Oobit launches Visa-linked crypto payments in Colombia

Oobit has launched a Visa-linked, non-custodial crypto payments platform in Colombia, marking the company’s ninth live market after rollouts in Brazil, Argentina and Chile. The platform allows users to pay with USDT and other cryptocurrencies directly from their own wallets.

The service connects users’ wallets to a Visa payment system accepted at more than 150 million merchants across over 80 countries. Payments do not require conversion through traditional bank off-ramps or transfer of assets to custodians; transactions occur from the user’s wallet at the point of sale.

Oobit cited Chainalysis data showing the Colombian peso ranked second globally in the share of stablecoin purchases on centralized exchanges, a factor the company used in deciding to expand into Colombia. The announcement did not include a specific launch date for the market.

The company reported increased activity in Brazil after its November 2024 launch there, with user activity rising more than 200%. Oobit stated that active customers in Brazil spend an average of about $400 per month across roughly 20 transactions.

Across Oobit’s Latin American markets, USDT accounted for the largest share of transactions on the platform, followed by the firm’s native token and USDC. Spending patterns on the platform skew toward everyday purchases: grocery stores and supermarkets represented about 35% of activity, followed by restaurants, food stores and department stores. In Brazil, users also paid with crypto at gas stations, beauty shops and electronics retailers.

Stablecoin usage is expanding regionally. A 2025 report from exchange Bitso found US dollar-linked stablecoins made up 40% of crypto purchases on its platform that year, compared with 18% for Bitcoin. Data compiled by DefiLlama shows the stablecoin market grew from roughly $243 billion a year ago to more than $322 billion today.

Other regional companies are integrating stablecoins into consumer services. In April, Mercado Libre introduced stablecoin-based transfers using its Meli Dollar token between Brazil, Mexico and Chile and made the token usable within its marketplace and for cashback distribution.

Cryptocurrencies are also being used directly for payments in several emerging markets, including areas where merchants accept Bitcoin payments denominated in satoshis.