KuCoin launches KuCard in Australia for USDC Mastercard payments

KuCoin launched KuCard in Australia, offering eligible users a Mastercard-branded card that lets them spend USDC and other supported cryptocurrencies. Eligible crypto balances are converted to fiat at checkout and the card can be added to Google Pay. Merchants that accept Mastercard receive payment settled in fiat through Mastercard’s network.

The card links supported crypto balances to Mastercard’s global acceptance and settlement channels. At the point of sale, the selected digital asset is converted into Australian dollars and settlement proceeds through Mastercard’s payment rails. KuCoin enabled real-time USDC payments at launch and offered 37 USDC trading pairs when the card rolled out. Users can pay directly from supported balances without a separate manual conversion step.

KuCoin expanded its local presence in November 2025, appointing James Pinch as managing director for Australia, opening an office in Sydney’s central business district, increasing investment in compliance, operations, cybersecurity and product development, and registering as a Digital Currency Exchange with AUSTRAC. The AUSTRAC registration permits regulated exchange services in Australia and improves local fiat access.

KuCoin’s reporting says 33% of Australians invest in or hold cryptocurrency. The Reserve Bank of Australia’s 2025 Consumer Payments Survey found about 2% of respondents had used cryptocurrency to make a payment in the previous year. KuCoin’s survey data shows bank transfers were the most common funding method at 52.4%, with credit and debit cards used by 40.1% of respondents.

KuCard can be added to Google Pay so users can make contactless and mobile wallet payments from supported balances. Transactions route through Mastercard’s existing acceptance and settlement channels, with conversion to fiat occurring at checkout.