Mastercard just made sending crypto a whole lot easier. They’ve expanded their Crypto Credential program to work with self-custody wallets, which means you can now send Bitcoin or other cryptos using simple usernames instead of those crazy long wallet addresses. Polygon’s handling the blockchain side, while a payments company called Mercuryo takes care of verifying identities.
Anyone who’s sent crypto knows how nerve-wracking it is copying those endless strings of letters and numbers. One wrong character and your money’s gone forever. Mastercard’s trying to fix that by making crypto work more like Venmo or PayPal, where you just type in someone’s name.
Here’s how it works. Mercuryo verifies your identity and then gives you a username you can link to your wallet. You can even get a token on Polygon that proves the wallet belongs to a real verified person. The important part is you still control your own keys, so it’s not like handing your crypto over to some company.
Mastercard’s been going hard on crypto lately. They’ve launched cards with Kraken, partnered with MetaMask, and even hooked up with Chainlink so their three billion cardholders can buy crypto directly. This username thing is just their latest move.
Conclusion
Mastercard’s username system addresses one of crypto’s biggest usability problems, potentially making digital asset transfers accessible to mainstream users while maintaining the security of self-custody wallets.
Also Read: Kraken Chief Blasts UK Crypto Rules
