Crypto cards are driving adoption as WhiteBIT’s Nova hits over 1M transactions

Crypto card usage may grow to $220.46B by 2033, as users switch from traditional cards. WhiteBIT, the largest European cryptocurrency exchange by traffic, also benefits from the crypto card trend.

The newly launched WhiteBIT Nova card recently recorded over 1M transactions. Crypto cards mimic usual payment habits and can take a big piece out of global payment systems.

Crypto card usage is growing, and may expand to $220.46B by 2033, based on user behaviors. By 2026, nearly one in five crypto holders may use their holdings as a fintech tool for payments, up from 14.2% in 2024. The growing number of card users indicates a real-world shift toward crypto adoption. As of 2024, over 560M global users own cryptocurrencies, creating the need for more direct payment solutions. 

Crypto cards compete with traditional payment methods

Global debit and credit card transactions still dominate the financial markets, but crypto cards are emerging as strong competitors. Crypto cards add a layer of enhanced privacy, borderless transactions, and crypto-based reward schemes. The global crypto credit card market grew to $1.3B in 2024 and is projected to grow to $220.46B by 2033, with an annual growth rate of 8.6%.

Crypto cards offer instant swaps of crypto to fiat at the point of sale, making digital assets practical for everyday purchases. 

WhiteBIT users view crypto cards as conventional spending tool

WhiteBIT’s latest data reveals its crypto card users have similar spending patterns to conventional cardholders. Purchases include everyday essentials, entertainment, and luxury goods. 

The most popular crypto coins and tokens for spending include USDC, BTC, ETH, and WhiteBIT’s native asset, WBT. 

The top venues for spending include several online or real-life brands. WhiteBIT Nova owners paid for Spotify, YouTube, Booking, KFC, Ryanair, Farfetch, and Playstation. For luxury goods, the card drove engagement with Cartier, Balenciaga, Gucci, Dior, and Louis Vuitton, for a total of 5,000 transactions.Card holders covered everyday expenses, including groceries, food, coffee expenses, as well as subscription services. 

Cashback options are one of the main drivers for crypto card adoption. Users rate this as one of the most desirable traits for a card. WhiteBIT Nova card holders also receive the crypto cashback option. The card offers 22.8% cashback on groceries, 20.4% on food and cafés, 14.1% for subscriptions. 

WhiteBIT users also get a crypto cashback of 10.7% for taxi services and 8.3% for entertainment, as well as 7.3% for gaming. Other smaller bonuses come from travel and lifestyle (4.9%), auto expenses (4.9%), and airlines (4.2%). Wellness and pet care offer 3.9% cashback, while medical services have a 3.5% bonus.

Most of the cash rewards are received through BTC and WBT, with a growing preference for WhiteBIT’s native token. 

For convenience, 88.52% of WhiteBIT Nova users prefer the virtual card, with 11.48% receiving a physical version. The trend aligns with global use patterns, where the number of global digital wallets is expected to grow from 53% of global users to over 60% of the global population by 2026. 

WhiteBIT bridges crypto with traditional finance

The rise of cards like the WhiteBIT Nova highlights the crossover between crypto and traditional finance. WhiteBIT reached the 1M transaction milestone, showing its capabilities for seamless payment integration.

WhiteBIT adds cards to its multiple services, ranging from retail to high-volume professional trading. The card issuance follows detailed compliance with local regulations, as WhiteBIT continues to spread its influence to the top crypto-friendly regions.

WhiteBIT has been operational since 2018, driving multiple trends in crypto adoption. As a crypto exchange, WhiteBIT achieves native volumes of over $1B for over 300 trading pairs. 

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