MoneyGram is launching a Visa-branded stablecoin debit card, following rival Western Union into the market for blockchain-based payments.
The MoneyGram Card will first appear as a virtual card in Colombia, usable with Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. The company plans to add a physical card option as it expands to more countries later this year.
Card Launch Timeline
| Milestone | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual card launch | First market | Colombia, usable with Apple Wallet or Google Wallet |
| Physical card | Planned | To arrive with expansion to additional markets later this year |
| Western Union Stablecard | Announced last month | Built with Rain, same infrastructure provider MoneyGram uses |
Partners and Rivals
MoneyGram is building the card with Rain, an infrastructure provider. Western Union used the same provider for its Stablecard, announced last month.
The two remittance companies are now both active in the crypto space. Western Union announced its card last month; MoneyGram’s announcement follows weeks later.
MoneyGram’s Crypto Push
The card is not MoneyGram’s first move into stablecoins. In June, the company launched its own MGUSD stablecoin on Stellar, the blockchain network.
That launch was part of a larger strategy. MoneyGram integrated MGUSD with its proprietary app through a self-custodial wallet, letting users hold their own funds rather than relying on a third party.
Last month, the company announced a link with a Solana wallet as it expanded its crypto ramps — the on- and off-ramps that let users convert between traditional money and digital assets.
Why Stablecoins Matter
Stablecoins are digital tokens designed to hold a steady value, usually pegged to a currency like the US dollar. They have become a key tool for sending money across borders.
The World Bank has flagged them as important for cutting the cost of remittances. Its September 2025 analysis of remittance trends found that debit cards are the cheapest way to receive money sent from abroad, at 3.61% of the transmitted amount.
That figure matters for a business like MoneyGram.
Virtual Launch
MoneyGram’s decision to launch as a virtual card is part of its announced plan. The company said the card will debut virtually in Colombia before a physical option arrives later this year.
Colombia is the first market for the card. The company has not detailed the rollout beyond that initial step.
What Users Get
For customers, the appeal is straightforward. A stablecoin debit card lets them hold funds in digital dollars and spend them through a standard card network.
The World Bank data points to the potential savings. At 3.61% of the transmitted amount, debit cards undercut many other receiving methods.
The Road Ahead
MoneyGram is not abandoning its traditional business. It is adding a crypto channel alongside it.
The company’s MGUSD stablecoin is already live on Stellar, and the Solana link adds another route for users to move money in and out of the system.
The card ties those pieces together. It gives stablecoin holders a way to spend their digital dollars in the real world.
The remittance wars are moving to the blockchain.
Source: cointelegraph.com
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