Best crypto cards: Crypto debit and credit cards compared

Oct 29•6 min read

The short answer:

Тhe best crypto card depends on how you want to spend. A crypto debit card spends from your balance, usually by converting crypto at checkout. A crypto credit card lets you spend against a credit line, so you don't sell your crypto for each purchase. Some cards, like the Nexo Card, offer both modes in one card.

When a debit card converts crypto at checkout, you give up that crypto's potential upside. In many jurisdictions, each conversion can also count as a taxable event. Spending against a credit line backed by your crypto avoids selling at the point of sale. Below, we compare five popular crypto cards.

Data checked October 2026. Cashback, fees, and availability vary by tier, region, and identity verification status.

Crypto cards compared

Crypto debit card or crypto credit card?

  • Choose a crypto debit card if you want to spend only what you hold and keep budgeting straightforward. Keep in mind that converting crypto at checkout means selling it.
  • Choose a crypto credit card if you hold crypto for the long term and want to spend without selling it. You'll pay interest on what you borrow if you carry a balance, so check the rate and how repayment works.
  • Choose a dual-mode card if you want both options and the freedom to switch between them.

Detailed card profiles

Nexo Card: One card with Credit Mode and Debit Mode

The Nexo Card lets you switch between Credit Mode and Debit Mode in a single tap in the Nexo app.

  • Spend without selling in Credit Mode: Purchases draw on your Credit Line, backed by your digital assets, so you keep your crypto. Gold Tier clients pay 3.9% and Platinum Tier clients pay 1.9% annual interest when their Credit Wallet LTV is below 20%. There are no minimum monthly repayments.
  • Get up to 2% crypto cashback: Credit Mode purchases earn 0.5%–2% back in NEXO Tokens or 0.1%–0.5% in BTC, depending on your Loyalty Tier. Monthly cashback limits range from $50 to $200.
  • Generate interest in Debit Mode: Your spendable balance can earn up to 13% annual interest, paid out daily, until the moment you spend.
  • Spend worldwide: Use the card wherever Mastercard is accepted, at over 100 million merchants, or add it to Apple Pay and Google Pay.
  • No monthly or annual fees: ATM withdrawals with no Nexo fee range from €200 to €2,000 per month, depending on your Loyalty Tier.

Get started: activate your virtual Nexo Card from the Nexo app. A virtual card needs a portfolio balance of at least $50. A physical card needs at least $5,000 and Gold or Platinum Loyalty Tier.

Coinbase Card: Visa debit card and Amex credit card

Coinbase provides distinct cards tailored to debit and credit spending:

  • Coinbase Visa debit card: Spends cash or automatically converts crypto from your Coinbase account at point of sale, offering optional rotating crypto rewards of up to 4%. It has no annual fee and is available to eligible US users.
  • Coinbase One Card (Amex): A dedicated revolving American Express credit card (issued by First Electronic Bank) requiring an active Coinbase One membership Cardholders earn up to 4% back in BTC based on Assets on Coinbase (AOC), alongside standard Amex purchase and travel protection.

Crypto.com Visa Card: Tiered prepaid card

Crypto.com's prepaid Visa card is integrated into its Level Up reward structure.

  • Prepaid model: You fund and top up the card using crypto or fiat before spending.
  • Tiered cashback: Base cardholders receive 0% back, while higher tiers earn up to 4.5%–5% back in CRO. Accessing higher rewards requires either a monthly membership fee ($4.99 to $29.99/mo) or a 12-month CRO lockup/stake. The value of CRO rewards fluctuates with token market prices.

Bybit Card: Debit card for Bybit traders

The Bybit Card spends straight from your Bybit Funding Account.

  • Cashback: Offers 2% to 10% cashback across tiered VIP levels on crypto-funded spending (subject to monthly tier caps), with Bybit EU advertising a baseline 1% uncapped rate for non-VIPs.
  • Fees: Zero annual and issuance fees, though crypto conversion and standard FX fees apply when spending non-fiat or foreign currencies
  • Availability: Selected European Economic Area (EEA) and international regions; not available in the United States or the UK

Gemini Credit Card: Crypto rewards on a standard credit card

The Gemini Credit Card is an official Mastercard credit card issued by WebBank that automatically earns rewards in crypto.

