Recently, I noticed an interesting phenomenon: more and more Web3 projects are starting to seriously build practical utility layers, rather than just hyping concepts. KOLO is a typical example—recently, they officially launched a digital wallet and a global debit card, aiming to directly connect crypto assets with everyday spending scenarios.

Honestly, this idea isn’t new, but KOLO’s entry point is quite interesting. They’re not just building a wallet or just making a card; instead, they combine the two, supporting three platforms at the same time: Telegram mini-programs, a dedicated app, and a web interface. Users can spend crypto assets directly at millions of merchants that accept Mastercard and Visa, which genuinely lowers the usage barrier.

What’s even more worth paying attention to is their design for the hybrid custody model—they support both custodial wallets and self-custody, letting users choose their own security level. Add AI-driven transaction routing to optimize exchange rates, and support for multi-chain assets such as BTC, ETH, USDT, TRX, ARB, and the overall coverage of their features is still quite comprehensive.

In an interview, CEO Pavel mentioned that their core goal is to eliminate the boundary between the banking system and the crypto world. It sounds a bit cliché, but from a product perspective, KOLO is indeed doing this—fiat on/off ramps, crypto payments, and DeFi yields are all completed within a single ecosystem.

Interestingly, KOLO recently also partnered with the Telegram mini-program game Cats on a co-branded collaboration, releasing themed skin card packs. This reflects how they’re capturing this wave of Telegram ecosystem dividends. After all, Ton’s TVL has already reached $776 million, and Telegram mini-programs have effectively become a new traffic entry point. KOLO’s move at this moment is truly right on the timing.

In terms of user base, they claim that there are already more than 9 million crypto users entering the ecosystem. It’s hard to say how much of that number is inflated, but at least it indicates the project has reached a certain scale. Their roadmap is also fairly clear, covering IBAN integration, regional expansion, and the release of full versions of their applications.

Overall, KOLO represents a trend—PayFi is moving from concept to real-world application. Crypto payments, crypto salaries, and enterprise-grade financial infrastructure are no longer just talk. It feels like you can keep an eye on related ecosystem projects on Gate.io and see whether there are any opportunities worth getting involved in.