MoneyGram Launches Stellar-Based Virtual Visa Card for Stablecoin Payments

MoneyGram, one of the world’s largest money transfer operators, has unveiled the MoneyGram Card. The virtual Visa card allows users to store funds in digital dollars (stablecoins) and spend them at traditional retail stores, gas stations, and online services. Colombia is the first country where the service has launched, with plans to expand to other regions across Latin America and globally.

USDC, native MGUSD token, and cash withdrawals

The card is issued digitally through the official MoneyGram mobile app and can be added instantly to Apple Pay and Google Wallet for contactless payments. Balances can be spent anywhere Visa is accepted, with digital dollar amounts automatically converting into local currency at current exchange rates at the moment of payment.

Initially, card balances are backed by Circle’s USDC stablecoin. MoneyGram plans to later integrate its native dollar-backed token, MGUSD, which the company launched in June on the Stellar blockchain.

According to CoinDesk, the service retains a key advantage of MoneyGram’s physical network: users can send funds from the card to themselves and pick up paper cash at any partner location without opening a traditional bank account.

Tech stack and physical cards coming by year-end

Specialized fintech providers power the payment gateway:

• The decentralized Stellar network handles instant settlements and transaction clearing with minimal fees;
• Crossmint infrastructure creates smart wallets directly inside the user’s profile without requiring manual saving of private keys;
• The Rain platform performs processing and issuance of the Visa cards themselves.

According to a statement from the Stellar Development Foundation, the product is initially available only in a virtual format. Physical plastic card issuance is scheduled for late 2026, enabling direct currency withdrawals at ATMs.

For the global market, this marks a significant step toward mainstream Web3 adoption: a company with more than 60 million active customers across 200 countries has packaged crypto payments into a familiar payment card format, making digital dollar usage simple and accessible for everyday consumers.