Nov. 6 — Tangem has unveiled Tangem Pay, a new system that allows users to spend USDC directly from self-custodied wallets using a virtual Visa card, while keeping full onchain control of their funds.
According to the company’s announcement, the rollout will begin in late November across the United States, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific, with the EU and UK to follow in early 2026.
How Tangem Pay Works
Tangem Pay functions as a non-custodial payment layer built into the Tangem Wallet app. Users can fund their payment balance with USDC on the Polygon network and spend both online and in-store through Apple Pay, Google Pay, or the virtual Visa card, without needing to pre-convert crypto into fiat.
Funds stay fully onchain until the moment of purchase, when they are converted 1:1 to USD via Visa’s payment rails.
Security relies on a dual-key model — one key controlled by the user, and one by the issuing partner Rain, which can only co-sign card authorization requests, not move funds independently.
Privacy and Fees
Tangem confirmed that KYC applies only to Tangem Pay, not the main wallet, meaning user privacy remains unaffected. There are no monthly or transaction fees, aside from Polygon gas costs and Visa’s standard FX rates for international payments.
Future Plans
Tangem’s initial rollout will include markets such as Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, South Africa, and the UAE, with a physical card version to follow. Expansion into Europe is planned for early 2026, aligning with MiCA regulatory requirements.
The company described Tangem Pay as a bridge between crypto self-custody and everyday finance, combining onchain autonomy with global spending convenience.
