MetaMask Expands Crypto Card to 13 New Latin American Countries

by Trevor Jones
0 comments


The MetaMask Mastercard-backed crypto debit card just landed in 13 new Latin American countries, bringing the card’s total footprint to 50+ markets worldwide.

The newly added countries are Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Uruguay, joining Brazil and Argentina, where the card was already live.

According to Utexo head of research Alex Oblakevich, crypto card transactions across the sector have grown 2.7x, with no statistical correlation with Bitcoin price movements.

When crypto spending decouples from BTC price action, it stops being speculative behavior and starts to look like a utility. That shift is exactly what MetaMask is betting on as it races to normalize crypto spending in one of the world’s highest-priority adoption markets.

How the MetaMask Crypto Card Works and Why the Self-Custody Model Matters

The MetaMask crypto debit card is now available in Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and ten other Latin American nations

(SOURCE MetaMask)

The MetaMask Card uses a conversion-at-checkout model, automatically converting crypto from the user’s self-custody wallet into local fiat currency at Mastercard-accepting merchants.

This feature distinguishes it from exchange-issued cards that require moving funds to custodial platforms. Users retain control of their keys until the time of purchase.

Every transaction earns 1% cashback in mUSD, MetaMask’s stablecoin, with a premium Metal card tier offering 3% on the first $10,000 spent monthly for an annual fee of $199.

The card supports nine tokens across multiple networks, is accepted at over 150 million merchants, and can be integrated with Apple Pay and Google Pay. This innovation reflects MetaMask’s broader product development strategy, including AI wallet features.

Why Latin America? The 2.7x Transaction Growth Signal Explained

LatAm crypto adoption is a trend that MetaMask is following with capital and product. Brazil and Mexico are among the largest crypto markets by volume due to inflation-hedging demand, unbanked populations, and attractive remittance flows. MetaMask launched its card in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia in December 2024, laying the groundwork for expansion.

Data from Oblakevich’s Utexo shows that crypto card deposits are now regular and modest, indicating mainstream retail use rather than early-adopter behavior. In countries like El Salvador, Peru, and Uruguay, where access to dollars is limited and local currency volatility is high, a card that converts crypto to local currency at checkout has significant appeal.

The competition between crypto-native cards and traditional fintech is intensifying in LatAm. Mastercard’s Crypto Credential initiative targets 7 million users across partner exchanges, creating a robust ecosystem that MetaMask’s partnership with Mastercard integrates into.

EXCLUSIVE: Earn $10 USDC Via Binance Sign-Up

Can MetaMask Capture Mainstream Crypto Spending or Will Adoption Stall?

Three scenarios in brief:

Bull case: LatAm expansion boosts retail adoption, with card usage spreading beyond current MetaMask users as new users are attracted by spending utility. mUSD gains organic demand through on-chain cashback, increasing transaction volume on Linea and Base. Competing wallets launch similar products, validating the category and broadening the market. Crypto spending becomes routine.

Base case: Adoption grows slowly within the existing crypto user base. The addition of 13 new countries increases volume, but onboarding remains challenging for the unbanked or crypto-curious due to technical hurdles. Transaction growth persists but doesn’t reach mass-market levels within 12 months.

Bear case: Regulatory issues in some LatAm countries hinder rollout or force product adjustments. mUSD adoption lags behind USDC and USDT, limiting its network effect. Competitors like Binance Card and Crypto.com Card maintain market share among users prioritizing simplicity over self-custody.

The outlook is cautiously optimistic, with 2.7x transaction growth indicating real traction. However, MetaMask’s self-custody model requires users to be comfortable with non-custodial wallets, which limits the addressable market.

EXPLORE: Best Crypto Presales With Asymmetric Upside in the Current Market

Follow 99Bitcoins on X For the Latest Market Updates and Subscribe on YouTube For Daily Expert Market Analysis.

The post MetaMask Expands Crypto Card to 13 New Latin American Countries appeared first on 99Bitcoins.





Source link

You may also like

Latest News

© 2025 blockchainecho.xyz. All rights reserved.