DCS, Visa Launch Hybrid Fiat/Crypto Card in Singapore

DCS Card Centre, a financial institution with a history in cashless payments, and Visa have collaborated to introduce the DeCard Visa card, a new regulated micro credit card that merges traditional finance with digital assets, launched on Thursday and available on the Apple Store and Google Play.

DCS said that the card is designed to give users greater control over their spending, aligning with a "spend-what-you-have" model. This approach aims to provide an alternative to traditional credit cards, by enabling users to access the value of their existing assets.

The DeCard Visa card allows users to fund their accounts with Singapore dollars (SGD) and also provides the option to utilize digital assets like USDT and USDC. This convergence is facilitated through partnerships with Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)-licensed Digital Payment Token (DPT) service providers, which handle the conversion of these digital assets into fiat currency.

Other benefits include competitive single conversion costs from digital assets to SGD, eliminating additional FX fees for local spending, and potential savings of over 50% on FX transaction fees compared to typical industry rates. The card also has no annual fees, and ATM withdrawal fees are capped at SGD5 or 1% (whichever is lower). Cardholders can make cash withdrawals at ATMs worldwide, except in Singapore, and have the flexibility to fund their card via SGD transfers or select digital assets through licensed partners, with high flexible spending and top-up limits.

The company cited growing adoption of digital assets in Sngapore, with ownership rising to 26% of residents in 2024 (from 24.4% the previous year). Notably, over half of these owners have used digital assets for payments, and 67% plan to increase their usage, it said, citing a study by Singapore-based crypto payment firm Triple-A. Concurrently, contactless credit, debit, and prepaid cards remain a preferred payment method in Singapore (34%), and the prepaid segment is projected to exceed US$13 billion by 2028. This reflects a consumer trend towards accessible and controlled spending solutions, DCS said.

“By enabling top-ups through fiat or digital assets, we’re allowing both mainstream and Web3-savvy users to manage their money on their own terms — all within Singapore’s trusted regulatory framework. Our partnership with Visa strengthens this commitment by combining global acceptance with secure, compliant innovation,” Elsa Qiu, Chief Commercial Officer at DCS Card Centre, said.