As I walked the expo floor at the Cardano Summit 2025 in Berlin, I bumped into one really exciting announcement – twice. Two separate booths were drawing steady traffic, and not just because of their above-average swag. Both EMURGO and Gero Wallet were announcing something Cardano users have wanted for years: a way to spend ada in the real world, using a familiar piece of plastic that works anywhere cards are accepted.

Without sounding like a hypester, I was frankly electrified by the general news of the Cardano payment cards. The Cardano community has long been excited and proud whenever there is any brick and mortar business that accepts ada. A Cardano hotel here, a coffee shop there… these are…