The Crypto Rails War

Visa says crypto-linked card usage tops $1 billion in first half of 2021 used by consumers globally on non-crypto goods and services.

That is up from a humble start compared to the same period last year. Visa said digital payments such as cryptocurrency have the potential to disrupt $18 trillion of annual consumer spending with cash and checks.

A Mastercard study says 93% of North American consumers plan to use cryptocurrency or other emerging payment technology, such as biometrics, contactless, or QR code systems, in the next year. Mastercard also showed that 75% of millennials would use crypto currency if it become more mainstream and easy to understand.

Visa seems to be leading the crypto rails battle, announcing Wednesday the FTX cryptocurrency platform, founded by billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried, would be added to its Fintech Fast Track Program, focused in part on making cryptocurrency more practical for consumer and business spending.

Mastercard is still in partnership mode, teaming up with Wirex and BitPay last year to create crypto cards that allow people to transact using their cryptocurrencies.