Market Analysis: Crypto Cards in 2024

This article dives into the top crypto payment cards, analyzing how they work, their limitations, and what the future holds for crypto cards.

Have you heard of Bitcoin Pizza Day? On May 22nd, 2010, a BTC miner named Laszlo Hanyecz paid 10,000 BTC for two Papa John’s pizzas. Although this transaction sounds outrageous today, it is celebrated because it is the first known real-world BTC transaction. Ever since the inception of cryptocurrency, developers have been working to create real-world payment solutions for everyday use. However, the inherent challenges of a decentralized blockchain and the long processing times have held them back for over a decade. This article will analyze the top crypto payment cards on the market today, how they work, what they lack, and what’s in store for the future of crypto cards. 

Today, the market offers credit cards that give rewards in cryptocurrency and crypto debit cards with rewards. For this discussion, we will only analyze crypto debit cards that enable you to pay, withdraw, and transact where cards are accepted. Crypto debit cards allow users to integrate their cryptocurrency holdings into their everyday spending habits seamlessly. These cards operate like traditional debit cards, enabling users to purchase online or in person, withdraw cash from ATMs, and perform other financial transactions. However, instead of being linked to a bank account and traditional currency, crypto debit cards are connected to a third-party wallet, allowing users to spend their Bitcoin or other supported cryptocurrencies directly. 

After analyzing the top 6 cards on the market, i.e., Coinbase, Wirex, Crypto.com, Binance, Bybit, and BitPay, this stood out as the standard operating procedure for crypto debit cards today: 

1. Loading Funds: Users can load their Bitcoin debit cards by transferring Bitcoin or other supported cryptocurrencies from their digital wallets to the card’s associated wallet address. Some cards also allow users to load funds through bank transfers or other payment methods.
2. Conversion to Fiat: Upon loading funds, Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies are converted into fiat currency (e.g., USD, EUR, GBP) at the current exchange rate. This conversion typically occurs in real-time, allowing users to spend their cryptocurrency seamlessly at merchants that do not directly accept digital currencies.
3. Spending: Crypto debit cards can be used for online and in-store purchases like traditional debit cards. Users can also withdraw cash from ATMs using their debit cards, making them versatile financial tools for everyday use.
4. Fees: Crypto debit cards may incur fees for various transactions, including loading funds, converting cryptocurrencies to fiat, capital gains tax, and ATM withdrawals. These fees vary depending on the card provider and the specific terms and conditions associated with the card.

Benefits and Limitations of Crypto Debit Cards

Convenience: Crypto debit cards allow users to access their cryptocurrency holdings for everyday spending without converting funds back and forth between digital and fiat currencies. However, almost all cards require users to open a wallet with the card provider and lock up a certain amount of value in their native coin to use the card. No one in the market offers integration with a non-custodial wallet like MetaMask. 

Global Acceptance: Crypto debit cards allow users to spend their cryptocurrency at millions of merchants worldwide that accept traditional debit cards, making crypto more accessible for everyday transactions. However, the cards mentioned above are only available in some places and have geographical limitations.

Ref: https://koinly.io/blog/best-crypto-debit-card/

Exchange rate and fees: As listed in the table above, crypto debit cards have fees that can impact the overall cost of the transaction. Dynamic or uncertain fees make it difficult for users to spend their crypto confidently. 

Regulatory Compliance and Security: Some crypto debit card providers may require users to undergo KYC (Know Your Customer) verification procedures to comply with regulatory requirements. Due to regulatory discrepancies, only some of these cards are offered worldwide. Users should research and choose reputable debit card providers to ensure security, reliability, and customer support. These debit cards provide security features such as PIN protection, transaction monitoring, and the ability to freeze or block the card in case of loss or theft, providing users with peace of mind when using their cryptocurrency for transactions.

CrossFi Card

The CrossFi Card is a lightning-fast, unrestricted global card that uses a non-custodial wallet for making transactions. It uses the native CrossFi chain and has multi-chain capabilities for working with other cryptocurrencies. No assets need to be locked up to activate the card, and there is a flat 2% transaction fee for every purchase. Our virtual card will be available through the app, and Visa physical cards can be delivered anywhere in the world. Our companion CrossFi app offers integrated banking features, like card issuance, activation, locking, currency exchange, cross-border transfers, multi-currency cards, and more. 

The CrossFi card solves the problem of using multiple wallets, locking up your assets, high fees and exchange rates, and instant decentralized payments using the cutting-edge CrossFi financial ecosystem. Our proprietary technology enables us to offer these never-before-seen features for a genuinely DeFi transaction experience. Although crypto debit cards have been a viable solution, the future demands greater flexibility, accessibility, and control over user finances with features CrossFi has created and brought to market. To learn more about the card or order your own, visit https://www.crossfi.app/