Payment infrastructure provider Mercuryo and self-custodial hardware wallet maker Tangem have launched a limited-time promotional campaign offering eligible users zero-fee purchases of USD Coin (USDC), a stablecoin designed to track the value of the U.S. dollar, on the Stellar network. Under the arrangement, qualifying customers can buy the stablecoin directly into their Tangem wallets without paying fees charged by either Mercuryo or Tangem.

Purchases can be funded with credit or debit cards, as well as Apple Pay and Google Pay, giving users several conventional payment options for acquiring the stablecoin. The campaign is designed to simplify access to USDC by allowing eligible users to buy it straight into a self-custodial Tangem wallet through Mercuryo, with no fees from either company.

Qualifying transactions must amount to at least $150 or €150, with a cap of $700 or €700 per on-ramp transaction. The promotion applies specifically to on-ramp purchases and supports selected local currencies.

Access is restricted both geographically and by asset. Users in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Economic Area are excluded from the offer. The companies have also confined the campaign to particular assets on the Stellar blockchain, meaning purchases involving other supported cryptocurrencies or networks do not qualify.

XLM Required Before USDC Purchase

The campaign requires a two-step purchasing process because users must hold a balance of Stellar's native asset, XLM, in their Tangem wallets before buying USDC on the network. Those who do not already hold XLM can first purchase between €10 and €50 worth of the asset through the wallet. After establishing the required balance, they can proceed with the qualifying USDC purchase of between €150 and €700.

The requirement stems from how transactions operate on the Stellar network, where XLM is used to cover network-related costs. Stellar's design centers on issuing and transferring digital assets, so a dollar-pegged token such as USDC operates on the network as an issued asset alongside XLM. The promotional waiver from Mercuryo and Tangem does not eliminate blockchain transaction charges, so eligible users access the offer in two stages: first acquiring a small XLM balance, then completing the larger USDC purchase directly into their Tangem wallet.

Promotion Runs Until Allocation Is Exhausted

The campaign began on Sept. 15, 2026, and is scheduled to remain available for four weeks — a window that runs into mid-October 2026 if the full allocation lasts — although it can end earlier if the allocated promotional budget is exhausted. The offer covers purchases of USDC and XLM on the Stellar network under the specified conditions; other digital assets and blockchain networks are excluded, limiting the promotion to a defined segment of Mercuryo and Tangem's on-ramp services.

The structure targets users who want to acquire stablecoins through conventional payment methods while retaining control of their digital assets in a self-custodial wallet. Hardware wallets of this kind hold the private keys that control funds on the device itself, so assets delivered to the wallet remain outside exchange custody. Rather than buying USDC on an exchange and subsequently transferring it to a personal wallet, qualifying customers can complete the purchase directly into their Tangem wallet.

Focus on Self-Custody and Stablecoin Access

Mercuryo Chief Business Officer Arthur Firstov said the initiative was intended to make USDC more accessible to Tangem users as stablecoins become more widely used throughout the digital-asset ecosystem.

The company announced the campaign on X (Twitter):

Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment, and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong.

Campaign details:
– Not for UK, US, or EEA users
– €150–700 per txn limit for USDC
– €10–50 per txn limit…

— Mercuryo (@Mercuryo_io) September 16, 2026

The post leads with a high-risk investment warning ahead of the campaign details — a reminder that the fee waiver applies to purchase costs, not to the risks of holding digital assets.

Tangem Head of Investment Products Stanislav Bublik said the arrangement was designed to give users a direct way to purchase USDC into a self-custodial wallet. The companies positioned the campaign as an effort to make the transition from traditional payment methods to self-custodied digital assets more straightforward.

The support for cards and major mobile payment services also removes the need for users to rely exclusively on cryptocurrency balances when funding a transaction, which can make the initial conversion from fiat currency into USDC more accessible for eligible customers.

Network Fees Remain Separate

Despite the zero-fee offer, users may still incur charges associated with Stellar network. The promotion covers applicable fees charged by Mercuryo and Tangem but does not waive blockchain-level. This distinction means the total cost of a transaction can still depend on network conditions and the specific transaction being performed. Users must also meet the campaign's geographic, currency, transaction-size, and asset requirements to qualify.

By combining fiat payment options with direct delivery of USDC into a self-custodial wallet, the campaign gives eligible users a streamlined route from traditional payment methods to stablecoin ownership while custody remains with the user. The promotion highlights the growing effort among payment providers and wallet companies to integrate fiat on-ramps directly into self-custody products. Its limited duration and geographic restrictions, however, mean that access remains dependent on eligibility and the availability of the promotional allocation.

Source: CoinTrust