Bitget Wallet has increased its QR payment capability throughout the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region to allow self-custodial crypto payments for the millions of consumers in these regions that are familiar with using technology. Consumers can now scan codes of supported merchants, and pay directly with stablecoins from their non-custodial wallets. They are no longer forced to off-ramp to fiat, and customers can complete the transaction without relying on credit cards or bank accounts.
How Self-Custodial Crypto Payments Work?
Self-custodial crypto payments functionality leverages Bitget Wallet’s Onchain Payments Matrix to create a unified payment system among blockchains, wallets, banks, and local payment rails, using blockchain technology to seamlessly connect each element to provide customers with a fast and easy payment experience. When a customer’s wallet scans a QR code, the wallet will deduct the equivalent value in USDT or USDC (from over 10 supported blockchains) to complete the transaction, using local payment networks for final settlement. Merchants will receive payments in their local currency, while the customer will retain full control over their private keys during the process.
The rollout targets one of the world’s most QR‑centric regions. According to Worldpay:
- Digital wallets accounted for 59% of the total APAC point-of-sale transaction value in 2024
- More than 60% of the world’s total QR code payment volume in 2025.
- Global QR code payment volume is estimated to rise from USD 5.4 trillion in 2025, to over USD 8 trillion by 2029, with the Asia-Pacific region expected to continue to lead the way in adoption.
Why This Transforms Crypto Usability
Self-custodial crypto payments have typically been a challenge due to users needing to convert their crypto into fiat currency at some point before spending it. Now, through directly integrating into established QR payment infrastructure, Bitget has removed those barriers so that users can now use their own crypto to pay for food, groceries, transport, and travel (domestically and internationally) without losing custody of access to their own funds or incurring any currency exchange costs/conversion fees.
Bitget Wallet will also be introducing QR code payment rewards, where users will have the opportunity to receive random token rewards for making purchases using the Bitget wallet through QR code payments, in addition to expanding from only supporting stablecoins to over 1000 tokens. This reward program and token support will be launching alongside the APAC expansion.
