Mastercard Picks Polygon to Bring Verified Usernames to Self-Custody Wallets

Why It Matters

By adding verified usernames to self‑custody wallets, Mastercard reduces friction and trust barriers in crypto transactions, potentially accelerating broader adoption of digital payments. The move also showcases how major payment networks are leveraging layer‑2 solutions to scale secure, user‑friendly blockchain services.

Summary

Mastercard announced a partnership with Polygon to launch its Crypto Credential system, enabling users to send crypto to verified, human‑readable usernames instead of long wallet addresses. Identity‑verification firm Mercuryo will issue these aliases and link them to self‑custody wallets, while Polygon will handle the on‑chain processing with high throughput and low fees. The solution aims to cut transfer errors, simplify crypto payments and make digital assets more approachable for mainstream consumers.