Singapore credit card issuer DCS Card Centre and global payments company Visa have jointly launched the DeCard Visa card – a regulated micro credit card with a flexible and high limit, allowing users to top up via fiat or, alternatively, with digital assets.

The card, designed to empower individuals to spend only what they already own, without taking on unnecessary financial risk, the companies say, is a next-generation card that “delivers flexibility, control and transparency across both traditional and digital funding sources, all within a seamless and secure experience”.

In 2024, 26% of Singapore residents owned digital assets – up from 24.4% the year before – with over half having used them for payments and 67% planning to increase usage. At the same time, contactless credit, debit and prepaid cards remain the most preferred payment method among Singaporeans at 34%, with the prepaid segment projected to reach over US$13 billion by 2028 – reflecting a strong consumer shift towards accessible, controlled spending options.

The card addresses both trends by offering a spend-what-you-have-model that helps users unlock their fiat or digital assets for everyday use without the burden of overspending. It provides an accessible and frictionless way for users to tap into existing value — without promoting new digital asset adoption.

Unlike traditional credit or debit cards, the card operates on a top-up model, where users fund the card through Singapore dollar transfers, with the option of using digital assets for those already active in the Web3 community. 

DeCard Visa card allows these Web3 users to seamlessly convert USDT and USDC into fiat currency for local and global spending through Monetary Authority of Singapore ( MAS )-licensed digital payment token service providers.

These partners handle all token-to-fiat conversions in full alignment with Singapore’s Payment Services Act for digital assets. Leveraging on Visa’s extensive merchant network, DeCard holders can spend digital assets at over 150 million merchant locations worldwide.

The process, the companies note, ensures secure, transparent transactions while adhering to local licensing standards and the MAS guidelines on responsible innovation, operating within Singapore's financial framework.

“By enabling top-ups through fiat or digital assets, we’re allowing both mainstream and Web3-savvy users to manage their money on their own terms — all within Singapore’s trusted regulatory framework,” says Elsa Qiu, DCS Card Centre’s CCO. “Our partnership with Visa strengthens this commitment by combining global acceptance with secure, compliant innovation.”