Growth in Consumer Crypto Spending Predicted for 2026 As Visa Reports Significant Card Usage Increase

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Consumer adoption of crypto-linked payment cards is on the rise as we approach 2026, following a notable increase in spending reported by Visa for 2025. According to data from Dune Analytics, spending on Visa-backed crypto cards saw substantial growth throughout last year.

Total net spending across six Visa-partnered crypto card programs soared from $14.6 million in January 2025 to $91.3 million by December. This significant increase reflects a massive 525% jump over the year, showcasing a growing comfort among consumers to make payments directly from their crypto wallets at traditional retail locations.

The cards are currently being issued by various crypto payment platforms and decentralized finance (DeFi) projects, including EtherFi, Cypher, GnosisPay, Avici Money, Exa App, and Moonwell.

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Top Performers: EtherFi and Cypher in Visa Crypto Card Spending

Among the monitored programs, EtherFi led in spending volume, recording $55.4 million in transactions throughout 2025. This placed it significantly ahead of Cypher, which came in second with $20.5 million in total spending. Other card issuers exhibited smaller but steady increases in spending, highlighting a broader engagement across the ecosystem rather than growth fueled by a solitary participant.

Monthly spending data indicated a consistent upward trend throughout the year, with no major fluctuations. Analysts suggest that this pattern reflects routine usage rather than isolated incidents. According to Polygon researcher Alex Obchakevich, the data points indicate that spending with crypto cards is increasingly becoming a regular part of financial behavior, signaling a shift away from experimental use cases.

Expansion of Visa’s Stablecoin Infrastructure

Visa’s enhanced involvement in crypto payments has been bolstered by its expanding stablecoin infrastructure. The payments giant now facilitates stablecoin settlements across several blockchains, including Ethereum, Solana, Avalanche, and Stellar. This integration enables card issuers to convert crypto balances to fiat in real time during transactions while taking advantage of Visa’s extensive global merchant network.

In December 2025, Visa also introduced a stablecoin advisory team aimed at assisting banks, merchants, and fintech firms in designing and managing stablecoin-based products. This initiative underscores Visa's belief that blockchain settlement and programmable money are becoming increasingly significant in mainstream payment technology.

With rising spending volumes and a continually expanding infrastructure, the usage of crypto cards is expected to see further growth in 2026. Although this growth is primarily concentrated in the United States, Europe, and select areas of the Asia-Pacific, the ongoing increase suggests that consumer spending in cryptocurrencies is becoming more normalized.

However, the sustainability of this trend may hinge on broader market conditions and ongoing collaboration between crypto platforms and established payment systems.

Key Takeaways:

Consumer spending on crypto-linked payment cards surged in 2025, with a reported 525% increase in total spending.
EtherFi and Cypher were the top performers among visa-partnered crypto card programs.
Visa has expanded its stablecoin infrastructure, facilitating real-time crypto-to-fiat conversions across major blockchains.
Analysts see crypto card usage evolving into regular financial behavior for consumers.
The growth of crypto spending is expected to continue, particularly as mainstream payment networks integrate with crypto platforms.