For years, crypto users have faced a frustrating paradox: digital assets move at internet speed, but cashing them out often feels stuck in the banking era. Lengthy settlement times, high fees, and cross-border friction have made crypto-to-fiat conversions one of the weakest links in the digital finance chain.
That gap is now closing—fast.
Crypto payments firm Mercuryo has partnered with Visa to enable near real-time conversion of digital assets into fiat currency, allowing users to send funds directly to Visa debit and credit cards within minutes. The integration marks a significant step toward making crypto not just investable—but instantly spendable.
Crypto to Cash, Now in Near Real Time
At the heart of the partnership is Visa Direct, Visa’s real-time money movement network. Through this system, eligible Mercuryo users can off-ramp their crypto holdings and receive fiat funds almost instantly on their Visa cards.
No waiting days for bank settlements. No complex intermediaries. No need to move assets between multiple platforms.
Once converted, funds can be spent at more than 150 million merchant locations worldwide that accept Visa—effectively turning crypto balances into everyday spending power.
Faster, Cheaper, and Borderless by Design
One of the biggest advantages of the Mercuryo–Visa integration is efficiency. Traditional crypto off-ramps often rely on slow banking rails, especially for international payouts. This new setup significantly reduces both settlement times and costs, making it particularly attractive for cross-border transactions.
Mercuryo is expanding its existing use of Visa Direct, which already supports real-time transfers across brokerage accounts, crypto platforms, and digital banks. By plugging directly into Visa’s global infrastructure, Mercuryo aims to eliminate the friction that has long plagued crypto cash-outs.
No App Switching, No New Wallets
Perhaps the most user-friendly aspect of the partnership is what it doesn’t require.
Users don’t need to abandon the wallets, exchanges, or platforms they already trust. Mercuryo’s network connects non-custodial wallets, exchanges, and payment providers directly to Visa Direct, giving millions of users access to fast off-ramping tools through familiar interfaces.
In simple terms: your crypto stays where it is—you just gain a faster exit to fiat when you need it.
Making Crypto Practical for Everyday Payments
“This partnership with Visa will further enhance Mercuryo’s ability to deliver a fast, low-cost user experience,” said Petr Kozyakov, Mercuryo’s co-founder and CEO.
He emphasized that the integration removes long-standing barriers around cross-border fund movement and digital asset cash-outs, allowing users to access local currencies almost instantly.
From freelancers getting paid in crypto to travelers spending digital assets abroad, the use cases are no longer theoretical—they’re becoming practical.
Bridging Crypto and Traditional Finance
Visa sees the collaboration as part of a broader effort to bring crypto closer to the mainstream financial system.
According to Anastasia Serikova, head of Visa Direct in Europe, the service is designed to bridge the gap between crypto platforms and traditional finance. Near real-time conversion improves not just speed, but also reliability—two factors critical for everyday payments.
The message is clear: crypto doesn’t need to replace traditional finance to succeed. It just needs to connect to it seamlessly.
Visa’s Crypto Push Is Accelerating
The Mercuryo deal is just one piece of Visa’s expanding digital asset strategy.
Visa recently launched a Stablecoins Advisory Practice to help businesses integrate stablecoins into their operations
The company surpassed $200 million in cumulative stablecoin settlement volume last year
Stablecoin settlements have since surged to an annualized run rate of $3.5 billion
Partnerships in Africa and with firms like Aquanow aim to speed up settlements and reduce reliance on legacy payment rails
While Visa CEO Ryan McInerney has noted that clearer regulation is still needed for crypto to reach its full potential, the company’s actions suggest long-term commitment rather than experimentation.
The Bigger Picture: Crypto Becomes Spendable
This partnership signals a major shift in how digital assets fit into everyday life. Crypto is no longer just something you trade, hold, or speculate on—it’s something you can convert and spend almost instantly.
By combining Mercuryo’s crypto infrastructure with Visa’s global payment network, the line between digital assets and traditional money is fading fast.
And for users, that means one simple but powerful outcome:
Your crypto can finally move at the speed of your life.