18 Nov
18Nov

Mastercard (MA) and Polygon have announced a collaboration to implement the Mastercard Crypto Credential standard, which allows users to send cryptocurrency to verified, human-readable usernames instead of relying on long, complex wallet addresses.

The Mechanism and Goal

The system aims to make crypto transfers more intuitive and trustworthy, mimicking the user experience of sending money via traditional apps that use aliases.

  • Verification and Alias: Crypto payment API firm Mercuryo will handle the identity verification and issue these unique aliases, which users then link to their self-custody wallets.
  • Verified Transfers: Users can request a specific token on the Polygon network. This token signifies that their wallet supports verified transfers and helps applications properly route transactions based on the credential/alias.
  • Barrier Reduction: Mastercard's Executive Vice President of Blockchain & Digital Assets, Raj Dhamodharan, stated that by "streamlining wallet addresses and adding meaningful verification," the system helps build trust and makes digital assets more accessible.

Polygon's Role

Polygon was chosen to process these credential-based transfers, utilizing its network to ensure the transactions are executed with speed, low fees, and high throughput, supporting real-world payment volumes at scale.

This initiative is seen as a significant step in addressing one of the core barriers to entry for new crypto users—the complexity and risk associated with manually entering wallet addresses.


The specific launch detailed in your article—the expansion to self-custody wallets using Polygon and Mercuryo to create verified, username-style aliases—was announced today, Tuesday, November 18, 2025.

The news release does not appear to provide a specific date for when the service will be broadly available to all self-custody wallet users, but states that the current announcement marks the launch and expansion to this new use case.

Here is a summary of the launch status:

  • Initial Concept Launch: April 2023.
  • First Live P2P Pilot (Exchanges): June 2024 (LatAm/Europe corridors).
  • Latest Expansion Announcement (Self-Custody Wallets on Polygon): Tuesday, November 18, 2025 (Today).

The service is currently being rolled out to a select group of crypto wallet users on a first-come, first-serve basis, with wider availability across participating exchanges expected over the "coming months."

November 2025, Cryptoniteuae

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