365Crypto
Mastercard wants crypto wallets to stop feeling like a memory test. The company is rolling out simple username-style aliases so users don’t deal with long scrambled wallet strings anymore. Polygon powers the onchain side, while Mercuryo checks IDs and issues the verified names.
The new system works like sending money to a friend without copying a messy address. Users verify with Mercuryo, link a readable alias, or request a soulbound token on Polygon that proves the wallet belongs to a real person. The process keeps control in the user’s hands while adding a layer of trust.
Mastercard says the goal is to cut mistakes from copying long hexadecimal addresses. The company wants crypto payments to feel closer to traditional rails. Polygon Labs’ CEO even joked that this is the moment self-custody becomes “finally normal.”
The initiative fits Mastercard’s bigger crypto push. It already launched debit cards with Kraken, teamed up with MetaMask on a self-custody card, and even partnered with Chainlink so cardholders can buy crypto directly onchain through several Web3 partners. ZeroHash provides liquidity, while the whole flow is designed to feel familiar to mainstream users.
Footing:
Hexadecimal address: a long wallet code in base-16 characters.
Soulbound token: a non-transferable token tied to one identity.
Onchain liquidity: crypto available for direct swaps on a blockchain.
