MEXC and ether.fi launched a co‑branded payment card that links non‑custodial on‑chain custody and DeFi yield to everyday spending. The product combines staking‑based rewards, cashback and promotional airdrops while requiring KYC and restricting service in some jurisdictions.
The MEXC card is built around a self‑custodial model: users retain control of their assets in non‑custodial wallets while transacting. That architecture is designed to reduce counterparty custody risk and let assets remain invested or staked even as they are used for merchant payments. In company materials the launch is described as putting “power in the hands of users,” a formulation that stresses custody and autonomy over balance sheet control.
The card also integrates with Apple Pay and Google Pay and runs on Visa rails, giving acceptance at over 150 million merchant locations worldwide. Availability is limited by regulatory and compliance filters: MEXC and ether.fi require KYC and have made the card available in a selection of more than 60 countries across Asia, Europe and South America while excluding markets where they cannot support the service.
Rewards, incentives and operational details
MEXC and ether.fi packaged multiple commercial incentives to accelerate adoption and retention.
The card routes staking and on‑chain yield so users can earn while maintaining spending access (materials cite staking yields up to 10% APY). While it has standard cashback of up to 4% on purchases; a promotional campaign running Jan. 15–Feb. 15, 2026 offers elevated dining rewards of roughly 10%–15%.
The rollout emphasizes a balanced approach: broad consumer utility paired with identity verification and geographic restrictions to limit regulatory exposure. Company statements framed the product as an extension of MEXC’s broader push beyond exchange services into payments and consumer fintech.
“Puts power in the hands of users,” the product announcement said, encapsulating the card’s dual pitch of custody plus yield.
For investors and product teams, the immediate signals to watch are uptake during the Jan. 15–Feb. 15 promotional window, the rate at which staked assets remain available for payments, and any jurisdictional carve‑outs that affect addressable user counts.
Compliance teams should track KYC throughput and any regulatory feedback in the markets where the card is active; for users, the proposition centers on whether yield integration materially offsets costs and operational frictions when compared with traditional card products.
