LONDON — May 7, 2026
Executive Summary
SecondFi and Wirex have announced the launch of a new self-custodial payment card designed to enable users to spend cryptocurrency and fiat assets globally while maintaining full control of their funds. The initiative expands the existing collaboration between EMURGO and Wirex following the earlier launch of the Cardano Card at the Cardano Summit 2025. According to the companies, the new card has been developed in response to growing community demand for a spending solution that combines payment accessibility with true self-custody. Integrated directly into the SecondFi platform, the card enables users to spend assets from their own wallets anywhere Visa is accepted while accessing additional financial utilities such as trading, savings, yield generation, staking, borrowing services, crypto cashback, and ATM withdrawals. The companies stated that the launch is intended to support broader adoption of digital asset payments and provide more accessible financial infrastructure across global markets.
Announcement Overview
SecondFi, the self-custodial neofinance platform launched by EMURGO, has expanded its partnership with Wirex to introduce what the companies describe as SecondFi’s first self-custodial payment card. The card is designed to allow users to spend digital and traditional assets directly from their own wallets while retaining custody of their funds until the moment of transaction.
According to the announcement, the collaboration builds upon the initial Cardano Card launch that took place during the Cardano Summit 2025. That earlier product operated as a custodial solution with Wirex serving as the card issuer. Following the launch, the companies stated that members of the Cardano community expressed demand for a solution that would preserve the same payment functionality while removing the requirement to deposit funds with third-party custodians.
The newly announced SecondFi card is integrated directly into the SecondFi application, where users can manage spending, trading, earning, and savings activities from a single account environment. Wirex, acting as the card issuer and operating as a principal member of both Visa and Mastercard, provides the payment infrastructure supporting the card program.
Key Announcement Details
• Announcement Type: Partnership and Product Launch
• Companies Involved: SecondFi, Wirex, and EMURGO
• Product Introduced: Self-custodial payment card
• Core Functionality: Users retain custody of funds until transaction execution
• Card Acceptance Network: Visa-supported global merchant network
• Card Infrastructure Provider: Wirex
• Platform Integration: Native integration within the SecondFi app
• Supported Digital Assets: ADA, BTC, ETH, USDC, stablecoins, and additional digital assets
• Additional Financial Features: Crypto cashback, staking, yield, borrowing, savings, trading, and ATM withdrawals
• Primary User Benefit: Direct spending from self-custodial wallets without third-party fund deposits
• Target Market Focus: Global crypto-native and underbanked users
• Target Regions Mentioned: Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa
• Platform Positioning: Self-custodial neofinance platform
• Existing Wirex Reach: More than 7 million users across 130 countries
• Previous Collaboration Reference: Cardano Card launched during Cardano Summit 2025
• Consumer Adoption Focus: Simplified onboarding for users without prior crypto experience
• Payment Scope: Online, offline, and ATM transactions
• Global Finance Context Mentioned: Stablecoin circulation exceeding $300 billion and growing crypto payment adoption
• Official Website: SecondFi
• Infrastructure Partner Website: Wirex
Expansion of the Existing EMURGO and Wirex Collaboration
The announcement marks a continuation of the partnership between EMURGO and Wirex that initially focused on bringing Cardano ecosystem payment capabilities into broader commercial usage through the Cardano Card initiative.
According to the companies, the first phase of the collaboration demonstrated significant user adoption and represented a major expansion of Cardano-related payment infrastructure into digital commerce environments. The companies stated that subsequent community feedback emphasized the importance of self-custody and direct ownership of funds within payment experiences.
The newly announced self-custodial card has therefore been positioned as the next stage of the collaboration. Under the updated structure:
• Users maintain custody of assets until payment execution
• Funds are not required to be deposited with a third-party provider
• Payment functionality remains available anywhere Visa is accepted
• Digital and fiat asset support is integrated into a single financial application
• Additional decentralized finance utilities are incorporated within the platform
The companies stated that the launch also represents the transition from a single card-based product into a broader neofinance ecosystem operating under the SecondFi brand.
Self-Custodial Card Features and Payment Capabilities
According to the announcement, the self-custodial card enables users to spend both cryptocurrency and fiat assets globally while retaining ownership of wallet assets until transactions are initiated.
The companies stated that the card supports spending across:
• Physical retail merchants
• Online merchants
• Global Visa-supported payment locations
• ATM withdrawal infrastructure
Supported assets include:
• ADA
• BTC
• ETH
• USDC
• Stablecoins
• Hundreds of additional digital and traditional assets
The announcement further stated that users will be able to access several financial utilities directly through the SecondFi application, including:
• Crypto cashback rewards
• Low foreign exchange fees
• Global ATM withdrawal functionality
• Yield services
• Staking services
• Borrowing services
• Integrated savings features
• Trading functionality
According to the companies, these capabilities are intended to operate within a unified account structure that combines traditional payment usability with digital asset ownership and decentralized finance functionality.
Integration Within the SecondFi Platform
The companies stated that the self-custodial card is natively integrated into the broader SecondFi neofinance platform.
According to the announcement, the platform has been designed to consolidate multiple financial activities into a single application environment. These activities include:
• Asset spending
• Digital asset trading
• Savings management
• Yield generation
• Financial transfers
• Crypto-based financial utilities
The companies stated that the integration allows users to interact with both digital and fiat financial tools while remaining in control of their wallets and funds.
