Designed for Everyone And Anyone

Crypto wallet provider Exodus is rolling out a new “Exodus Pay” feature in its self-custodial storage wallet with aw very simple goal in mind: to making digital assets usable for everyday payments, even for beginners.

Exodus co-founder and CEO JP Richardson highlighted how many novice users often meet with obstacles because of how user-unfriendly these applications are designed to be

"The problem with self-custody until now has been the friction. Seed phrases, complicated networks,most self-custody consumer experiences aren't built for someone who just wants to pay for groceries and send friends money."

To address this, the feature introduces phone number-based transfers, allowing users to send funds without dealing with complex wallet addresses, while also subsidizing network fees so users don’t have to worry about gas costs.

Everything is fully integrated within the existing app, meaning there’s no need for additional downloads or external platforms.

The result is an experience designed to feel as intuitive as sending a text or tapping a card, even for someone completely new to digital assets.

As CEO JP Richardson explained, the goal is to ensure that “someone with zero crypto experience” can use the app intuitively—whether paying for groceries or splitting a bill.

The company says Exodus Pay works within the existing wallet app and allows users to spend USD-backed stablecoins, such as USDC, or Bitcoin at merchants that accept Visa or Apple Pay.

The key difference?

Users remain in full control of their crypto—unlike traditional payment apps that hold funds and can freeze or reverse transactions.

Richardson claimed this is what makes the Exodus payment app different is autonomy.

“Most payment apps are third parties that custody your money. That means they can freeze your account, reverse transactions, and decide what you're allowed to buy. With Exodus, users reamins in control of their funds at all times.”

Exodus was originally built as a secure wallet for storing assets like Bitcoin, Exodus is now expanding into payments. The Omaha-based firm listed its stock on the New York Stock Exchange in 2024 and says the new service positions itself as an alternative to centralised payment apps.

The feature is currently live in five states—Nebraska, Texas, Florida, New York, and California—with a nationwide rollout expected in the coming weeks.

For existing users, Exodus Pay will appear automatically as part of an app update, lowering the barrier to adoption even further.

"By mid-April, everyone in America will have Exodus Pay in their app. If you already have Exodus, you'll have Exodus Pay."

A bigger shift toward crypto payments

Exodus joins a growing group of platforms—including Coinbase and PayPal—that are pushing crypto beyond trading and into real-world payments.

But its approach stands out by focusing on self-custody + usability, aiming to combine the control of decentralized finance with the convenience of traditional apps.