Chainlink has announced a partnership with Mastercard to enable the credit card giant’s three billion users to purchase cryptocurrency directly onchain, potentially opening the door for broader crypto adoption by making digital assets more accessible to those unfamiliar with Web3.

The collaboration is supported by additional partnerships with Web3-focused firms such as Shift4 Payments, Swapper Finance, XSwap, and ZeroHash, the latter of which will handle onchain services and liquidity to allow users to convert fiat to crypto.

According to a Chainlink Labs spokesperson, “The current version of the application available at Swapper Finance is non-custodial and leverages account abstraction to provide users with simplicity and control.” They added that the platform was designed to be accessible to everyone, not just those already familiar with crypto.

Mastercard has ramped up its crypto initiatives in 2024 and 2025. Earlier this year, it teamed up with Kraken to launch crypto debit cards in the UK and Europe, and also collaborated with MetaMask on a self-custody card. The company revealed that 30% of its 2024 transactions were tokenized.

Visa, Mastercard’s main rival, has also advanced its crypto involvement. In late 2024, it partnered with Coinbase to enable instant crypto withdrawals and deposits, launched a digital asset platform focused on Web3, and invested in stablecoin payment firm BVNK.

Purchasing crypto with fiat remains a challenge for newcomers due to technical hurdles. These barriers can slow down the pace of adoption. However, demand for easier access is growing, as Mastercard’s executive vice president for blockchain and digital assets, Raj Dhamodharan, noted:

“There’s no doubt about it — people want to be able to easily connect to the digital assets ecosystem, and vice versa.”

Sources:

https://cointelegraph.com/news/chainlink-mastercard-partner-cardholders-buy-crypto

https://www.cointribune.com/en/mastercard-makes-a-bold-move-into-defi-with-chainlink/

https://crypto.news/chainlink-and-mastercard-partner-to-enable-onchain-crypto-purchases/