend on broader market conditions and continued integration between crypto platforms and established payment networks.
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