Walmart’s OnePay is making a necessary competitive move to catch up with rivals like PayPal, rather than pioneering a new feature.
Walmart-backed fintech OnePay, a mobile app serving about 1.5 million users, is preparing to launch cryptocurrency trading and custody features later this year, according to a Friday CNBC report.
The rollout will let users buy, hold, and convert Bitcoin and Ether directly within the app, marking OnePay’s entry into the digital asset market.
Sources familiar with the plan said the crypto backend will be powered by Zerohash, a regulated infrastructure provider that also serves Stripe and Robinhood. By integrating Zerohash’s platform, OnePay can manage crypto transactions without developing its own custody system, a move seen as both cost-efficient and aligned with U.S. financial regulations.
The integration could also let users convert crypto to cash and use the proceeds to make in-store purchases or pay off card balances, sources told CNBC. While no official launch date has been announced, the update is expected before year-end.
Founded in 2021 by Walmart and venture firm Ribbit Capital, OnePay has steadily added new services, including high-yield savings accounts, credit and debit cards, buy-now-pay-later loans, and wireless plans. The company has positioned itself as an American “superapp,” just like Asia’s WeChat model, combining multiple financial products under one roof.
OnePay’s mobile app has recently climbed to No. 5 on Apple’s App Store for free finance apps, ranking ahead of JPMorgan Chase, Robinhood, and Chime. Nearly all apps ahead of it, including PayPal, Venmo, Revolut, and Cash App, already offer crypto trading.
The table below highlights some of the leading firms and their latest crypto features:
Crypto Adoption Timeline
| Year | Platform | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 (expected) | Walmart OnePay launches crypto support | Retail giant’s entry could bring crypto access to millions of new users nationwide |
| 2022 | Fidelity offers retail Bitcoin & ETH trading | First major brokerage to allow direct crypto exposure; added 401(k) integration |
| 2021 | Venmo enables in-app crypto trading | Expanded PayPal’s ecosystem; made crypto accessible to younger U.S. users |
| 2020 | PayPal launches crypto services | Brought crypto access to 400M+ users; major step in mainstream adoption |
| 2018 | Revolut integrates crypto trading | Pioneered multi-asset fintech model combining banking, investing, and crypto |
| 2017 | Cash App adds Bitcoin support | First major U.S. payment app to offer Bitcoin trading; introduced Lightning payments later |
Can OnePay be the U.S. financial ‘superapp’?
The race to build a Western version of Asia’s “superapps,” combining payments, banking, and investing, is accelerating. OnePay’s move into crypto shows its intent to compete with top U.S. fintech firms while extending beyond traditional banking.
Regulators appear open to the model. SEC Chair Paul Atkins recently said agencies should “provide the minimum effective dose of regulation needed to protect investors, and no more,” signaling support for multi-service platforms under a single framework.
Other companies are following suit. Coinbase plans a crypto-powered hub with payments, credit cards, and Bitcoin rewards. In Asia, Toss is expanding into Australia with a finance superapp, while Elon Musk’s X continues to build its own payments ecosystem.
Backed by Walmart’s vast reach of 4,600 stores and 150 million weekly shoppers, OnePay could become a key player in America’s digital finance future.
