Crypto Goes Plastic — Coinbase’s Visa-Approved Solution Suggests Growth

On Feb. 19, Coinbase announced that it has become a principal member of Visa. In an apparent first for the cryptocurrency industry, the firm is now able to issue debit cards without having to involve third parties. Prior to that, Coinbase had been releasing its physical cards in collaboration with authorized intermediaries, similarly to dozens of other crypto companies that offer such options to their clients.

While Coinbase didn’t share its strategy, technically, the new status grants it the possibility to issue cards to fellow cryptocurrency firms. In any case, this development marks an important milestone for the crypto payments sector.

Seamless and instant: A brief introduction to crypto cards

Cryptocurrency cards are in many ways similar to conventional bank cards used by millions of people around the globe for day-to-day purchases. The main difference is that the former allows users to deposit and convert cryptocurrencies instead of fiat money.

So, what makes them comparable?…