The announcement additionally noted that the platform has been designed for accessibility and broader adoption, including among users without prior cryptocurrency experience. According to the companies, the platform seeks to reduce technical barriers associated with Web3 onboarding and digital asset management.
Wirex Infrastructure and Global Payments Network
Wirex will provide the infrastructure powering the card program as part of the partnership.
According to the announcement, Wirex currently serves more than 7 million users across 130 countries and has processed more than $20 billion in transactions since 2014.
The company stated that its infrastructure includes:
• Card issuance capabilities
• Banking-as-a-Service APIs
• Global payment rails
• Consumer payment products
• Business payment infrastructure
Wirex additionally operates as a:
• Principal Visa member
• Principal Mastercard member
The companies stated that this infrastructure enables crypto and fiat spending across globally accepted merchant networks.
According to the announcement, Wirex also supports partners seeking to launch compliant card programs and payment solutions through its infrastructure platform.
Market Conditions and Global Financial Access
The companies stated that the launch comes during a period of expanding stablecoin usage and increased interest in borderless financial tools.
According to the announcement:
• Stablecoin circulation has surpassed $300 billion
• Approximately 1.4 billion people remain outside the formal financial system
• More than 820 million crypto wallets are currently active globally
• Approximately 31 million crypto wallets are already being used for daily payments
The companies stated that financial access challenges remain particularly relevant across:
• Southeast Asia
• Latin America
• Africa
According to the announcement, these markets continue to experience constraints related to:
• Access to stable currencies
• Traditional banking infrastructure
• Cross-border financial services
The companies stated that the launch is intended to provide additional financial accessibility options through blockchain-enabled payment infrastructure and self-custodial financial services.
Statements From Company Leadership
Phillip Pon, Chief Executive Officer of EMURGO, commented on the launch and the broader objectives of the SecondFi platform.
“We take stable currencies, financial access, and wealth creation for granted. Most of the world doesn’t have those things. SecondFi gives people a simple way to spend, move, and grow their assets while staying in full control. SecondFi puts you back in control of your money.”
Georgy Sokolov, Co-founder at Wirex, also commented on the collaboration and the infrastructure supporting the launch.
“We’re proud to power the infrastructure behind SecondFi’s first self-custodial card experience that makes digital assets seamlessly spendable in everyday life. As finance increasingly moves onchain, together, we’re bringing millions of users closer to a future where true ownership and real-world utility go hand in hand, built on over a decade of trust and innovation across Wirex’s product-suite.”
Designed for Broader Consumer Adoption
According to the companies, the SecondFi platform has been structured to support broader consumer onboarding and simplify interaction with blockchain-enabled financial services.
The announcement stated that users are not required to possess prior cryptocurrency knowledge in order to begin using the platform.
The companies stated that the platform has been designed to abstract technical complexities commonly associated with Web3 systems and digital asset management processes. Areas targeted for simplification include:
• Wallet management
• Digital asset spending
• Access to payment functionality
• Onboarding processes
• Integration of financial services into a single application
According to the announcement, the companies intend for the platform to support immediate onboarding and financial management access for global users seeking integrated digital finance capabilities.
Disclaimer and Risk Information
The announcement included disclosures stating that users should not interpret the release as legal, tax, financial, investment, or other professional advice.
According to the disclaimer:
• The release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicit investments
• No recommendation regarding financial products or investment strategies is being made
• Product availability may depend on jurisdiction, eligibility, onboarding, compliance, and partner approval requirements
• Features and services may change without notice
• Digital asset functionality remains subject to applicable laws, operational conditions, and platform limitations
The companies additionally stated that users should review all applicable disclosures, terms, risk information, and platform documentation before using the products or services referenced in the announcement.
About SecondFi
SecondFi is a self-custodial neofinance platform focused on enabling users to spend, trade, earn, and save digital assets while maintaining direct control over their funds.
According to the company, the platform combines multiple financial functions into a single application and account structure. The company stated that the platform has been designed to support onchain financial activity while preserving user ownership and control over wallet assets.
SecondFi describes its platform as focused on integrating spending functionality, financial management, and decentralized financial utilities within a unified user experience.
About EMURGO
EMURGO is a co-founding entity of the Cardano blockchain ecosystem focused on the commercial adoption of blockchain technology and asset tokenization.
According to the company, EMURGO operates through strategic investments, infrastructure development initiatives, and commercial partnerships intended to connect traditional financial systems with Web3 technologies.
The company stated that its activities include support for:
• Blockchain adoption initiatives
• Asset tokenization infrastructure
• Strategic ecosystem partnerships
• Real-world asset tokenization efforts
• Web3 commercial integration
About Wirex
Wirex is a global payments platform serving both consumers and businesses through payment cards, banking infrastructure, card issuance capabilities, and payment processing services.
According to the company, Wirex provides:
• Consumer payment cards
• Banking features for everyday spending
• Business infrastructure solutions
• Card issuance services
• Banking-as-a-Service APIs
• Global payment rails
The company stated that it has served more than 7 million users across 130 countries since 2014 and processed over $20 billion in transaction volume.
As a principal Visa and Mastercard member, Wirex stated that it enables digital asset spending through globally accepted payment infrastructure.
Media Contact
For additional information, visit wirexapp.com.
Source Attribution
Source: Company announcement
