
After some lull in the market, cryptocurrency is on the rise with the cost of stablecoins breaking historical records. So, we are on the threshold of overwhelming digitalization and virtualization! Electronic money is becoming an integral part of our life and a main means of exchange. Many online platforms accept digital tokens as a payment, and it is also possible to order food and hire services paying with crypto. A decent alternative to fiat money that seems to stay.
While cryptocurrency is a growing trend, people still lack an opportunity to use their e-coins in the real world like they do with conventional money. Fortunately, the market is very sensitive to consumer needs and never takes long to offer solutions to solve the acute problem. So here they are, cryptocurrency debit cards, allowing you to pay with cybercash at any sales outlet that accepts plastic payments. Imagine that you can fuel your car or buy your cappuccino at Starbucks paying with BTC or ETH instead of dollars or Euros – isn’t it nice? This future is already coming.
What is a cryptocurrency debit card?
Like a classical plastic issued by a bank, a debit virtual crypto card enables you to perform daily transactions using your virtual tokens like BTC, TON, and other of their kind. Despite cryptocurrency is a relatively new phenomenon, with the best crypto debit card, you have peace of mind that a retailer will not reject your payment. The thing is that most of such solutions present Visa or MasterCard products, meaning they can be used in any shop that supports card payments.
To utilize your debit virtual crypto card, you first need to top up its balance with virtual tokens of your choice. Generally, this is done through a specialized mobile app, a website, or directly at an ATM. Once you have replenished the balance, you can buy things you love paying with your crypto plastic. Spending limits are quite extensive while transactional fees are minimal.
When you utilize your crypto card to buy the desired stuff, the provider simply converts virtual coins to fiat, so the merchant receives your payment in traditional money (USD, EUR, or whatever), and you happily get your purchase. Win-Win!
Similar to traditional cards, crypto ones also offer some exciting incentives, including cashback, flight discounts, premium subscriptions, and other lucrative bonuses.
But debit virtual crypto cards are not made equal, they indeed differ in the number of cryptocurrencies they support, the commissions they charge, and the perks they offer to holders. Here are the best cryptocurrency debit cards to help you find a real-world application for your virtual tokens.
Crypterium
Ranked the best crypto card and wallet, Crypterium allows you to get a virtual card to store your cyber assets in mere minutes, not days. The card’s balance can be replenished directly from Crypterium, as well as connected to Apple Pay, and used in millions of locations worldwide.
Residents of over 65 countries are allowed to order Crypterium crypto cards, but you first need to check whether your country permits such activities. For example, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and NEPAL are notorious cryptocurrency restrictors. The company’s website lets you check the restricted regions, so take advantage of this feature before you take a plunge.
A client base of Crypterium is ever-increasing – over 30 thousand units are circulating already, and this figure is growing exponentially. The popularity of Crypterium is quite explainable:
- it delivers a worry-free experience allowing you to spend up to €10000/month;
- you can pay with Crypterium in over 40 million physical and online retailers;
- turning your crypto cash into a real one takes seconds from any VISA-compatible ATM;
- fees are tiny or even zero if you recharge your balance with €299 every month;
- you can order both virtual and plastic crypto debit cards with Crypterium; paying a small fee of €2,99/month for maintenance.
A process of getting a card is simplified to the max, saving your precious time and effort. To hit the shops, you only need to create a wallet with the platform, select the preferred card type, provide personal information and pay for delivery (if you want it to be a physical plastic), wait until your identity is verified (takes less than 20 minutes), and activate your card.
Crypterium takes the security of your virtual funds extremely seriously. The issued VISAs come with a 3D secure feature to add an extra layer of protection to your online payments, while SMS codes, secret phrase verification, and an ability to lock your plastic directly from your Crypterium wallet ensure not a single token will be deducted from your balance without your approval.
Among the leading crypto credit card companies in the USA, Crypterium offers plans to fit any lifestyle, and their tariffs vary by
- Balance replenishment commission
- Daily/monthly cash withdrawal limits
- Monthly maintenance fee
- Monthly online/offline limits
Crypterium offers many other helpful solutions and products geared toward helping you make the most of your virtual coins.
Crypto.com
A well-established exchange, Crypto.com offers a raft of debit cards to meet the needs of different client groups. Still, starting using the company’s products is not completely stress-free, as a user must first stake a solid amount of proprietary CRO tokens to be eligible for a crypto card release. Staking means to hold the company’s native tokens in the Crypto.com wallet for, at least, 6 months. For instance, their Ruby Steel card requires a 5000 CRO stake.
