Powering the Pionex Card Program with StraitsX Card Issuance Infrastructure
Challenge
From trading to real-world usage
Pionex is a global cryptocurrency trading platform known for its built-in automated trading bots and user-centric design. As the platform expanded its B2C offering, Pionex identified an opportunity to extend its ecosystem beyond trading by enabling users to spend their digital assets more seamlessly through a card program.
Traditionally, launching a stablecoin-linked card program presents several hurdles; platforms must navigate fragmented issuing capabilities across markets, manage regulatory complexities, and reconcile fiat-native card rails with digital asset balances. As a result, many card solutions struggle to scale beyond a single jurisdiction or lack the infrastructure to support compliant cross-border issuance.
For Pionex, the challenge was launching a card program that could scale across regions, integrate with global card networks, and meet regulatory and operational requirements. Just as importantly, the solution needed to preserve a smooth end-to-end user experience, from onboarding to everyday usage, without adding operational complexity for the internal team.
StraitsX Approach
Powering card issuance with trusted infrastructure
StraitsX partnered with Pionex to provide the underlying stablecoin-backed card issuance infrastructure powering the Pionex Card program. This included card issuing capabilities, network connectivity, and the operational support required to launch and maintain a compliant card offering.
Unlike traditional card setups that rely on siloed fiat settlement and market-specific issuers, StraitsX combines licensed payment infrastructure with stablecoin settlement to streamline how funds move across card rails. This enables faster reconciliation, clearer fund flows, and a more scalable operating model across markets.
By leveraging StraitsX’s regulatory status and multi-country issuing capabilities, Pionex is able to kickstart its card program within a compliant framework while retaining flexibility to expand into additional regions easily; all while ensuring that regulatory and operational considerations were addressed as part of the infrastructure layer. Stablecoin settlement further ensured consistency between on-chain balances and card spend, reducing frictions between digital asset usage and real-world payments.This infrastructure-first approach allows the Pionex Card program to be embedded naturally into Pionex’s broader platform experience, supporting users as they move from trading to real-world spending.
At a high level, the Pionex Card program is powered by a stablecoin-backed settlement flow that connects on-chain balances directly to traditional card rails. User deposits are held within a dedicated StraitsX Cards settlement account, where funds are reconciled and transferred into the card network as needed. This architecture ensures a clear link between digital asset balances and card spending, while maintaining regulatory safeguards and predictable settlement flows:
Multi-form factor card experience
Beyond settlement infrastructure, StraitsX provides a production ready card experience across multiple form factors to support virtual cards, physical card issuance, and native wallet provisioning.
This currently includes compatibility with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and tokenization capabilities for common wearables that reduces onboarding friction. The result for end users is a flexible card experience that aligns with modern consumer expectations while remaining fully compliant with card network requirements.
The StraitsX advantage
Results and Benefits
30%
of conversion from card users to active traders
20%
increase in retention after card launch
Enabling everyday spend
With StraitsX’s card issuance infrastructure in place, Pionex launched its card program to enable users to spend digital assets in everyday payment scenarios. Stablecoin settlement ensures a more seamless link between digital asset balances and card usage.
Reducing operational complexity
An infrastructure-first approach reduces operational complexity typically associated with regulatory considerations and cross-border card issuance for the Pionex team. Pionex is now able to scale its card offering without managing multiple issuing relationships or fragmented settlement flows, and instead focus on product and user experience.
Supporting long-term platform growth
The card program is a core part of Pionex’s broader product ecosystem today. It supports Pionex’s ambition to deliver a more complete and accessible crypto experience across markets, features, and user segments.
"Partnering with StraitsX has allowed us to launch and scale our card program with confidence. StraitsX’s card issuance infrastructure and operational support enables us to focus on delivering a seamless experience for our users, all while ensuring a robust and compliance-aligned foundation behind the scenes.”
Future Outlook
Supporting ongoing growth and innovation
As Pionex continues to evolve its platform, the card program lays the groundwork for deeper integration between digital assets and everyday payments.. With StraitsX providing regulated, stablecoin-backed card issuance infrastructure, the partnership is well positioned to support geographic expansion, product enhancements, and increased transaction scale over time.
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