Card-Y is on a mission to empower Egyptians with a seamless, secure, and globally accessible payment solution. Their virtual cards enable users to shop from international platforms, subscribe to digital services, and make everyday online transactions simple and stress-free.
A Pain Point That Sparked a Solution
In October 2023, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) announced a major restriction: Egyptians could no longer use their debit cards for international payments. The move, intended to preserve the country’s dwindling USD reserves, left millions suddenly cut off from the global economy. Practically overnight, Egyptians couldn’t make international payments, and even simple subscriptions like Spotify, Netflix, or paying tuition fees abroad became inaccessible.
For Card-Y’s founder, Abdelrahman Moussa, this was more than just a policy change; it was a personal pain point, “about 98% of people were affected, everyone I knew was frustrated. We needed a way out.”, he explained.
That shared frustration became the spark behind Card-Y, launched in May 2024. Its mission was clear: to enable Egyptians to access and pay for global services seamlessly, despite currency and regulatory challenges.
Finding an Infrastructure That Believes in Africa
One of the biggest challenges for Card-Y was finding a card infrastructure provider that could issue cards directly into Egypt. Card-Y needed a card-issuing infrastructure that could operate locally but scale globally.
Anchor’s infrastructure gave Card-Y what it needed most: a partner that understood the local market and had the technical capacity to support it. Integration was fast; after just a couple of weeks of testing, Card-Y went live.
A Clear Value Proposition
Card-Y’s success lies in its uniquely local approach:
1. Local top-ups, global spending: Unlike other virtual card providers that rely on ACH transfers, stablecoins, or foreign currency, Card-Y allows users to top up in Egyptian Pounds (EGP), which are instantly converted into USD balances.
2. Instant issuance and funding: Users can sign up, complete KYC, issue, and fund their cards within minutes. From registration to the first online purchase, the process takes less than 20 minutes.
Everyday Use Cases that Prove Demand
Today, Card-Y has issued over 2,000 active cards, enabling thousands of Egyptians to reconnect with the global economy.
But the numbers only tell part of the story.
Here are other use cases on how Card-Y has become a go-to solution for anyone in Egypt:
1. Parents use Card-Y to pay tuition fees and educational expenses for their children studying abroad.
2. Gamers rely on Card-Y to buy gaming tools, online video games, and in-game items that require foreign payments.
3. Customers use their cards for everyday needs like renewing streaming, software, and entertainment subscriptions.
4. Companies use Card-Y to pay for services such as cloud hosting and servers when their corporate credit cards hit spending limits.
The Road Ahead: Tokenisation, Physical Cards, and Global Accounts
Looking ahead, Card-Y is expanding its offering while staying true to its core product: cards. Over the next 12–24 months, the company plans to:
1. Expand card capabilities — Add tokenisation and mobile wallet integration so users can add cards to their devices.
2. Introduce physical dollar cards for customers who prefer them.
3. Explore new markets across North Africa, driven by inbound interest and organic demand.
Lessons Learned: Early Builders Shape the Market
When asked what advice he’d give to other founders launching a card program, the founder of Card-Y didn’t sugarcoat it:
For Card-Y, the journey has been about persistence, timing, and purpose — building a solution that solves a national pain point while opening doors for thousands of users.
From 0 to over 2,000 Active Cards — Powered by Anchor
By building on Anchor’s card infrastructure, Card-Y was able to:
1. Launch in weeks, not months, accelerating time-to-market.
2. Issue over 2,000 active virtual cards with seamless onboarding.
3. Enable instant top-ups and real-time funding, delivering a fast, frictionless user experience.
Conclusion: Powering Possibility, One Card at a Time
Card-Y’s story is one of persistence in turning a nationwide pain point into a product that empowers thousands of Egyptians to access the world again. Through its partnership with Anchor, Card-Y has been able to move fast, build confidently, and serve its customers without regional limitations.
If your company is looking to launch a card product into your platform without the hassle of building and maintaining your own infrastructure, Anchor’s Card API can help you get there faster with the same reliable infrastructure that helped Card-Y bring seamless card access to thousands of users.
Send an email to hello@getanchor.co to get started.
