Why Crypto Platforms Want to Become Your Everyday Money App
Crypto platforms are adopting the 'super app' model, combining trading with payments and borrowing services to encourage daily use, according to ChangeNOW's director of strategic partnerships.
Martin Masser opens his banking app even when he has nothing to pay. Sometimes, he just wants to check his balance. This habit is exactly what crypto platforms want to replicate with their 'super app' model, which puts trading alongside services such as payments and borrowing, giving people reasons to return between transactions.
The director of strategic partnerships at ChangeNOW made these observations during an interview at TOKEN2049 in Singapore. He described how crypto platforms aim to secure a similar place in their customers' daily lives as banking apps have achieved.
The more use cases that you get, the more you start using.
Expanding Beyond Trading
Kaiko's 2026 research shows exchanges expanding into broader financial platforms, connecting trading balances to yield products and spending services. Keeping these activities together gives platforms more opportunities to retain customers and their funds.
Masser argued that different customers build different routines around the same product, with some checking balances while others focus on swap fees or AML wallet checks for money-laundering exposure. This approach accommodates both active traders and occasional users.
Simplifying Cross-Chain Transactions
A practical challenge for crypto users is moving money between different blockchains. Masser described how users often receive USDT on one blockchain but need it on another, requiring multiple steps between networks that could be consolidated in a single app.
Bringing these steps together could help customers discover additional services as their needs develop, though this creates a design problem of adding functions without overwhelming the interface.
There's no point adding something that doesn't make sense for the product.
Partnership Strategy
Masser emphasized that partnerships should serve a purpose beyond press releases. His team works to understand partner customers and help products find their market, potentially starting with swaps and adding payment services later.
ChangeNOW's API allows developers to connect its services to their own applications, saving teams from building these functions themselves. Masser warned that having access to a large audience doesn't guarantee product success, citing his experience at TON Foundation where Telegram's massive reach didn't automatically translate to users.
The Path to Mainstream Adoption
Stablecoins offer a practical test for this ambition, with at least $401 billion in stablecoin payments during the first eight months of 2026, up 42% year over year. While businesses received an estimated 58% to 64% of this volume, some markets already see stablecoins used routinely in everyday financial activity.
When asked what would indicate success for crypto super apps in five years, Masser's answer was simple: "That you are using it in day-to-day life without realizing it's a crypto super app." The ultimate goal is to become invisible as a crypto platform while remaining essential in daily financial routines.
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