Visa, USDT and a Swipe to the Future: Truther’s Zero-Custody Card Debuts in El Salvador

Truther, a rising force in crypto payments, is preparing to roll out a new kind of spending card in El Salvador on January 29 — and it might shift how everyday users interact with stablecoins. Built in partnership with Visa, the card lets people pay with USDT straight from their self-custody wallet, eliminating the usual headaches of preloading balances or trusting third-party custodians.

The card works like a traditional Visa card on the surface, but underneath, the mechanics are entirely crypto-native. Instead of holding cash on a centralized platform, Truther’s wallet automatically converts USDT at the moment of purchase. That means if a traveler pays a €30 hotel bill, the system instantly deducts the equivalent amount in USDT from their wallet. Brazilian users even get an extra perk: currency conversions carry a 2% fee, yet the transaction avoids the country’s IOF tax.

This approach is aimed at a growing crowd of crypto users — especially travelers — who want smooth, practical stablecoin spending without jumping through conversion hoops or leaving assets on centralized exchanges. Truther’s wallet currently runs on Polygon, with a migration to the privacy-focused Liquid network already in motion.

The Visa collaboration is the newest layer in Truther’s rapidly expanding infrastructure. The company already moves about $40 million in daily volume by linking USDT and other stablecoins to Brazil’s PIX instant payment system. Visa, meanwhile, has been experimenting with stablecoin payouts for creators and gig workers, making this partnership a logical next step.

Launching in El Salvador — one of the few countries where bitcoin is legal tender — gives Truther an ideal testing ground before the card becomes available globally.

But the expansion doesn’t stop there. Truther is extending its footprint beyond Brazil through Swapix, its API for real-time crypto-to-fiat conversions tied to local payment systems. Argentina is first on the list, followed by Mexico, Colombia, and even Russia. These regions were chosen for their reliable 24/7 payment rails and widespread QR-code usage, which Truther considers essential for seamless instant settlements.

The self-custody wallet already supports BTC, USDT, and Truther’s own Brazilian real-pegged stablecoin built on Liquid. Early 2025 will bring even more options, including tether gold and an Argentine peso-backed token. Wallet users can scan QR codes to spend crypto or receive stablecoins with zero network fees — no gas charges at all.

Truther is also in quiet discussions with traditional banks about embedding stablecoins into their platforms. While details remain under wraps, the company expects stablecoin payment volumes to triple within the next year as established financial institutions join the ecosystem.

With Visa backing the rails, stablecoins powering the engine, and self-custody at the core, Truther is shaping a future where spending crypto abroad might soon feel as natural as tapping a debit card.