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Key Takeaways
- Mastercard is expanding its Crypto Credential program to self-custody wallets, enabling users to send and receive crypto using verified, human-readable username-style aliases instead of complex wallet addresses.
- Polygon will be the first blockchain to support this rollout, providing the on-chain infrastructure, while payments firm Mercuryo will handle the necessary identity verification and alias issuance.
- The initiative aims to drastically reduce errors caused by copying long hexadecimal addresses and increase trust and safety in digital token transfers, functioning similarly to traditional payment systems.
Mastercard Revolutionizes Self-Custody User Experience
Mastercard just made a major move to fix one of crypto’s biggest headaches: those impossible-to-read, error-prone wallet addresses. They’re expanding their Crypto Credential program to give self-custody users verified, human-readable usernames instead! The goal is simple: make sending crypto feel as easy and safe as sending cash on your favorite payment app.
Big news:@Mastercard chooses Polygon to launch username-based transfers for self-custody wallets, with @mercuryo_io. pic.twitter.com/p0aTlP7wdp
— Polygon (@0xPolygon) November 18, 2025
They aren’t doing it alone. Mastercard teamed up with some serious Web3 heavy hitters: Polygon is providing the blockchain infrastructure to make the whole thing work, and Mercuryo is handling the identity verification and issuing the aliases.
Sending crypto shouldn’t feel like defusing a bomb 💣
— Mercuryo (@Mercuryo_io) November 18, 2025
We’ve teamed up with @Mastercard 🔴🟡 and @0xPolygon to launch Crypto Credential, so you can send any token on any blockchain using just one username.
One name. All your wallets. Way less stress.https://t.co/gZJIpJWqU6 pic.twitter.com/mY57OPVUtS
After a quick verification, you get a simple name linked to your self-custody wallet. You can even mint a Soulbound Token (SBT) on Polygon, a permanent, on-chain badge that proves your verified identity is attached to your wallet. No more triple-checking those hex strings!
Bridging the Usability Gap for Secure Transfers
The primary motivation behind the Crypto Credential program is to mitigate the risk of costly user errors. Copying a single wrong character in a long crypto address can lead to permanent loss of funds, a major barrier to mass adoption.
Through Mastercard Crypto Credential, users can onboard once, receive a verified username, link their wallet, and get assets instantly. Without ever copying a hex string again.
— Polygon (@0xPolygon) November 18, 2025
Mercuryo will onboard verified users and issue credentials, while Polygon provides the blockchain…
Raj Dhamodharan, Executive Vice President of Blockchain and Digital Assets at Mastercard, stated that “By streamlining wallet addresses and adding meaningful verification, Mastercard Crypto Credential is building trust in digital token transfers.”
Polygon was selected as the default launch chain for one reason: payments.
— Polygon (@0xPolygon) November 18, 2025
Low-cost infrastructure built for speed, reliability, and scalability.
This is how global money moves onchain.
The focus on self-custody is particularly noteworthy, as it addresses a core segment of the crypto market that values wallet sovereignty but has historically struggled with user-friendly solutions. Marc Boiron, CEO of Polygon Labs, underscored this importance, saying, “This partnership marks the moment when self-custody becomes simple.” Mercuryo, the first issuer for the program, sees the rollout as a direct response to rising demand for secure yet simple crypto experiences that do not force users to give up control of their private keys.
Mastercard’s Accelerating Web3 Strategy
The Polygon partnership is the latest in a series of aggressive steps Mastercard has taken to integrate into the Web3 and cryptocurrency landscape over the past two years. Just months prior, in June, Mastercard partnered with Chainlink to enable its three billion cardholders to buy crypto directly on-chain.
We’re excited to announce that Chainlink and @Mastercard have partnered to enable billions of cardholders to purchase crypto directly onchain.https://t.co/1pKz03jQ7t
— Chainlink (@chainlink) June 24, 2025
Chainlink verifies and synchronizes key… pic.twitter.com/5jfLAAYn4D
That rollout relied on a complex network of Web3 partners, including Shift4 Payments and ZeroHash, with the non-custodial version using account abstraction to simplify the process for everyday users.
The Chainlink-powered Swapper Finance app is live today, enabling cardholders to purchase crypto directly onchain from decentralized exchanges.
— Chainlink (@chainlink) June 24, 2025
Swapper Finance leverages XSwap, the leading DEX built out of the Chainlink ecosystem that uses the Chainlink standard for data and… pic.twitter.com/ZRB4l6nDjC
These repeated initiatives, from self-custody alias simplification to direct on-chain purchases, signal Mastercard’s deep commitment to building a financial ecosystem where fiat and digital assets coexist seamlessly and securely.
Final Thoughts
Mastercard’s Crypto Credential expansion, leveraging Polygon for verified usernames, represents a critical breakthrough in crypto usability and safety. By solving the simple but profound problem of complex wallet addresses, the partnership removes a major barrier to mass adoption for self-custody, signaling a professionalization of the Web3 user experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main benefit of the Crypto Credential aliases?
They allow users to send and receive crypto using simple, human-readable usernames instead of long hexadecimal addresses, reducing the risk of errors.
Which blockchain is supporting the initial rollout?
Polygon is the first blockchain to support the expansion to self-custody wallets.
What company handles the user verification?
Payments firm Mercuryo is responsible for handling the identity verification and issuing the verified aliases.