Cryptocurrency exchange Bybit has announced the integration of its payment service, Bybit Pay, with the Mastercard Crypto Credential network. This partnership, announced on March 12, 2026, is designed to simplify and secure digital asset transfers by allowing users to send and receive cryptocurrency using easy-to-remember aliases like email addresses or phone numbers, instead of complex wallet addresses.
The integration introduces a crucial layer of pre-transaction verification. Before any transfer is executed, the system confirms that the recipient is enrolled in the Mastercard Crypto Credential network, has been verified under Mastercard's compliance standards, and uses a wallet compatible with the selected asset and blockchain. If any incompatibility is detected, the transaction is blocked before funds leave the sender's wallet, significantly reducing the risk of errors or misdirected funds.
Key features of the integration include alias-based transfers, pre-transaction verification, multi-chain interoperability across supported blockchains, and built-in safeguards. Sophie Chen, Head of Marketing at Bybit Card and Bybit Pay, emphasized the goal of removing technical barriers: "Crypto should be as easy to use as any other form of payment in our daily lives... Now, sending crypto is as simple as texting a friend."
Raj Dhamodharan, Executive Vice President of Blockchain & Digital Assets at Mastercard, stated, "Mastercard is building the connective tissue that makes digital assets usable and trusted at scale. Bringing Bybit into the Mastercard Crypto Credential network expands that foundation, enabling more people to benefit from a consistent, secure way to interact across platforms."
For users, getting started involves activating Bybit Pay through the Bybit app, creating a Mastercard Crypto Credential username, and selecting supported blockchain networks. The partnership also strengthens Mastercard's expanding Crypto Partner Program, which now includes over 85 digital asset companies collaborating on standardized blockchain payment infrastructure. As the world's second-largest crypto exchange by trading volume, serving over 80 million users, Bybit's participation is expected to significantly expand the reach of this simplified payment system.
