Nigeria’s cryptocurrency market is moving beyond trading and digital savings as Bitget Wallet introduces a Visa-powered card that lets users spend stablecoins on everyday purchases.
Launched on November 3, the virtual card connects dollar-pegged digital assets with Visa’s global merchant network, offering Nigerians another option for online and international payments.
Issued through the Bitget Wallet app, the card supports Google Pay for online and contactless transactions. Instead of transferring stablecoins to an exchange, selling them and moving the proceeds into a bank account, users can pay directly from eligible balances.
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The platform converts the funds into the currency required by the merchant during payment. The card also features Assetback, a rewards programme offering up to 3% back on eligible purchases.
Rewards can be received in USDC, Bitcoin, gold, tokenised stocks or exchange-traded funds. Customers can therefore choose between a dollar-linked asset and exposure to other investments through routine spending. The maximum rate is subject to programme conditions, and some transactions may not qualify.
The launch builds on Nigeria’s appetite for digital assets, particularly stablecoins. Chainalysis data cited in local reporting shows the country received more than $92.1 billion in cryptocurrency value between July 2024 and June 2025, making it Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest crypto market.
An International Monetary Fund paper published in June estimated that Nigeria accounted for roughly 60% of regional stablecoin inflows since 2019. Dollar-linked tokens are used to hold value, transfer funds across borders and manage exposure to naira volatility.
Yet their usefulness often depends on converting them into local currency or accessing payment services. A card connected to an international network could make stablecoin balances more practical by linking digital holdings with familiar retail transactions.
Bitget Wallet is presenting the card as part of a broader financial service. It also offers US dollar and euro virtual accounts for receiving international bank transfers, with incoming funds converted into stablecoins in users’ self-custodial wallets.
A local transfer service lets customers convert stablecoins into naira for deposits into Nigerian bank accounts. The combination could appeal to freelancers, remote workers, online shoppers and people receiving payments from abroad.
However, convenience does not eliminate costs or risks. Users should check conversion and foreign-exchange charges, supported merchants and reward conditions. The Nigerian card is virtual, making access dependent on compatible devices and supported payment channels.
The timing is significant as Nigeria updates its digital-asset rules. The Investments and Securities Act 2025 brings digital assets within the Securities and Exchange Commission’s regulatory framework.
Proposed rules published in August address digital-asset operations, custody and markets. Their implementation will help determine the environment for providers and customers.
Bitget Wallet says it serves more than 100 million users globally. Its Nigerian launch campaign, running from November 3 to 13, offers eligible new users rewards of up to $20, with a separate bonus for qualifying Google Pay or Google Play spending.
The card reflects a shift in crypto competition: providers are trying not only to offer more tokens and trading features, but to make digital assets useful in daily life.
Its success in Nigeria will depend on transparent fees, reliable payment access and user confidence. If those conditions are met, stablecoins could become a payment option.