WasabiCard Launches Stablecoin-Powered Card Issuing in 100+ Markets

Singapore-based payment infrastructure provider WasabiCard has launched a local card issuing solution designed to help businesses expand internationally while settling transactions in stablecoins. The service supports more than 100 markets and allows companies to establish region-specific card programs through a single API integration.

The platform enables businesses to issue payment cards in local markets while settling program-level transactions in USDT, USDC, and Open USD (OUSD), combining regional payment infrastructure with stablecoin-based funding and settlement.

Local Card Issuing Aims to Reduce Cross-Border Costs

WasabiCard said businesses expanding into international markets have traditionally relied on issuing cards in one jurisdiction and extending the same arrangement to other regions. However, this approach can introduce challenges involving regulatory compliance, merchant acceptance, and foreign exchange expenses.

The company’s new infrastructure is intended to address these limitations by allowing businesses to issue cards through financial institutions operating within individual markets. WasabiCard has established partnerships with financial institutions globally to provide access to local bank identification numbers (BINs), which identify the institutions and networks associated with payment cards.

Issuing cards locally, rather than relying on cross-border arrangements, could help businesses reduce international transaction expenses and foreign exchange fees. It may also improve transaction approval rates among merchants because the cards operate through payment infrastructure associated with the markets where purchases occur.

According to Ray Yang, co-founder and chief executive of WasabiCard, the solution allows businesses to establish card programs within regional markets while retaining stablecoins as their settlement mechanism.

Single API Supports Visa and Mastercard Programs

The platform provides businesses with a centralized API through which they can configure card programs, manage card lifecycles, and establish program-specific spending controls.

Companies can select between commercial and consumer BINs, with issuing options available across Visa and Mastercard networks. Both virtual and physical cards are supported, and cardholders can add eligible cards to Apple Pay and Google Pay for digital payments.

WasabiCard also plans to introduce white-label capabilities, allowing businesses to incorporate card issuing directly into their own products and payment workflows. This could help payment providers, digital platforms, and other enterprises offer branded financial services without independently developing the underlying card infrastructure.

Account activation can reportedly take as little as 24 hours after businesses submit the necessary documentation and complete know-your-business (KYB), compliance, and financial partner reviews.

The funding and spending processes are designed to operate across different currencies. Businesses can maintain program balances in stablecoins, while cardholders make purchases in local currencies wherever the cards are accepted.

Stablecoin Deposits Undergo Risk Screening

Compliance monitoring is another central component of the infrastructure. WasabiCard conducts blockchain-based screening before deposited stablecoins become available for spending.

The system examines on-chain transaction histories to identify the origin of deposited funds and determine whether they have connections to potentially illicit activities, including scams and stolen digital assets.

Deposits directly associated with high-risk sources are rejected. Funds with indirect exposure to suspicious addresses or activities are temporarily held until the compliance team completes an additional assessment.

The company also maintains auditable records supporting individual screening decisions. This approach is intended to provide issuing partners with greater transparency and accountability while addressing the compliance requirements associated with stablecoin-funded payment programs.

Targeting Payouts, Advertising, and Corporate Spending

WasabiCard is positioning its infrastructure for several international business applications, particularly organizations that regularly distribute payments across multiple jurisdictions.

Web3 companies can use the cards and associated payment infrastructure to distribute compensation, operating funds, and other payments to employees, contractors, and business partners. Content platforms, livestreaming services, and talent agencies can also use the solution to manage creator earnings, commissions, revenue-sharing arrangements, and performance-based incentives.

Human resources companies, staffing agencies, and flexible workforce platforms represent another potential customer segment, particularly those managing distributed workforces across international markets.

The infrastructure also targets digital advertising operations. Businesses can issue and manage cards in batches according to individual advertising accounts, campaigns, or internal teams, potentially improving expense allocation and oversight.

Additionally, the platform supports payments for artificial intelligence subscriptions and general corporate expenses. Companies can establish detailed spending limits for purchasing, travel, and other operational requirements.

By combining local card issuance, stablecoin settlement, and automated compliance screening, WasabiCard is seeking to connect digital asset liquidity with conventional payment networks and provide businesses with a more flexible framework for managing international spending.