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Crypto Debit Cards Offer Everyday Spending Convenience

By Shannon Wilson | January 23, 2019
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As cryptocurrencies become more and more widely accepted as a payment option across markets, an increasing number of crypto debit cards have also been surfacing to provide a means for spending crypto in a convenient, familiar form – just swipe, scan or tap the card. 

Here, we give you a rundown of 8 crypto debit cards from around the world.

  • Bitpay

Bitpay has a prepaid Visa card tied to a customer’s crypto wallet, allowing conversions from Bitcoin (BTC) and Bitcoin Cash (BCH) to USD, and local fiat currency outside the US. Users need to provide their home address, a valid government-issued ID and social security number to apply.

The card is available to users from the US with an issuing fee of $9.55. After inactivity for 90 days, a dormancy fee of $5 per month is charged. ATM cash withdrawals cost $3 in the US, and $5 internationally.

  • Shift

Also from the US, Shift lets its users draw from their Coinbase accounts, and may be better for spending with in the US than outside it. Running on Visa, the card itself costs $20. Though it has no maintenance fee, international transactions are subject to a 3% commission. Compared to Bitpay, its ATM withdrawal fee is slightly cheaper – $2.50 in the US and $3.50 in other countries. Shift only supports BTC but offers free conversion from BTC to USD.

  • Wirex

In Europe, UK-based Wirex is the main go-to. It offers customers both virtual and physical Visa debit cards (the latter has a chip and PIN facility). Users can load the card with BTC, ETH, XRP, LTC, and WAVES, while spending fiat in EUR, GBP or USD.

The card has a monthly management fee of $1.50, but similar ATM withdrawals fees to Shift – $2.50 within Europe, $3.50 elsewhere. It is currently only available to residents of the European Economic Area (EEA), but Wirex plans to expand into North America and Asia as well. In-store shopping is rewarded with a 0.5% crypto cashback in BTC.

  • Revolut

Revolut is a UK alternative to Wirex. Its contactless Mastercard comes with free ATM withdrawals of up to an equivalent of EUR600/month, and crypto payments are rewarded with up to 1% cashback. Its premium version supports five major coins, BTC, BCH, ETH, XRP and LTC and allows users to spend in over 150 fiat currencies for $16 a month.

  • Cryptopay

Cryptopay is another platform providing both virtual and physical cards, the latter of which costs $15 to issue. Only available in Russia for now, Cryptopay intends to expand next in Singapore. BTC, ETH, LTC, and XRP are supported. Cards bears a 1% loading fee, and monthly service fee of 65 Russian Rubles (less than USD1). Cryptopay charges users $2.50 for ATM withdrawals and 3% commission for each exchange transaction.

  • Aximetria

Swiss-based Aximetria is another option for crypto users from Russia. The platform supports BTC and ETH for both online and offline payments through instant conversion to fiat.

  • Fuzex

Taking BCH as it base crypto, Fuzex cards also support ETH and its native token FXT. They are available to users in Europe the Asia Pacific. Physical cards come with an EMV chip, a barcode display, and can perform contactless transactions.

  • Crypto.com

The MCO Visa prepaid card is a product of Hong Kong-based Crypto.com. The card allows holders to make transactions and track digital coins such as BTC, ETH, BNB, its native MCO tokens, and major fiat currencies. In October, Crypto.com said it would start shipping its cards to Singapore. It is also working on issuing cards in the US.

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