Mastercard Partners Kraken to Bring Crypto Payment to EU Through 150 Million Merchants Worldwide

Mastercard has again partnered with Kraken, a leading crypto exchange platform, to make everyday crypto payments possible for EU users in the UK and Europe.

This collaboration means Kraken’s users will soon be able to spend their digital assets at over 150 million merchants globally that accept Mastercard. This move signals not only a shift to simplify crypto use but also a bold step towards integrating digital assets into the intricacies of traditional commerce.

With over 15 million users worldwide, Kraken plans to leverage Mastercard’s extensive payments infrastructure to launch physical and digital crypto debit cards. According to reports, these cards will effortlessly connect users’ crypto accounts to their retail spending, making it possible to pay for groceries or shop online using Bitcoin or stablecoins just as you would with fiat.

“Our customers want to be able to easily pay for real-world goods and services with their cryptocurrencies or stablecoins. Our partnership with Mastercard is a major step in realizing this vision.” Co-CEO David Ripley stated in a released statement.

Kraken Pay Redefines Crypto Payments

Kraken offers a convenient payment feature called “Kraken Pay.” This feature enables instant, borderless transactions with the touch of a button. More than 200,000 users have already activated their personal “Kraktag” to make this possible.

The feature has already begun transforming how users experience cross-border transactions as it supports over 300 crypto and fiat currencies globally. This represents a significant boost in bringing cryptocurrencies to the mainstream market. The increasing collaboration between TradFi and DeFi means more crypto customers can be serviced using already established traditional market technologies.

Kraken is committed to making crypto accessible even to those typically hesitant to embrace new tech. Just last week, the exchange platform officially announced its expansion plans for the Canadian market after securing a Restricted Dealer registration in the country.

Europe as the Beneficiary of the Mastercard Partnership

The EU and the UK stand to benefit from this strategic collaboration. This deal, among many others, positions them at the heart of the upcoming digital payment revolution.

Mastercard and Kraken are not just enabling transactions—they’re shaping a new financial ecosystem that bridges the gap between decentralized innovation and traditional financial services. However, for this momentum to become a full‑blown transformation, there needs to be broader adoption globally. Furthermore, it must extend not only across the EU but also throughout Africa and Asia.