For companies holding stablecoin balances on behalf of their users—whether you're a crypto exchange, digital wallet provider, remittance platform, or neobank—there may be a critical gap in your product offering. Your users have digital dollars sitting in their accounts, but lack a seamless way to spend them in the real world. Stablecoin-backed card programs bridge this gap while creating potential to unlock significant competitive advantages, new revenue streams, and the ability to expand into new markets faster.
Unlocking trapped value
When users hold stablecoin balances in your platform but can't easily spend them, you're creating friction. Every time they need to cash out to their bank account to make a purchase, they're one step closer to moving their funds elsewhere.
Card programs flip this dynamic. Instead of users withdrawing $500 to their bank account to spend over the next week, they keep the full balance on your platform and spend it through the card. This transforms your platform from a storage solution into a broader financial ecosystem. You retain customers engaged on your platform (improving your TVL metrics), generate revenue from each transaction, and keep users engaged with your platform daily.
Companies like Phantom, Zepz, and Chipper, are demonstrating that card programs can dramatically increase user engagement and retention. When users can spend their stablecoin balance in over 150 million countries globally through card networks, your platform becomes a core part of their daily financial lives.
Capturing new revenue streams
In addition to greater engagement, stablecoin-backed card programs generate multiple revenue opportunities depending on the user experience you design.
- Interchange fees: Every card transaction generates interchange revenue that is paid by the merchant, creating a sustainable income stream proportional to user spending.
- FX conversion fees: When users spend in currencies different from their stablecoin denomination, you have the ability to capture your own margin on conversions. Bridge does not charge you a markup on any FX transactions.
- Premium card tiers: You can offer enhanced benefits, bundled services or higher limits at premium price points or through subscription fees.
- Rewards from custom stablecoin balances: Users can spend from balances held in a custom stablecoin, allowing you to earn rewards on the reserves.
Expanding global reach with minimal infrastructure
One of the most compelling aspects of stablecoin-backed cards is geographic scalability. Traditional banking infrastructure requires establishing relationships with banks, payment processors, and regulators in each market. Bridge's partnership with Visa enables issuance in multiple countries simultaneously—across Latin America, Africa, and the US, with more markets launching in 2026.
For companies targeting emerging markets, this is transformative. You can offer USD-denominated spending power to users in countries experiencing currency volatility, high inflation, or limited banking access.
Start building today with Bridge
Bridge provides a global card issuance solution delivered through a single API, enabling companies to launch card programs compliant with bank sponsor and network policies in multiple markets rapidly. The platform allows users to instantly spend their stablecoin balances, even directly from existing non-custodial wallets via smart contracts. Leveraging the program management expertise of Bridge and Stripe, businesses can launch in as little as four weeks, earning interchange on every swipe and driving user adoption by offering a seamless digital spending experience that avoids typical cross-border and FX markups on local transactions. Interested in learning more? Chat with us.
Bridge is not a bank. The Prepaid Debit Visa Card is issued by Lead Bank and managed by Bridge Ventures, LLC. Fees may apply. See www.bridge.xyz/legal for more details.
The content in this article is for general information and education purposes only and should not be construed as legal or tax advice. Bridge does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, adequacy, or currency of the information in the article. You should seek the advice of a competent attorney or accountant licensed to practice in your jurisdiction for advice on your particular situation.
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