Mercuryo, a crypto payments firm, has partnered with Visa to enable near real-time conversion of digital assets into fiat currency, allowing eligible users to off-ramp crypto directly to Visa debit and credit cards. Through Visa Direct, the company’s real-time money movement network, funds can be delivered to cards within minutes, reducing the delays and costs traditionally associated with cross-border payouts. The integration is designed to streamline user experiences by allowing digital assets to remain within existing wallets or exchange platforms, eliminating the need for separate conversion or payout services.
The service connects Visa Direct with Mercuryo’s network of non-custodial wallets, exchanges, and payment providers. Users can access fiat funds from their crypto holdings and spend them at more than 150 million merchant locations worldwide that accept Visa.
Mercuryo co-founder and CEO Petr Kozyakov highlighted that the partnership enhances the speed and affordability of crypto-to-fiat transactions, addressing the historical friction in converting digital assets into local currencies. The integration also strengthens Mercuryo’s position in the payments market by providing fast and reliable off-ramping tools for its user base.
Institutional Context and Market Implications
The collaboration fits within a broader institutional trend of integrating crypto with traditional financial systems. Visa has increasingly expanded its crypto and digital asset initiatives, including stablecoin settlement programs and partnerships with fintechs across Africa and Europe. The company recently reported stablecoin settlements at a $3.5 billion annualized run rate, reflecting rising institutional and retail demand for faster digital payments. Anastasia Serikova, head of Visa Direct in Europe, emphasized that the partnership bridges the gap between crypto platforms and conventional financial infrastructure, improving access and reliability for everyday payments.
For Mercuryo, leveraging Visa’s global payments infrastructure provides a scalable solution for both domestic and international transactions. By embedding crypto-to-fiat conversions into established banking rails, the firm positions itself to capture demand from users seeking fast, secure, and cost-efficient access to fiat currencies from their digital holdings. The move underscores the growing convergence of crypto and traditional financial systems, highlighting the role of strategic partnerships in scaling digital asset adoption while maintaining operational efficiency and compliance.
