TrustLinq has launched a Swiss-regulated crypto-to-fiat payments platform that allows cryptocurrency holders to send fiat payments directly from their crypto balances to recipients worldwide in more than 70 local currencies. According to the company, the service operates under Swiss oversight, uses local payment rails for settlement, and is expected to add TrustLinq debit cards in Q1 2026.
A payment gap between crypto wealth and real-world spending
TrustLinq is targeting a clear mismatch in the market. The company says there are over 580 million cryptocurrency users globally, while less than 0.005% of businesses accept digital assets directly. That leaves many holders with an extra conversion step before they can cover rent, tuition, payroll, supplier invoices, or operating expenses. TrustLinq’s model is built to remove that friction by letting users initiate fiat payments from crypto holdings while recipients continue receiving standard fiat transfers.
Recipients keep their bank setup while users pay from crypto
The company presents its platform as different from traditional crypto payment processors, which generally require merchants to accept digital assets themselves. TrustLinq instead enables the payer to use crypto to fund a fiat payment to virtually any third party. One detail stands out: clients do not need a bank account to use the platform. Recipients, on the other hand, receive fiat through their existing banking infrastructure and do not need to open a wallet or change how they bank.
Use cases range from rent and tuition to payroll and vendor payouts
TrustLinq says the platform is designed for two main customer groups. For individuals, it supports payments such as rent, tuition, leisure spending, and international transfers. For businesses, it is pitched for vendor payments, cross-border payroll, and other operating costs. The company says the offer is likely to appeal to trading firms, affiliate networks, SaaS companies, and e-commerce businesses that already receive cryptocurrency as part of their operating revenue. In those cases, the issue is not access to crypto, but converting that value into everyday fiat outflows with fewer steps.
Swiss AML compliance and a non-custodial intermediary structure
TrustLinq describes itself as a Swiss-regulated financial intermediary connecting cryptocurrency with traditional banking rails. The company says it operates in line with Swiss AML requirements and supports payment execution through methods including SEPA, SWIFT, Faster Payments, and ACH. It also highlights a non-custodial intermediary model, stating that it does not hold client funds and instead focuses on compliance, security, and user control.
Chief Executive Officer Sharon Gal Franko said the next phase of payments depends on connecting crypto and fiat in a practical way. She pointed to the scale of global crypto ownership and said demand for compliant fiat utility is substantial. TrustLinq’s published roadmap includes debit card capabilities in Q1 2026, intended to widen payment options and let users fund purchases at traditional merchants with cryptocurrency-backed spending.