A Nigerian startup, Zerocard, is pioneering crypto adoption with a new debit card that lets users spend stablecoins like regular money in local shops and ATMs.
Zerocard, a Lagos-based startup, has launched what it calls the first crypto debit card built specifically for Africans. The card allows users to spend USDC stablecoins directly from their wallets in local currency (naira), making it easier to use crypto for everyday payments.
The card runs on Base, a blockchain network developed by Coinbase, while traditional financial partners like Sudo Africa and Safe Haven Microfinance Bank handle card issuance and naira transactions to stay compliant with local regulations.
Users first fund their wallet by buying Base USDC via trusted peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms such as Coinbase Wallet’s Onboard feature. The card can then be used at local POS terminals and ATMs, converting crypto into naira instantly. There’s a small fee for transactions, ₦5 for purchases under ₦10,000 and ₦12.5 plus ₦100 ATM charges for withdrawals.
Zerocard CEO Temidayo Folajin explained the process: the card debits USDC from the user’s wallet, holds it in a smart contract escrow, and then swaps it for naira to pay merchants, who receive payments just like from any regular debit card without handling crypto themselves.
While the card is still in beta and requires users to hold a small amount of Base ETH for transaction fees, Zerocard plans to fix this soon in the next release. The startup focuses on crypto-savvy users who want an easier way to spend their stablecoins without repeated conversions to naira.
Folajin said, “We’re not skipping steps. We’re working with legal partners to ensure everything is clean, end to end. Our goal is to reduce friction and speed up transactions to under four seconds.”
Sudo Africa’s Business Development Manager Kennisha Donatus added, “We don’t handle crypto. Zerocard manages that. We provide regulated card issuance, ensuring compliance with Nigeria’s financial laws.”
Zerocard’s crypto debit card offers a promising bridge between crypto and everyday payments in Nigeria. With over 25 million crypto users in the country, this solution could boost digital currency adoption, though it currently suits mainly crypto-native consumers.
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