Mastercard, Polygon, and Mercuryo: Revolution in Crypto Transfers

Mastercard, in collaboration with Polygon Labs and Mercuryo, has announced a significant development in the world of digital payments: the extension of the Mastercard Crypto Credential program to self-custody wallets.

This initiative introduces a system of verified aliases, similar to usernames, which replace the traditional and complex wallet addresses, drastically simplifying the transfer of digital assets.

Polygon: the blockchain chosen by Mastercard

For this initial implementation, Mastercard has selected Polygon as the reference blockchain network. The choice was motivated by the speed, reliability, and payment-ready architecture that characterize Polygon.

Thanks to its Proof-of-Stake chain, Polygon ensures fast settlements, minimal transaction costs, and high throughput capacity, essential elements for supporting payments on a global scale.

The latest network updates, such as the Rio and Heimdall v2 releases, have further enhanced transaction finality, eliminated reorganization risks, and increased processing capacity.

Polygon already manages a significant share of stablecoin transfers in the United States and supports a growing ecosystem that includes neobanks, fintech, and payment service providers.

Mercuryo: the Key to Identity Verification

In this new system, Mercuryo plays a crucial role as the primary issuer of aliases. Mercuryo will be responsible for verifying user identities and issuing the Mastercard Crypto Credential aliases, which can be linked to self-custody wallets.

Users will also have the option to request a Mastercard Crypto Credential soulbound token on Polygon, indicating on-chain that the wallet belongs to a verified user and supports credential-based transactions.

Verified Aliases: Simplicity and Security for the User

The introduction of verified aliases marks a radical change in the user experience of self-custody wallets. Until now, sending or receiving digital assets required handling long hexadecimal strings, with the risk of errors and loss of funds.

Now, thanks to a unique and verified alias, recognized across the entire Mastercard Crypto Credential network, users will be able to conduct transactions easily and securely, with the same familiarity as traditional payment systems.

This innovation drastically reduces the risk of human error, increases trust in transactions, and finally makes the world of self-custody accessible even to those who are not experts in blockchain technology.

A Decisive Step Towards Mainstream Adoption

According to Marc Boiron, CEO of Polygon Labs, this partnership marks the moment when self-custody truly becomes simple: “We are demonstrating that blockchain networks can offer the scalability, speed, and reliability demanded by mainstream financial services.

The success of Web3 will come when blockchain becomes invisible, when the infrastructure simply works for billions of users.”

The shared vision of the partners is clear: to standardize blockchain address verification and bring the familiarity of traditional payment flows into the world of self-custody, breaking down the barriers that have so far limited mass adoption.

Mastercard: Trust and Accessibility for Cryptocurrencies

Raj Dhamodharan, Executive Vice President Blockchain & Digital Assets at Mastercard, emphasizes how the initiative builds trust in digital token transfers:

“By unifying wallet addresses and adding meaningful verification, Mastercard Crypto Credential makes digital assets more accessible and strengthens Mastercard’s commitment to providing secure, intuitive, and scalable blockchain experiences to consumers worldwide.”

Mercuryo: self-custody for everyone

Petr Kozyakov, Co-Founder and CEO of Mercuryo, also highlights the importance of collaboration: “We are proud to be the first partner of Mastercard to launch Crypto Credential on their network of non-custodial wallets.”

This collaboration provides a simplified way to send and receive digital assets, allowing users to maintain full sovereignty over their wallets. It is a significant step towards mass adoption.”

Towards a New Era of Digital Payments

The expansion of Mastercard Crypto Credential to self-custody wallets represents the convergence of payments, identity, and blockchain infrastructure.

As global financial institutions continue to build on-chain solutions, the combination of reliable verification frameworks and scalable networks like Polygon is defining the next generation of digital payments.

The Pioneers of Innovation

Mastercard

Present in over 200 countries, Mastercard is a global leader in digital payments, committed to making transactions secure, simple, and accessible. Through a network of partnerships and innovative technologies, Mastercard contributes to building a resilient and inclusive economy.

Polygon Labs

Polygon Labs develops the Polygon Proof-of-Stake network, one of the most advanced blockchains for payments and real-world assets.

With a reputation for low costs and high speed, Polygon supports a robust ecosystem and promotes the adoption of technologies such as zero-knowledge and cross-chain interoperability.

Mercuryo

Mercuryo stands out as a payment infrastructure platform in the digital token sector. Its innovative solutions connect the world of traditional finance, Web2, and Web3, collaborating with entities like Ledger, MetaMask, Trust Wallet, and Revolut to make digital payments increasingly integrated and accessible.

Self-Custody Goes Mainstream

The joint initiative by Mastercard, Polygon, and Mercuryo marks a turning point for the digital payments sector.

The introduction of verified aliases for self-custody wallets promises to break down technical barriers, enhancing security and ease of use. A decisive step towards a future where the autonomous management of digital assets will be accessible to everyone, supported by reliable infrastructures and shared standards.