Share this article
Mastercard Adds a Crypto Track to Its Incubator Program
The program may rival Visa’s Fast Track initiative for crypto startups.
Updated May 9, 2023, 3:22 a.m. Published Jul 27, 2021, 2:37 p.m.
Make us preferred on Google
Global payments giant Mastercard is adding a cryptocurrency and blockchain track to its Start Path incubator program for later-stage startups.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
Mastercard offers up experts and technology partnerships with other financial services firms in the program in exchange for adding more innovative companies to its client roster.
Mastercard rival Visa has a similar program called Fast Track that has catered to a number of crypto startups looking to work with Visa and issue debit or credit cards.
Read more: Visa Crypto Cards Have Racked Up $1B in Spending in 2021
As part of Mastercard’s new track, seven digital asset startups have joined: crypto custody platform GK8, non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace Mintable, crypto investing firm Domain Money, blockchain oracle company SupraOracles, digital assets firm Taurus, blockchain infrastructure company STACS and digital finance platform Uphold.
“Mastercard has been engaging with the digital currency ecosystem since 2015,” Jess Turner, Mastercard’s executive vice president of fintech, said in a press release. “Part of our role is to forge the future of cryptocurrency, and we’re doing that by bridging mainstream financial principles with digital assets innovations.”
Last week, Mastercard announced a pilot with stablecoin issuer Circle to settle transactions in USDC.
More For You
KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.
What to know:
- KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
- This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
- Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
- Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
- Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.
More For You
Millions in crypto wealth at risk of vanishing when holders die. Here's how to protect it
Without proper planning, inherited crypto can easily be lost to delays, missing keys or fiduciaries unfamiliar with the asset class, experts warn.
What to know:
- Crypto holders can take a few steps to prevent their assets from disappearing forever when they pass away.
- Without proper planning, inherited crypto can easily be lost to probate delays, missing private keys, or fiduciaries unfamiliar with the asset class.
- Even with improved regulatory clarity, crypto adds complexity beyond what many in the advisory space are accustomed to.
Top Stories
