Mastercard partners with crypto firms to launch crypto-linked payment cards in Asia Pacific

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) teams up with cryptocurrency service providers in Asia Pacific to launch the region's first crypto-linked payment cards, the company says in a release. Shares of MA rise slightly by 0.4% intra-day. Consumers and businesses in the Asia Pacific region will be able to apply for crypto-linked Mastercard (MA) credit, debit or pre-paid cards that will let them to convert crypto into traditional fiat currency. The partners that are joining Mastercard's (MA) Crypto Card Program include Amber Group, Bitkub in Thailand and CoinJar in Australia, all of which offer crypto purchase and exchange services. Towards the end of October, Bakkt (NYSE:BKKT) extends Mastercard's (MA) ecosystem of crypto partners.