Gate Card: How does the Digital Asset Visa Card connect USDT with the global spending network?

Most digital asset holders have experienced this: having USDT in their accounts but unable to use it directly to buy a coffee, pay for a subscription, or complete cross-border shopping. The on-chain circulation of stablecoins continues to rise, but there remains a clear disconnect in everyday consumption scenarios.

This situation is being changed. According to a report released by market research firm The Kobeissi Letter, by late January 2025, the monthly payment volume of debit and credit cards linked to digital assets has reached $7.8 billion, a 230% year-over-year increase. Stablecoin payments are moving from on-chain to real-world commercial scenarios at an unprecedented speed. Meanwhile, Visa is deploying over 130 “stablecoin + card” partnership projects in more than 50 countries worldwide, with the annualized transaction volume of stablecoin settlement business reaching $7 billion by April 2026.

Gate Card is launched in response to this trend. As a digital asset Visa card directly linked to the Gate Pay payment account, Gate Card allows users to complete online or offline payments at over 150 million Visa-accepting merchants worldwide without first converting crypto assets into fiat currency.

Industry Turning Point for Stablecoin Payments

Over the past few years, stablecoins have transitioned from “on-chain tools” to “payment assets.” USDT, with its price stability, is naturally suitable as a medium of exchange for daily consumption. But for a long time, users wanting to pay with USDT typically had to go through a complex process: transferring USDT from wallet to trading account, selling for fiat, withdrawing to a bank account, and then completing payment via traditional bank cards. This chain is time-consuming and involves multiple fees.

Industry data clearly reflect the true scale of this demand. Digital asset card payments grew from $280 million in August 2023 to over $1.5 billion in August 2025, with monthly transaction volume skyrocketing from $250 million at the start of 2023 to over $1B in 2025. The core driver of this growth is stablecoins—USDT accounts for 62.5% of crypto card settlement transactions.

Visa’s strategic layout also confirms this trend. As the world’s largest payment network, Visa is promoting the expansion of crypto-related payment cards, collaborating with fintech platforms to bring the technology to over 100 countries across Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East. Stablecoins are transforming from on-chain assets into truly usable payment tools, and Gate Card is a key product connecting users to the global consumption network at this industry inflection point.

Payment Logic of Gate Card: Direct Spending Without Currency Exchange

The biggest difference between Gate Card and traditional bank cards is that it’s not connected to a bank balance but to a digital asset account. After holding USDT, BTC, ETH, or GT in the Gate Pay payment account, when making a purchase, the system automatically does two things at the moment of transaction: converts the selected digital assets into USD at real-time exchange rates, and settles the payment to the merchant via the Visa network. The entire process completes within seconds, and users only perceive a normal card swipe experience.

This design eliminates the intermediate steps of “selling coins, withdrawing, then spending.” For long-term stablecoin holders, Gate Card turns USDT from “asset holding” into “spendable asset.” Users don’t need to manually exchange in advance; the system automatically converts the relevant assets based on the payment amount.

Currently, Gate Card supports USDT, BTC, ETH, and GT for direct payments. The available cryptocurrencies may vary depending on the card type, issuing institution, or region. Future plans include gradually supporting more asset types as the business develops.

Two Card Forms Covering All Consumption Scenarios

Gate Card offers both virtual and physical card options, allowing users to choose based on their needs.

The virtual card is the preferred entry point for most users. After completing Level 2 personal identity verification, virtual cards can typically be activated within 3 to 5 minutes. Virtual cards are suitable for online shopping and can be linked to Apple Pay and Google Pay, enabling contactless payments via mobile devices. For users needing immediate digital asset spending, the instant activation of virtual cards significantly reduces waiting time.

Physical cards expand to broader scenarios, including chip-and-PIN payments, contactless payments, and global ATM cash withdrawals. Whether for cash needs during travel or daily spending at physical stores, physical cards provide an experience comparable to traditional bank cards. Users can withdraw cash at supported ATMs using the Gate Card. Each user can apply for one virtual card and one physical card.

Both card types are free of issuance, monthly, and inactivity fees.

