Edinburgh-based Zumo has launched a virtual debit card that allows users to spend cryptocurrencies like traditional money with any online retailer that accepts Visa.
The Zumo Virtual Card is the result of a partnership between the Scottish crypto wallet, launched in June of last year by Nick Jones and Paul Roach, and digital payments platform Modulr. Modulr is providing the underlying payments infrastructure that will allow UK users to make purchases.
The Zumo app converts Bitcoin or Ether to pounds sterling – or vice-versa – while the virtual Visa card lets UK clients spend their pounds. There are plans to follow up the virtual system with a physical contactless debit card later this year.
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Mr Jones said the card bridges the “old world of traditional money with the new world of smart money”. He added that the familiarity of a debit card should help introduce new people to cryptocurrencies.
“The launch of our virtual card will help to make people get comfortable with crypto,” he said. “Our customers can now easily buy, hold and exchange cryptocurrency in the Zumo app, whilst spending cash using a Visa debit card.”
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