  • Rewards: 4% back on gas, EV charging, and transit (on up to $300 in monthly spend, then 1%), 3% back on dining, 2% back on groceries, and 1% on all other purchases. Rewards deposit instantly in your choice of 50+ cryptocurrencies.
  • Fees: $0 annual fee and $0 foreign transaction fees.
  • Availability: Available across all 50 US states and Puerto Rico.

How to choose the best crypto card

  1. Check availability first. Many crypto cards are strictly limited to certain countries.
  2. Read the cashback conditions. Top rates often require token lockups, monthly subscriptions, or high asset balances, and higher tiers frequently come with monthly spending caps.
  3. Count every fee. Look at subscription costs, crypto conversion spreads, FX transaction charges, and ATM withdrawal limits.
  4. Decide how you want to spend. Converting crypto at checkout liquidates your position and can trigger taxable events. Spending against an asset-backed line of credit avoids instant sales but incurs interest on borrowed balances.

Frequently asked questions

1. What is the best crypto card?

It depends on where you live and how you want to spend. The Nexo Card offers European and UK holders the flexibility of dual modes, letting you alternate between Debit Mode for liquid spending with daily interest and Credit Mode to borrow against your holdings and receive up to 2% cashback. Meanwhile, US cardholders can explore options like the Coinbase Card or Gemini Credit Card.

2. What is the difference between a crypto debit card and a crypto credit card?

A crypto debit card spends from your balance, often by converting crypto at checkout. A crypto credit card lets you spend against a credit line, so you pay later and don't need to sell crypto for each purchase.

3. Does spending crypto with a card trigger taxes?

In many jurisdictions, converting crypto to pay for a purchase counts as a sale and may be taxable. Spending against a crypto-backed credit line may avoid this. Tax rules differ by country, so check with a qualified tax advisor.

4. Where is the Nexo Card available?

Eligibility for the Nexo Card is limited to supported European countries, primarily within the EEA and the UK. It is not available to residents of the US or other excluded markets. To verify whether the card can be issued in your country, visit the Card section in the Nexo app or web platform.

5. How much cashback does the Nexo Card offer?

Credit Mode purchases earn 0.5%–2% back in NEXO Tokens or 0.1%–0.5% in BTC, depending on your Loyalty Tier. Debit Mode purchases don't earn cashback.

The Nexo Card is only available to citizens and residents of the European Economic Area (EEA), the United Kingdom, Andorra, Monaco, Argentina, and other selected jurisdictions.

Eligibility for cashback is subject to specific terms and conditions. Certain transactions may not qualify for cashback. For more details, please read this article. The crypto rewards you will receive depend on your Loyalty Tier.

When terms such as "up to" or "from" are used to denote limits, achieving these maximum or minimum thresholds may be conditional on additional actions or fulfilment of certain criteria and requirements that may not be attainable by all clients.

This material is for general information purposes only and is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult a qualified professional, as this material is not tailored to your specific circumstances.

These materials are accessible globally, and the availability of this information does not constitute access to the services described, which services may not be available in certain jurisdictions. These materials are for general information purposes only and not intended as financial, legal, tax or investment advice, offer, solicitation, recommendation, or endorsement to use any of the Nexo Services and are not personalized, or in any way tailored to reflect particular investment objectives, financial situation or needs.

Digital assets are subject to a high degree of risk, including but not limited to volatile market price dynamics, regulatory changes, and technological advancements. The past performance of digital assets is not a reliable indicator of future results. Digital assets are not money or legal tender, are not backed by the government or by a central bank, and most do not have any underlying assets, revenue stream, or another source of value.

Independent judgment based on personal circumstances should be exercised, and consultation with a qualified professional is recommended before making any decision.