Cardano launches card with Wirex to turn ADA into a real-world payment asset

Cardano has officially launched the highly anticipated ‘Cardano Card’ in partnership with digital payments platform Wirex.

The launch is expected to accelerate retail adoption of the blockchain’s native token ADA by turning it into a spendable asset integrated with real-world financial services.

According to a Nov. 11 announcement, EMURGO, the commercial arm and founding entity behind the Cardano blockchain, has tapped global payments provider Wirex to launch the first-ever Cardano-branded crypto card.

The move is expected to bring ADA and hundreds of other digital assets to millions of users across 130 countries.

The Cardano Card was announced during the Cardano Summit 2025, which kicked off in Berlin on November 12.

What is the Cardano Card?

With the Cardano Card, users will be able to pay with over 685 cryptocurrencies and stablecoins anywhere Visa is accepted.

Integrated directly into Wirex’s mobile application, the card unlocks features such as crypto-backed yield accounts, secure loans against digital assets, and access to structured trading products, all with ADA at the core of the experience.

Travel perks, ATM access, and crypto cashback rewards of up to 8% are also part of the package that could draw in users.

EMURGO CEO Phillip Pon described the partnership as “more than just a crypto card launch,” pointing to its potential to push Cardano’s visibility further into traditional banking.

“The Cardano Card meets the need for a user-facing product that is mobile-ready, fintech-friendly, and uniquely built for on-chain finance,” Pon said in an accompanying statement.

The idea of a Cardano-branded card has been circulating within the ecosystem for months.

Back in July 2025, EMURGO first unveiled its plans, positioning the card as a multi-functional financial tool that would turn ADA from a staked asset into a usable currency with real-world yield potential.

At the time, EMURGO outlined a phased rollout, beginning with a virtual card by the end of the year, followed by physical cards and more advanced features in 2026, including auto-staking, tokenized real-world asset yields, and a non-custodial version of the card for users who prefer self-custody.

Importantly, part of the card’s design includes routing a portion of its profits back into the Cardano Treasury, creating a feedback loop where daily spending fuels protocol growth.

“This marks not only a major milestone for Cardano as they expand into the global banking and payments space […] Together, we’re bringing millions of users closer to a future where digital assets are seamlessly integrated into everyday financial life,” Georgy Sokolov, Co-founder at Wirex, added.

Cardano Hydra upgrade goes live

Last month, Cardano hit a major milestone on its network scaling roadmap with the launch of Cardano’s Hydra Node version 1.0.0.

Hydra is a Layer 2 upgrade designed to dramatically increase transaction throughput and reduce latency using off-chain state channels known as “Hydra Heads.”

These mini-ledgers allow participants to transact at speeds far beyond what the main chain can offer, with confirmation times tested at under one second.

With Hydra in production-ready status, developers now have access to a high-performance environment suited for real-time payments, DeFi protocols, and high-frequency applications like gaming.

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