TLDR
- Mastercard and Kima enable stablecoin top-ups for prepaid cards.
- USDC/USDT can be spent globally via Mastercard.
- Kima SDK links wallets to banks with built-in compliance.
- Pai launches real-time stablecoin card funding.
- Demo live in Mastercard Sandbox for global use.
Mastercard has partnered with blockchain firm Kima to enable stablecoin-funded top-ups for prepaid cards to enable a new stage in crypto payment accessibility. The integration, conducted through Mastercard’s Sandbox-as-a-Service platform, allows users to load prepaid cards with stablecoins directly from their digital wallets and spend them globally.
🔥 BREAKING NEWS: Kima x @Mastercard are Changing the Game! 🚀
Stablecoin payments just got REAL! We're pumped to announce Kima's integration into Mastercard’s Sandbox, unlocking instant prepaid card top-ups with stablecoins straight from your crypto wallets!
💳 Crypto meets… pic.twitter.com/yfSyA3PV7t
— Kima Network (@KimaNetwork) May 12, 2025
The collaboration follows recent developments in Mastercard’s stablecoin transaction infrastructure. Kima’s settlement layer integrates into Mastercard’s Innovation Lab to give the network access to decentralized financial capabilities. This move supports Mastercard’s strategy to facilitate end-to-end stablecoin transactions without relying on traditional custodians or smart contract-based intermediaries.
Expanded Crypto Utility Through Prepaid Cards
The new system enables users to fund Mastercard prepaid cards using stablecoins like USDC and USDT across over 10 supported blockchains. Once loaded, the cards can be used at over 200,000 ATMs and with merchants in over 200 countries. This removes the need for crypto-to-fiat exchanges to provide a direct, compliant link between crypto wallets and conventional payment infrastructure.
Kima’s Software Development Kit (SDK) powers the integration, allowing fintechs and banks to offer stablecoin top-ups with minimal development effort. The SDK connects non-custodial wallets to banking systems, maintaining compliance with anti-money laundering(AML) and know-your-customer(KYC) requirements.
The system uses Kima’s Universal Payment Rail, a decentralized infrastructure that supports real-time financial transfers between blockchain assets and bank accounts. Transactions are completed through a secure, peer-to-peer process.
Real-World Use Case with Pai
One of the initial deployments of this system involved Pai, a prepaid card issuer. Pai utilized Kima’s SDK to let customers fund cards directly from crypto wallets. The integration allowed real-time, multi-chain stablecoin top-ups, offering immediate card balance availability. This reduced operational costs and increased scalability for Pai’s card offerings.
The system also ensured regulatory alignment by incorporating built-in compliance features. As a result, Pai expanded market access and provided more flexible services for users handling digital assets.
Demonstration and Institutional Access
Kima’s solution is available for demonstration within the Mastercard Sandbox. The simulation includes selecting blockchain networks, connecting wallets, and executing top-ups for a virtual Mastercard prepaid card. The system supports stablecoins pegged to USD and EUR, ensuring currency interoperability.
The technology seeks to serve a wide sectors, including neo banks, remittance firms, payroll services, and decentralized applications. It supports institutional and retail applications and offers a scalable model for integrating crypto payments into established financial systems.
