OnePay, the financial‑technology firm majority owned by Walmart, plans to roll out cryptocurrency trading and custody services on its mobile app before the end of 2025, according to a CNBC report.
The new feature will let users buy, hold, and convert Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) directly inside the OnePay application, powered by infrastructure from Chicago‑based startup Zerohash, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plan has not been publicly announced.
Toward a U.S. "super app"
Founded in 2021 by Walmart and Ribbit Capital, OnePay has made steady moves toward becoming a domestic “super app” that combines payments, savings, credit, and lifestyle products in one mobile hub. It already offers high‑yield savings accounts, credit and debit cards, buy‑now‑pay‑later options, and even wireless service plans.
Adding crypto extends that ambition. By letting customers hold digital assets within the app and convert them into U.S. dollars, OnePay could enable shoppers to spend crypto balances on Walmart purchases or use the converted funds to repay card charges.
Company representatives for both OnePay and Zerohash declined to comment.
Following the fintech pack
The development positions OnePay alongside rivals such as PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App, all of which have supported digital asset trading for years. On Apple’s U.S. App Store, OnePay ranks No. 5 among free finance apps, edging established financial players including JPMorgan Chase, Robinhood, and Chime.
“Crypto has become table stakes for digital wallets,” said David Ambrose, an analyst at fintech research firm Align Insights. “If OnePay wants to compete at scale, it needs to meet users where the market is already heading.”
Policy backdrop and market momentum
The plan comes as large U.S. financial institutions accelerate their own crypto programs following a regulatory shift under the Trump administration. In September, Morgan Stanley disclosed it would give retail clients access to digital assets through its E‑Trade unit.
Zerohash, one of several startups providing settlement and custody rails for institutions dabbling in crypto, raised about $104 million last month from investors including Morgan Stanley and Interactive Brokers. Its technology helps banks and brokers offer crypto services without running fully regulated exchanges themselves.
Walmart’s distribution advantage
OnePay benefits from Walmart’s enormous reach. Because the app is integrated into both in‑store and online checkout, it has access to as many as 150 million shoppers each week in the United States. That built‑in audience gives the fintech a marketing channel unmatched by standalone competitors.
While OnePay was created as a separate corporate entity to appeal beyond Walmart’s core customer base, the retailer’s scale still underpins its growth. The crypto rollout could further blend retail payments and financial services inside one ecosystem—an approach that mirrors Asia’s most successful super‑app models.
Industry implications
If OnePay’s crypto services gain traction, they could normalize digital‑asset usage in everyday transactions rather than speculation alone. Allowing consumers to turn crypto into spendable cash within a familiar retail environment may help reduce volatility concerns that have historically kept average users on the sidelines.
“For most Americans, their first crypto purchase happened inside PayPal or Cash App,” Ambrose noted. “Having Walmart’s name attached to the experience could bring another wave of mainstream adoption.”
Tanya Petrusenko
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