Kima Integrates Stablecoin Top-Ups for Prepaid Cards with Mastercard

May 27, 2025 – Kima Network has successfully integrated its decentralized settlement infrastructure into Mastercard’s Sandbox-as-a-Service platform, enabling stablecoin-powered top-ups for prepaid cards directly from self-custody wallets. This development is part of Mastercard’s ongoing initiative to bridge the gap between digital assets and traditional finance.

The integration allows users to convert digital assets like USDC and USDT into real-world purchasing power by topping up Mastercard prepaid cards with stablecoins. The transactions settle in real-time, enabling immediate access to funds across 200,000 ATMs and millions of point-of-sale terminals globally.

A Step Towards Seamless Crypto-to-Fiat Integration

With Kima on board, Mastercard’s sandbox environment allows fintechs and card issuers to experiment with stablecoin top-ups in a controlled setting. This integration aims to streamline the process for end-users, enabling them to use stablecoins for everyday payments while maintaining full control over their assets.

Kima’s SDK will also allow card issuers to integrate stablecoin top-ups directly within their apps, providing a more seamless user experience without the need for intermediaries or smart contracts. This development plays a pivotal role in bridging the traditional financial system with the emerging digital asset economy.

No Custodians, Real-Time Settlements

Kima’s settlement protocol enables value transfers across more than 10 blockchains, public and private ledgers, and traditional banking rails. This infrastructure allows stablecoin transactions to settle in real-time, providing global usability without relying on centralized exchanges or custodians.

Kima CEO Eitan Katz emphasized the importance of simplifying the crypto-to-fiat conversion process: “Crypto and fiat cannot move forward as partners without removing the complicated intermediaries between them,” Katz said. By eliminating outdated models, Kima has created a secure, compliant, and scalable system for seamless asset conversion.

Ensuring Compliance and User Control

The integration also ensures full compliance with local regulations, including the EU’s MiCA and Singapore’s crypto guidelines, through protocol-level checks. Kima achieves this by preserving user control, keeping the private keys in self-custody, while still meeting regulatory requirements. Third-party banks or licensed service providers conduct KYC and AML checks during user onboarding, ensuring compliance throughout the process.

Expansion Beyond Mastercard: Contribution to Digital Euro Development

In addition to its partnership with Mastercard, Kima is also playing a role in institutional innovation through its participation in the European Central Bank’s (ECB) digital euro project. Recently named among 70 private-sector partners, Kima is contributing to digital euro use case exploration and is testing how the simulated digital euro interfaces can be integrated into its settlement infrastructure.

As part of the ECB’s “Pioneers” workstream, Kima will conduct independent experiments using ECB-provided APIs and specifications, focusing on interoperability across public blockchains, private ledgers, and traditional banking systems.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Payments

Kima’s partnership with Mastercard and its involvement in the digital euro project signal significant strides toward mainstream adoption of stablecoins and digital assets. As Kima continues to innovate in crypto-to-fiat integrations and contribute to institutional efforts like the digital euro, it is well-positioned to play a pivotal role in the future of payments.