Crypto Card Spending Hits Record High as Stablecoin Usage Dominates Transactions

Crypto card spending reached a significant milestone in March 2026, surpassing US$600 million for the first time ever.

This marks a 211% increase from the same period last year, with cumulative sector usage now standing at US$6.5 billion across 21.4 million transactions.

The surge in adoption can be attributed to the growing demand for direct on-chain spending options, particularly in emerging markets where crypto cards offer an alternative to limited banking infrastructure.

USDT remains the primary settlement asset, accounting for a significant majority of transaction volume due to its strong presence in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa.

However, USDC is slowly gaining ground on USDT in Western markets, driven by regulatory clarity and institutional backing.