The strategic partnership of JPMorgan Chase and Coinbase empowers crypto enthusiasts with a direct bank-to-wallet connection, conversion of reward points to crypto, and funding Coinbase trading accounts directly using Chase credit cards.
In a major effort to bridge the worlds of traditional finance and cryptocurrency infrastructure, JPMorgan Chase and crypto exchange Coinbase have announced a strategic collaboration that enhances access and optionality for the firms’ mutual customers.
Due to the fresh partnership, starting this fall, Coinbase customers will be able to fund their trading accounts directly using Chase credit cards. This convenient feature offers investors immediate access to crypto without waiting for bank transfers. Chase customers can also securely link their Chase bank accounts directly to Coinbase wallets via JPMorgan’s API, eliminating reliance on third-party data aggregators, thus reducing friction, risk, and cost by keeping the connection within the bank’s systems.
However, the most innovative offering is the possibility for Chase cardholders to convert their Ultimate Rewards points into USDC stablecoin at a 1:1 redemption rate (100 points = $1) starting in 2026. This deal marks the first time a major credit-card rewards program supports direct funding of cryptocurrency wallets.
The new functionalities reduce technical and behavioral barriers, allowing consumers and existing bank users to enter crypto through familiar channels. By keeping user data within the secure bank-to-wallet connection, the partnership also enhances privacy, trust, and compliance alignment.
By rough industry estimations, Coinbase has about 120 million active users globally, with 8 million traders transacting on a monthly basis. The connection to JPMorgan Chase expands the crypto exchange’s access to over 80 million Chase customers, who can now gain easier access to cryptocurrency, potentially driving broader adoption across retail and mass-affluent segments.
The two financial institutions have been partners since 2020, when JPMorgan officially began providing banking services to Coinbase as an institutional partner. However, their collaboration was limited to cash-management services, not handling crypto transactions directly. As a legal basis for crypto in the US has significantly strengthened over the last months, the partner relations between traditional banking institutions and crypto industry players are also reaching new levels.
