A crypto credit card is a prepaid card that allows you to pay for your daily expenses with cryptocurrency, whether it is for coffee or transportation. Crypto credit cards can be funded with various cryptocurrencies and are accepted worldwide by merchants that accept traditional credit cards.
How do cryptocurrency credit cards work?
You can use your crypto credit card to make purchases the same way you would a standard debit card, except that the card is funded with cryptocurrency instead of traditional coins like Euro or Dollar. Crypto credit card providers usually also provide you with a mobile app that is linked to your online crypto account.
The biggest advantage of crypto credit cards is the added security they provide when conducting transactions, as you don’t expose your private key to the seller. Although there are many different types of cryptocurrencies available through crypto exchanges, most crypto credit cards can only be funded with specific cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Litecoin, or Ethereum. There are several crypto credit card providers, but the most popular cards are Binance, Crypto.com, Coinbase, Swipe, and Wirex. We’ll give you some more information about each provider and its corresponding crypto credit card.
Top 5 crypto credit cards
Binance card
Binance is a cryptocurrency exchange that provides users with access to an online platform for trading over 100 different digital currencies. Binance launched its cryptocurrency debit card in November 2018 and received 100,000 applications within 24 hours of its launch. According to the company, their card will allow users to instantly withdraw up to €999 worth of cryptocurrencies whenever they swipe it at an ATM or use it online or offline at any store that displays the Mastercard logo. Because the withdrawal limit is much higher than that of other cards on the market, they are more competitive than some other companies offering cryptocurrencies cards.
The card will be available in 50 countries to everyone, but users must deposit at least €10,000 into their accounts before they can order one. To be eligible for this card, applicants must meet certain requirements, including having an active Binance account with a strong password and two-factor authentication enabled. Each card level 1–7 has a particular cashback % linked with it; the more BNB you stake, the higher the percentage cashback you get.
Coinbase card
Coinbase credit card is and Visa debit card that you can load with cryptocurrency and use at merchants that accept a credit card as a means of payment. Coinbase Commerce helps merchants accept cryptocurrency payments directly into a user-controlled wallet. Coinbase recently announced a partnership with WeGift; this partnership allows customers to convert crypto-currencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and others into gift cards accepted by more than 120 retailers worldwide, including Nike and Tesco.
The cards can then be used at POS terminals or online stores that support VISA’s major payment network. The crypto card will be linked to a user’s Coinbase account using a separate Coinbase card mobile app, available for iOS and Android. The cards can be used to withdraw cash from any VISA-supported ATM globally and to make POS payments using either ‘chip and pin’ or contactless technology. Each transaction with the card incurs a 2.49 percent cost, which is made up of 1.49 percent in conversion fees and one percent in transaction fees.
There are no maintenance fees or additional costs for ATM withdrawals, however you must withdraw less than £200 per month. Using the card in other European nations will result in a 2.69 percent cost, while using it outside of Europe will result in a 5.49 percent fee. Coinbase claims the card will be available in more European nations soon, but there are currently no plans for a US launch.
Crypto.com card
The Crypto.com Visa cards allow you to use, convert and spend fiat currency such as Euro into cryptocurrency anywhere Visa is accepted. The Crypto.com Visa card, unlike other regular credit and debit cards, requires you to strike or stake crypto. “Stake” is essentially locking in your crypto for a set period of time. For example, Crypto.com works with a CRO token. Essentially, customers provide a loan to the card issuer with their bitcoins, and in return, Crypto.com offers a variety of incentives. We list some of these benefits:
- Access to airport lounges from Loungekey
- Earn up to 8% cash back at stores.
- Depending on the type of card you have, you can get 100 percent back each month on various subscription services such as Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Spotify.
- Obsidian cardholders can earn up to 10% in monthly Airbnb credit back and up to a maximum of $100.
- ATM withdrawals are free up to a certain amount per month.
Crypto.com offers different Visa debit cards, and they have different features. With the Obsidian card, Crypto.com’s most expensive card, with a high strike amount of as much as €350,000. With the Obsidian card, you earn 8% CRO points on purchases made with the card. Other benefits include a monthly refund for Spotify, Amazon Prime, and Netflix subscriptions. ATM withdrawals are free up to €1,000 per month.
Frosted Rose Gold and Icy White cards are the second-highest cards in crypto. This second tier has a strike threshold of €35,000. Benefits are also decreasing, but customers still get a monthly fee for subscription services.
Royal Indigo and Jade Green cards: the required stake amount for these cards is €3,500. The CRO rewards on purchases made with the card are 3%. Other benefits include a monthly payment for Spotify and Netflix subscriptions. The monthly free ATM withdrawal maximum is €800.
The fourth Ruby Steel card requires a €350 wager. A monthly fee for Spotify is one of the benefits. With Ruby Steel card, you earn 2% CRO rewards on purchases made with the card. The monthly free fee for ATM withdrawals is a maximum of €400.
The Midnight Blue card is Crypto.com’s free card; no staking is required for this card. The card has no benefits, and you earn 1% CRO rewards on card spend. The free ATM surcharge is €200 per month.
Wirex card
Wirex presently exclusively offers genuine plastic debit cards in British Pounds (GBP). Euro (EUR) and Dollar (USD) credit cards are on their way. If you order their virtual card, however, you will be able to select any of the three currencies. Wirex is a bitcoin debit Mastercard that can be loaded with bitcoin and used like any other debit card in retailers. The difference is that the funds are deducted from a bitcoin balance rather than from your bank’s fiat money.
Wirex has been in operation since 2014, with offices in London and Tokyo. Opening an account with Wirex is free; however, there are fees if you receive a debit card and use it abroad, among other things. The fees are shown below. They have three different plans: regular, premium, and elite. Wirex also offers their customers extra benefits such as CryptobackTM Rewards, Mastercard Offers, and Savings Bonuses. It should be noted that the Wirex debit card is not yet available to US users.
Swipe card
Swipe offers four debit card tiers: Saffron, Sky, Steel, and Slate. The Saffron card does not require you to stake SXP; the other Swipe cards do require you to stake an amount of SXP for six months. The cards include a 100 percent rebate for services like Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, Amazon Prime, and Apple Music. One of Swipe’s cryptocurrency debit cards’ selling points is the cashback benefits, which may be as high as 5% and are paid in Bitcoin. All cards also support contactless payments (NFC), ATM withdrawals, and substantial referral bonuses of up to $3000 USD. You can even use a digital version of the debit card with simply your phone, and the digital Swipe cards are accepted everywhere you can pay with Google Pay and Apple Pay.
Conclusion
Although it is still in its early phases, there has been a growth in the number of companies selling cryptocurrency credit cards. This means that cryptocurrencies can now be used anyplace Visa is accepted. This is not only easy for customers, but it also expands options for businesses interested in working with blockchain technology. As a result, cross-border payments will be completed in seconds rather than minutes. It is essential to find the best crypto debit card for your needs. Your cryptocurrency wallet should be compatible with the card you are getting, and the fees should be low or nonexistent.
Find out if there is a physical card or if all transactions are virtual. There are multiple options in terms of currencies that you can use with your card, depending on where you live and what types of cryptocurrencies you own. The debit cards in this article offer various benefits to users who want to spend their cryptocurrency without leaving the convenience of traditional banking infrastructure. As these cards become more popular, it will be easier than ever to use digital assets for everyday expenses without converting them back into fiat currency first!