In July 2025, the 7th Ethereum Community Conference (ETHCC)—the most influential developer conference in the Ethereum ecosystem—opened grandly in Paris, France. Over 3,000 developers, investors, project teams, and technologists gathered to explore the latest advancements and applications in Web3. As a pioneer in Web3 payment infrastructure, AP U-Card (Alpha Partners Card) was invited to attend, with its CMO Ruben representing the project on-site. AP U-Card showcased its innovation and global ambition in redefining payment connectivity between blockchain assets and the real world.
AP U-Card on the Global Stage: A New Paradigm for Web3 Payments
As a flagship product under the Alpha Partners platform, AP U-Card was designed with a bold vision: to bridge the final mile between on-chain assets and real-world consumption. Issued through a strategic partnership between the UK-based U3 Foundation and global payment giants Visa/MasterCard, the card supports crypto recharges and instant USD conversion. Usable in over 210 countries, it connects to 170 million+ POS merchants and 3.2 million ATMs globally. It also integrates with Apple Pay, Alipay, and Meituan, making real-world usage seamless.
During ETHCC, Ruben emphasized:
“We’re not just building another blockchain card. We’re redesigning how Web3 users interact with real-world consumption. AP U-Card is not just a payment tool—it’s part of the new financial infrastructure.”
Ruben: AP Group’s CMO at the Crossroads of Market and Tech
With Dutch and Canadian roots, Ruben is a seasoned Web3 veteran. From the early days, he was actively involved in Polkadot ecosystem projects such as Moonbeam and has deep experience in fundraising, go-to-market strategy, and ecosystem development.
As a fluent quadrilingual and frequent speaker at global crypto conferences, Ruben used ETHCC not only to introduce AP U-Card to developers and ecosystem partners but also to deliver a keynote at the Payment Infrastructure Track, exploring the convergence of payments and decentralized identity.
Ruben’s Key Highlights Include:
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Deep involvement in decentralized projects on Polkadot and Moonbeam.
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Expertise in Web3 fundraising, go-to-market strategy, and operational scaling.
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A robust global network in ecosystems like Ethereum, Solana, and Cosmos.
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Regular speaker at global events such as TOKEN2049, ETHDenver, and ETHCC.
ETHCC as a Launchpad for Global Expansion
Beyond brand exposure, ETHCC served as a strategic milestone for AP U-Card’s entry into the European market. During the event, Ruben held exploratory discussions with compliance providers from France, Germany, and Italy, covering topics such as local licensing, card integration, and user verification flows.
Ruben also engaged with developers and dApps, introducing AP U-Card’s value in user payment identity infrastructure. He expressed interest in collaborating with Web3 wallets, e-commerce platforms, and service tools focused on real-world scenarios:
“We want payment to feel natural within on-chain activity—not like a separate gateway.”
Looking Forward: Globalizing the Web3 Payment Experience
By mid-2025, AP U-Card has already reached initial market penetration in key regions, building an ecosystem spanning cross-border payments, stablecoin usage, and crypto-native spending. Ruben’s participation in ETHCC and his collaboration with European compliance networks mark a solid step forward in the platform’s international roadmap.
In the second half of 2025, the AP team plans to focus on local compliance, service localization in Europe, and potential operational hubs. Strategic collaborations with payment, compliance, and security tech providers will be explored to bring stablecoin usage into real-world daily scenarios, empowering users with trusted and intuitive experiences.
Conclusion: From Paris to the World
ETHCC is more than a developer conference—it’s a gathering of visionaries. With its presence in Paris, AP U-Card demonstrated not only technical strength but a commitment to financial inclusivity through innovation. As the AP ecosystem continues to grow, we believe that every individual can access and benefit from the pulse of the global digital economy—starting with one card.
AP U-Card: Bridging the Future of Finance, One Payment at a Time.