The global crypto payments market is experiencing rapid growth, with projections indicating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.8% from 2025 to 2033, potentially reaching $2.4 billion. This surge is primarily fueled by increased acceptance among merchants and rising consumer demand for flexible spending options. Visa reported more than $1 billion spent on crypto-linked cards in just the first half of 2021, showcasing a significant rebound and expansion in global activity—a development that reflects the growing integration of digital assets into traditional payment infrastructures.
To respond to this burgeoning demand, the Aurum Foundation, a financial technology ecosystem, has entered into a partnership with Tangem. This collaboration aims to provide Aurum’s community with Tangem hardware wallets for self-custody, along with Tangem Pay—a virtual Visa card that enables users to spend their crypto assets wherever Visa is accepted. This new feature facilitates a seamless connection between users’ self-custodied digital assets and their everyday spending needs, eliminating the need for manual off-ramping through exchanges.
For those unfamiliar with the Tangem ecosystem, it encompasses two main products: the Tangem hardware wallet and Tangem Pay. The Tangem wallet, available in card and ring forms, serves as a secure storage solution for private keys, allowing users to manage their crypto safely. However, these wallets do not have payment features inherently. In contrast, Tangem Pay, accessible to users in eligible regions, is a virtual Visa card that links to the user’s self-custodied crypto holdings, permitting transactions at any merchant that accepts Visa, regardless of location or currency. The service is also compatible with popular payment systems such as Apple Pay and Google Pay for both online and contactless in-store transactions.
Aurum’s decision to collaborate with Tangem is rooted in the latter’s multi-card wallet design, which comes in sets of three cards. This feature offers built-in backup and key recovery options, a significant benefit not commonly found in competing hardware wallet solutions. Andrew Isaacs, COO at Aurum Foundation, commented on the industry’s shift, stating, “The crypto industry is gradually moving beyond the era of fancy utility showcase to tangible rollout of products that can make a difference.” He highlighted that the rollout of self-custody wallets with Tangem aligns with Aurum’s mission to provide accessible financial services to users, free from geographical restrictions.
In celebration of this launch, Aurum is distributing 1,000 co-branded Tangem wallet cards in a limited activation campaign. This initiative aims to enhance access to practical crypto payments and foster long-term engagement within its community.
The timing of the Aurum-Tangem collaboration is notable, coinciding with a significant rise in crypto payment infrastructure. According to Chainalysis’ 2025 Geography of Crypto Report, there was a marked increase in global crypto transaction volume, with regions like Asia-Pacific witnessing a 69% year-over-year surge in value received. Stablecoins, which accounted for over $27.6 trillion in transfer volume in 2024, are a primary driver of this growth. The tokenization of real-world assets also reached an on-chain value exceeding $20 billion by January 2026.
Regulatory advancements in key markets, including the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework and evolving U.S. stablecoin regulations, are making it easier for both crypto-native firms and traditional financial institutions to enter the crypto space. As more fintech companies venture into the crypto payments sector, partnerships like that of Aurum and Tangem foster a competitive environment, ultimately benefiting end-users as they gain access to innovative financial solutions.
