Bitget Turns Crypto Wallet Into Payment-Centric Finance App

Cryptocurrency exchange Bitget said in a Thursday (Jan. 29) press release that its wallet is now an “everyday finance app,” as it updated its interface to make payments the focal point.

“The move follows the wallet surpassing 90 million users globally, highlighting the need to support more frequent, real-world financial activity at scale,” the release said. “It reflects a broader transition as crypto wallets move beyond investment-led use cases into daily financial accounts for spending, sending, saving and money management. The shift comes as blockchain-based platforms increasingly challenge traditional banking apps with faster settlement, lower costs and borderless access.”

The new hub combines crypto cards, QR payments, bank transfers and in-app shopping into a front-facing flow, according to the release. This makes Bitget Wallet among the few self-custodial platforms to support all major crypto payment methods in one place.

Users can spend crypto globally using cards accepted across Mastercard and Visa networks, pay locally by scanning QR codes, or transfer stablecoins to bank accounts where supported, the release added.

Bitget Wallet Chief Marketing Officer Jamie Elkaleh said in the release that the shift is a response to the growing demand for on-chain finance, which aligns more closely with the way money functions in a digital economy.

“Blockchain removes many of the frictions in traditional finance, including slow settlement, opaque fees and geographic limits,” he said in the release. “As stablecoins and self-custodial wallets are increasingly used for everyday needs, our focus is making that experience intuitive, allowing people to save, send and spend money globally in real time. By centering payments and designing the app around simplicity, we’re turning the wallet into a daily crypto account that works like modern banking, but on-chain.”

PYMNTS took a closer look at blockchain’s increasing role in mainstream finance this week via a conversation between PYMNTS CEO Karen Webster and Ryan Rugg, global head of digital assets for Citi Treasury and Trade Solutions, during an episode of the “From the Block” podcast.

Asked by Webster whether the normalization suggests growth in exposure or simply wider participation at modest levels, Rugg opted for the latter.

“It’s not just the hoodies anymore,” she said. “The suits and ties have arrived.”

For all PYMNTS digital transformation coverage, subscribe to the daily Digital Transformation Newsletter.