Top 5 crypto cards for 2024

Using cryptocurrencies for payments in stores, online shopping, and service payments has long ceased to be unusual. However, often this requires a series of not too convenient operations: converting coins or tokens into stablecoins, and then finding a way to turn them into regular money. But imagine if everything was simpler: you enter a café, tap your phone to the bank terminal, and voilà — bitcoins are debited, and you enjoy your drink. Thanks to cryptocurrency cards, this has become a reality. In this article, Obmify will look at the best options for such cards, their advantages and disadvantages, to help choose the best option for Ukrainians.

*Due to the lack of a legislative base, not all services are currently available in Ukraine. However, the Ukrainian neobank Trustee Plus offers Ukrainian citizens to issue and use cryptocurrency cards, which are available in the European Economic Area. It is expected that the situation may change after the “Virtual Assets” law comes into effect. But the rating will still be useful, as many citizens had to leave the territory of Ukraine due to Russian aggression.

How to Choose a Crypto Card

When choosing a crypto card, several important factors should be considered:

• Reliability of the issuer: It is important to choose a crypto card from an issuer with a good reputation and reliability. This ensures the safety of your funds and confidence in the stability of the services.
• Conversion method: Different crypto cards offer different mechanisms for converting cryptocurrency into fiat money. It’s important to understand how this process occurs and at what point — at the time of transaction or in advance.
• Fees: Always pay attention to the fees for card maintenance, transactions, currency conversion, and other operations. This can significantly affect the total cost of using the crypto card.
• Supported cryptocurrencies: It is important that the card supports the cryptocurrencies you plan to use regularly.

In the following sections, we will discuss five crypto cards suitable for everyday use and evaluate their main options and features.

Top 5 Best Crypto Cards

Trustee Plus

Trustee Plus is a Ukrainian platform for managing digital assets, focused on cryptocurrencies. Its main product is the Trustee Plus app, available on App Store and Google Play. Users can buy and store cryptocurrencies and apply for a crypto card through the app. The crypto card, in partnership with MasterCard, enables worldwide payments, including in Ukraine, with automatic conversion of euros to hryvnias. The daily limit is €5000, and the standard card issuance cost is €10.

Pros:

• Easy connection for Ukrainian citizens through the “Diia” app.
• Supports Google Pay and Apple Pay.
• Low currency exchange fee of only 0.5%.

Cons:

• Card issuance cost is €10.

Binance Card

Binance Card is a cryptocurrency card from the popular cryptocurrency exchange, available in physical and virtual formats in the European Economic Area. The card is known for supporting a wide range of cryptocurrencies, the reliability of the issuer, and a loyalty program using the BNB token. It is linked to the user’s exchange account and supports automatic cryptocurrency-to-euro conversion as needed.

Additional Note:

However, in September 2023, the company ceased card services in Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia, with plans to do the same in the European Economic Area on December 20. On November 7, 2023, Binance announced a collaboration with the fintech project CardB, allowing users from eight countries, including Ukraine and Moldova, to issue a virtual crypto card.

Pros:

• Free card issuance.
• Direct integration with Binance account.
• Supports Google Pay and Apple Pay.

Cons:

• Relatively high fee – 0.9%.
• Planned discontinuation by the end of the year.
• Card replacement is issued by another issuer.

Bybit Card

Bybit Card is a new product from the Bybit cryptocurrency exchange. The card operates similarly to the Binance Card, being linked to the user’s exchange balance and automatically converting cryptocurrency to fiat for payments.

Pros:

• Free card issuance.
• Linked to the Bybit account.
• Low currency exchange fee of 0.5%.

Cons:

• Currently does not support Google Pay and Apple Pay.

Coinbase Card

Coinbase Card is a cryptocurrency card from the regulated US exchange Coinbase. It is available as a physical Visa card for USD payments. Users can use any supported cryptocurrency on the platform (converted to USD) or credit taken against cryptocurrency collateral on the Coinbase platform for transactions.

Pros:

• Free card issuance.
• Integration with Coinbase account.
• No conversion fees.

Cons:

• Limited geographical availability.
• Possible price disparities during conversion.
• No information on compatibility with Google Pay or Apple Pay.
• Information on converted assets is reported to the US tax authorities.

Crypto.com Visa Card

Crypto.com Visa Card is a project of the Crypto.com cryptocurrency exchange, which initially started as a provider of crypto cards. The card offers different levels depending on the amount of staked CRO tokens. Premium cardholders not only receive rewards in CRO but also enjoy various bonuses such as access to airport lounges, discounts on streaming services, and OTC trading access.

Pros:

• Available in most major jurisdictions.
• Variety of products with special bonuses.

Cons:

• Complex fee system.
• Requires manual top-up.
• Does not support Google Pay and Apple Pay.
• Access to card variations depends on CRO token staking.

Conclusion

In summary, we have examined five popular crypto cards that offer various options for making cryptocurrency payments. Each of these cards has its own features, from supporting a wide range of cryptocurrencies to unique loyalty programs. When choosing a crypto card, it is important to consider not only your personal needs and preferences but also the terms of use, availability in your region, and the level of fees.