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Lithic and Monavate Partner to Streamline Fiat and Digital Asset Card Issuing

By Lauren Towner · 13 August 2026

In brief: Lithic and Monavate have partnered to provide a unified card issuing stack, allowing fintechs to launch fiat and digital asset card programs through a single integration and regulatory relationship.

Key facts
Cards Issued6.3 million
Payments Processed$13.5 billion
Network PartnersMastercard, Visa, Discover
Press Release: Lithic and Monavate Partner to Streamline Fiat and Digital Asset Card Issuing | Featured Image by FF News

Quick Summary

Lithic and Monavate have partnered to provide a unified card issuing stack for fintechs. By combining Lithic’s processing technology with Monavate’s regulated licenses and settlement infrastructure, companies can launch fiat and digital asset card programs through a single relationship, eliminating the need for multiple vendor integrations.

How Does the Lithic and Monavate Partnership Simplify Card Issuing?

Card issuing stack complexity is a major barrier for emerging fintechs. Traditionally, launching a program requires managing fragmented relationships between a processor, a regulated issuer, and a settlement partner. This partnership solves that by offering a single integration route. Lithic provides the developer-first processing and authorization intelligence, while Monavate supplies the regulatory heavy lifting, including FCA authorization and principal memberships with major schemes.

  • Unified Infrastructure: One contract replaces three separate vendor relationships.
  • Global Reach: Access to Mastercard, Visa, and Discover networks via Monavate.
  • Asset Flexibility: Support for both traditional fiat and on-chain digital currencies.

What Regulated Infrastructure Does Monavate Provide?

Regulated payments platforms are essential for compliance and settlement. Monavate, a subsidiary of Exodus Movement, Inc., brings a robust foundation to the partnership. It has already issued 6.3 million cards and processed over $13.5 billion in payments. As an FCA-regulated e-money institution, it provides the necessary BIN sponsorship and settlement capabilities that reach globally, allowing Lithic’s customers to scale without navigating complex licensing hurdles themselves.

Why is the Convergence of Fiat and On-Chain Finance Important?

Digital asset programs are no longer niche; they are blending into the mainstream financial ecosystem. Lithic’s programmable card infrastructure is designed to handle this convergence. By partnering with Monavate, Lithic ensures that companies building at the intersection of crypto and banking have a stable, compliant, and technologically advanced platform to support high-growth financial products across multiple jurisdictions.

FF NEWS TAKE:

This partnership significantly moves the needle by tackling the "vendor fatigue" that plagues fintech startups. By merging Lithic's superior card issuing stack with Monavate's regulatory muscle, they are effectively creating a 'plug-and-play' model for global card programs. This is a strategic win for the industry, particularly for digital asset firms that have historically struggled to find reliable, regulated issuing partners that understand modern API-driven processing.

Frequently asked questions

How does the Lithic and Monavate partnership benefit fintechs?

The partnership provides a single route to launching card programs by combining Lithic’s processing technology with Monavate’s regulated issuing and settlement infrastructure. This eliminates the need for fintechs to manage separate relationships with processors, BIN sponsors, and settlement partners, significantly reducing integration time and operational complexity.

Can this platform support cryptocurrency card programs?

Yes, the combined offering is specifically designed to support both traditional fiat and on-chain digital asset programs. By leveraging Lithic’s programmable infrastructure and Monavate’s regulated settlement reach, companies can build card products that bridge the gap between crypto and traditional finance.

What regulatory licenses does Monavate hold?

Monavate is an FCA-regulated e-money institution. It also holds principal memberships with major card schemes including Mastercard, Visa, and Discover, providing the necessary licensing and BIN sponsorship for companies to issue cards across the UK, Europe, and other global markets.

About the companies

Monavate

Part of Exodus · Website · 7 stories on FF News since 2021

Previously on FF News:

Discover

Part of Capital One · Website · 17 stories on FF News since 2019

Previously on FF News:

Visa

Website · 759 stories and 18 video interviews on FF News since 2018

Previously on FF News:

Companies in this story: Monavate, Discover, Visa, Exodus Movement, Mastercard, Lithic

People in this story: Nikil Konduru, Michael Rolph

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