Cashback on spending depends on your card tier (there are 7 options available), varying from 1% to 8%. Available plans also differ by monthly limits for interbank exchange rates (up to $4000 for their Ruby Steel) and ATM monthly withdrawal limits ($400 for Ruby Steel).
Bonuses are numerous including Spotify, Amazon Prime, and Netflix subscriptions, exclusive merchandise welcome pack, bonus interest, Airbnb discounts, private jet partnership, and airport lounge access, but not every plan offers a full package of privileges.
All ATM withdrawals and interbank transactions are subject to fixed fees (a 2% for ATM cash-outs and 0.5% for interbank operations), so make sure you compare all plans to find out which one fits you most. You can apply for a plastic through the dedicated app.
Bitwala
A blockchain banking service, headquartered in Berlin, Germany, Bitwala is on a mission to promote the ubiquitous adoption of virtualized money. The company offers a universal platform that combines a regular bank account, BTC/ETH wallets, and cryptocurrency trading. Their clients can easily buy and sell Bitcoin and Ether with quick execution straight from their bank account.
Their cards are issued in conjunction with MasterCard, meaning you can pay with Bitwala wherever MasterCard is supported.
Bitwala fees are very competitive. No fees for issuance or monthly maintenance are applied. ATM withdrawals are processed without fees either. The dealer also does not charge a penny on card spending and sets no limitations on card balance replenishment.
The only situation when Bitwala collects charges is when you buy and sell BTC and ETH through your account. This commission is 1% for each completed deal.
A significant drawback behind Bitwala is that it does not cover the American crypto market, so if you are a USA resident looking for the best cryptocurrency debit card, you should consider other options.
Binance
A member of VISA, Binance grants you the luxury to buy things you love paying with digital coins. With this piece of plastic at hand, you can convert and spend your electronic coins at over 60 million merchants across continents.
The balance of your card is linked with your Binance account, and to replenish your plastic, you just need to send funds from your Binance wallet to the card. Automatic top-up is quite a curious feature of Binance VISA. You set the desired balance limit for your card, say, EUR 500, and this sum is backed by your BTC savings in your Binance wallet. If Bitcoin’s price suddenly drops, and your card balance abruptly goes below the specified limit (in our case, it is EUR 500), your card will automatically receive funds from your Binance wallet, so your card is full again. This saves you from any “oops” when you are in a shop willing to buy something, but the balance of your card is suddenly low due to a rapid price drop in the crypto market.
Though their product does not support many cryptos (only Binance Coin, Bitcoin, and Swipe Token), the offered perks properly compensate for this shortage.
Binance Visa charges no administrative commissions (but does not exclude the possibility of being charged by a third-party). You do not seem to pay issuance or monthly fees, and there are no minimum limits for deposit loads.
However, if you want to cash out your crypto, Binance VISA will apply 0.90% to ATM withdrawals. Reissuing a lost or damaged Binance VISA card also incurs a commission of 25 Euros. And you cannot spend more than EUR 8,700 per day – it is a daily maximum for Binance.
Their card also returns as much as 8% via cashback on eligible purchases allowing you to reap even more benefits from your electronic capital.
Blockcard
BlockCard is a cryptocurrency fintech platform powered by Ternio. A serious player from the USA with an aspiration to make its presence in the European Continent, BlockCard claims to charge no crypto deposit, exchange, or point-of-sale transaction commissions. However, there are some fees, indeed, including
- ATM balance inquiry fee ($0.50 for domestic and $1 for international ATMs)
- ATM cash withdrawal fee ($3 for domestic transactions and $3.50 for international transactions)
- Monthly maintenance fee ($5 or free if you spend over $750 in non-cash transactions per month)
- Physical card issuance and activation ($10 for plastic + virtual or $50 for metal + virtual cards)
- PIN transactions ($1-$2 depending on whether you are in your home country or traveling abroad)
- Wire transaction fee ($20)
This list of BlockCard fees is not complete, and you should check the terms and conditions before applying for a crypto debit card.
As for the offered cashback, it is as high as 6.38%, which is quite generous comparing to most rivals.
Daily spending limits vary based on a card type. You can spend no more than $5000 with a virtual/plastic/metal BlockCard card, while spending limits through the wallet are infinite. ATM withdrawals are limited to 500 per day. Their VISA supports 12 cryptocurrencies, which is, surely, a good figure.