EMCD, an ecosystem rooted in one of the world’s largest mining pools, is poised for significant expansion. The latest product release, the EMCD Payment Card, addresses one of the most persistent gaps in cryptocurrencies: the ability to easily use digital assets for everyday expenses. The new card allows users to turn virtual currency into physical purchases within minutes online, in-store, or through Apple Pay or Google Pay.
BeInCrypto had the opportunity to speak with EMCD’s Regional Head of Partnerships, Abderrahman Ghiadi, during Blockchain Life 2025 to discuss how the company has transitioned from a mining pool to a complete cryptocurrency ecosystem for both miners and regular cryptocurrency users.
From mining pool to closed loop ecosystem
EMCD started as a mining pool, but has gradually expanded its product lineup to include Wallet, Coinhold, OnLock, and now Payment Cards. According to Ghiadi, each product reflected the current needs of users. “We have gradually expanded our ecosystem by adding new tools to meet the needs of our users. We now know that the future cryptocurrency ecosystem has to be a closed-loop one. Users should be able to earn rewards based on their income, manage their cryptocurrency, grow it, and spend it within one space. And this is the type of ecosystem we are trying to create,” he said.
This vision of a seamless ecosystem ultimately led to the creation of the EMCD payment card. This allows users to spend their cryptocurrencies anywhere Mastercard is accepted. Once an EMCD account is set up, users simply load USDT to a payment card directly from their EMCD wallet and pay with that card within minutes after passing KYC in-store, online, or through the mobile app.
Read the full interview with EMCD’s Abdurrahman Ghiadi at Blockchain Life 2025 here.
A place where mining power and everyday convenience come together
With miners becoming the core of the ecosystem’s user base, EMCD plans to reshape the way miners and long-term crypto holders handle their assets. Rather than treating rewards as storage, payment cards allow users to transform payments into accessible payment tools for their everyday needs.
The change also challenges long-standing HODL thinking, which made sense five to 10 years ago when it seemed nearly impossible to spend cryptocurrencies mined in grocery stores and restaurants, Geary said.
“We are already seeing people using our EMCD payment cards to book airline tickets and pay for groceries. This is bridging the world of mining and real spending,” Geardi told BeInCrypto.
At the end of our conversation, I asked Ghiadi to outline EMCD’s plans for the next 18 months. He said the company is focused on behavioral change rather than transaction numbers. The aim is to make the EMCD payment card one of the default spending tools not only for miners but also for all types of cryptocurrency users around the world, seamlessly connecting digital rewards with everyday life.
This plan is consistent with what he has observed from user feedback.
“What surprised us the most was the fact that miners didn’t just want quick withdrawals, they wanted a sense of normalcy and ease of access to their funds. What we’re hearing from the feedback is that people are looking for an easy way to spend their crypto. So you need a good UX and UI, and the experience needs to be intuitive. And this is exactly what we’re offering,” he asserted.
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