Global Merchant Coverage: 150 Million Visa Merchants

One of Gate Card’s core advantages is its extensive acceptance network. The card can be used at over 150 million Visa-accepting merchants worldwide, covering more than 100 countries and regions. This means the USDT balance held by users is accepted just like mainstream bank cards—whether at a coffee shop in New York, a mall in Tokyo, an online subscription platform in Europe, or a convenience store in Southeast Asia.

Gate Card is currently open to users in multiple countries and regions globally. Users can proceed to apply to confirm eligibility. The card is only available to users in non-restricted countries or regions. Whether you can apply, the card type, and specific features depend on your identity verification, residence, partner issuing institution’s review, and compliance requirements.

Fee Structure: Transparent and Controllable

Using Gate Card involves two main costs.

Cryptocurrency exchange fee: $2 or more per transaction, charged at 0.90%; transactions below $2 are charged $0.05.

Foreign exchange fee (non-USD transactions): Classic and Platinum cards are charged at 0.40%; Standard cards at 1.00%.

ATM withdrawal fee: 2% of the withdrawal amount. Daily withdrawal limit is $5,000, monthly limit $15,000, annual limit $50,000, with a maximum of $5,000 per transaction and up to 10 withdrawals per day.

This fee structure is within a reasonable range for crypto payment cards. For high-frequency small transactions, the fixed fee below $2 (or $0.05) keeps costs manageable; for cross-border scenarios, a 0.40% foreign exchange fee is competitive.

Spending Rewards: Up to 5%, Redeemable as Digital Assets

Gate Card deeply integrates spending with a rewards mechanism. Each qualifying purchase earns points, which can be exchanged for USDT or GT at a fixed rate.

Reward ratio and card tiers: The reward rate depends on the card level, with 1 USD spent earning corresponding points, and 100 points equaling 1 USDT. The tier system upgrades via a “spending or VIP” dual-track, with five levels from T0 to T4.

| Card Level | Points per USD | Actual Reward Rate | Monthly Points Limit | Monthly Equivalent Reward | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | T0 | 1 point | 1.00% | 500 points | Up to 5 USDT | | T1 | 1 point | 1.00% | 5,000 points | Up to 50 USDT | | T2 | 2 points | 2.00% | 10,000 points | Up to 100 USDT | | T3 | 3 points | 3.00% | 15,000 points | Up to 150 USDT | | T4 | 5 points | 5.00% | 25,000 points | Up to 250 USDT |

Points redemption has a monthly cap, but this does not limit the total points accumulated. Users can continue earning points, but only within the redemption limit each month. Points are valid indefinitely and can be redeemed at any time. Manual redemption requires at least 50 points (0.5 USDT).

At a 1% fee rate, users at T2 and above can cover the fee costs with their rewards, achieving net gains.

Applications of Gate Card

Cross-border spending: Traditional bank cards often involve currency exchange, international fees, or regional payment restrictions. Gate Card simplifies these steps by allowing direct payment with USDT and automatic conversion and settlement.

Online subscriptions and digital services: Virtual cards can be linked to Apple Pay and Google Pay, suitable for various online subscriptions, digital content purchases, and cross-border e-commerce.

Daily offline spending: Physical cards support chip-and-PIN and contactless payments, usable at over 150 million Visa merchants worldwide, including supermarkets, restaurants, and convenience stores.

ATM withdrawals: Physical cards enable cash withdrawals at supported ATMs globally, meeting travel or cash needs.

Conclusion

Stablecoin payments are moving from industry frontiers toward mainstream consumption. The monthly volume of digital asset card payments has reached $7.8 billion, with Visa accelerating infrastructure development for stablecoin-linked cards worldwide. Gate Card offers a direct and clear path in this trend: connecting users’ USDT and other digital assets to over 150 million merchants via the Visa network.

From instant virtual card activation to full-scenario coverage with physical cards, from a 0.90% exchange fee to up to 5% cashback rewards, every aspect of Gate Card’s product design revolves around a core goal—making digital assets truly usable. When USDT is no longer just a balance on the chain but a daily tool for payments, withdrawals, and rewards, the value of digital assets extends from trading to everyday life.