At the Blockchain Futurist Conference 2025 in Miami, Dr. Guneet Kaur, Senior Editor at CCN, engaged in a dialogue with Marcos Nunes, CEO of Tangem Pay, shedding light on the promising landscape of blockchain payments. Tangem Pay aims to merge traditional finance with cryptocurrency through its integration with Visa, setting the stage for digital assets to achieve mainstream acceptance.
As the industry witnesses a shift towards everyday usability of digital assets, Tangem Pay has positioned itself at the crossroads of hardware wallet technology and financial infrastructure. Known for its Swiss-engineered hardware wallets, Tangem Pay is now venturing into payment solutions intended to make crypto transactions as effortless as card payments.
Nunes explained that Tangem’s journey evolved from a provider of secure storage to a more comprehensive financial ecosystem. He articulated the company’s vision of harmonizing security, scalability, and usability, thus bridging on-chain assets and conventional finance systems. Highlighting a strategic focus on global adoption, he emphasized the importance of trust, accessibility, and a readiness to navigate regulatory landscapes.
In addressing the integration with Visa, Nunes noted that Tangem was not looking to revolutionize the wheel but rather streamline the existing processes. He remarked on the compatibility of blockchain technology with traditional payment systems, stating that after years working in the payments sector, he perceives more commonalities than discrepancies between the two domains. His approach integrates blockchain tools into established networks, thereby transcending barriers while ensuring traceable transactions among known users and merchants.
Tangem Pay’s unique selling point lies in its non-custodial payment account, embedded in every Tangem Wallet. This feature empowers users to securely hold and manage their crypto assets while enabling seamless spending. The planned rollout begins this month, initially supporting USDC, along with a Visa virtual card operational online. This model avoids centralized exchange custody and the complexities traditionally associated with cryptocurrency transactions.
Nunes shared that Tangem’s metamorphosis from a hardware wallet company to a full-fledged financial ecosystem is triggered by a fundamental belief: that secure storage must link to practical usability. He visualized Tangem’s growth as parallel to the evolution of the Swiss banking system, which has transformed over centuries.
He stated, “Just as banks transitioned from asset safekeeping to wealth facilitation, Tangem is following a comparable trajectory.” This ambition to serve the everyday user was underscored by his remark that the new Visa-enabled card aims to render crypto spending as familiar and straightforward as traditional banking. Users would experience instant conversions of fiat deposits into USDC at a 1:1 ratio, making the interface intuitive.
Currently focused on USDC, Nunes revealed plans to introduce multi-currency functionality as users familiarize themselves with the service. The overarching vision targets a broad audience, seeking to reach billions rather than just a niche market.
Security and convenience were recurrent themes throughout the conversation. Nunes reiterated that users can confidently store a majority of their wealth while being able to access small amounts for daily transactions with minimal friction. Emphasizing simplicity, he assured that every action within the Tangem ecosystem should be just a click away.
Focusing on cross-border payments, Nunes highlighted Tangem Pay’s potential to reduce the high costs associated with remittances. Using Tanzania as a case study, he explained how digital assets could alleviate liquidity challenges faced by smaller markets, transforming remittances into an on-chain experience.
Security remains a cornerstone of Tangem’s philosophy, with Nunes attributing the company’s robust defenses to its expert technical team, led by Andrey Kurennykh, a well-respected figure in security. He asserted that hardware wallets stand as one of the most reliable protections in the crypto space.
Looking ahead, Tangem aims for a significant expansion in its user base, targeting to grow from 350,000 monthly active users to 10 million by 2026. This goal hinges on scaling the platform while ensuring adherence to regulatory frameworks across various jurisdictions.
Tangem’s executive conveyed an optimistic vision, celebrating the fusion of security, convenience, and potential global outreach as fundamental to the future of blockchain payments.
