How To Get A Bitcoin Debit Card
Bitcoin debit cards help bridge the Bitcoin world with traditional finance and you can either buy Bitcoins with your debit card or load a debit card with bitcoins to then spend bitcoins at almost any credit card accepting merchant.
- Overview - Table of Contents
- Cryptopay VISA Debit Card
- SpectroCoin Debit Card
- Uquid Debit Card
- Bitpay VISA Debit Card
- Xapo Debit Card
- Coinbase Shift Card
- Bitwala VISA Debit Card
- Services To Avoid
Buying bitcoins with a debit card is incredibly easy and we recommend SpectroCoin.
While Bitcoin debit cards do not allow users to spend bitcoins directly they at least allow people to store balances in bitcoin.
Since most debit card top ups only take a few seconds to confirm then bitcoin balances can be held up until the need to spend.
Cryptopay Debit Card
The oldest and most established Bitcoin debit card, the Cryptopay bitcoin debit VISA card with over 23,000 issued. Cryptopay bitcoin cards have made it simple for customers to spend bitcoins at millions of businesses around the world.
For purchases both online and offline, Cryptopay makes the process convenient for users and easier than ever for merchants.
There are both plastic and virtual Cryptopay Bitcoin cards issued. Cryptopay customers are not required to complete ID verification provided if they are happy to stay within the lower debit card limits. It is possible to stay anonymous where desired.
Costs range between €15.00, £15.00, $15.00 and €2.50, £2.50, $2.50 depending on currency, location and card limits.
SpectroCoin VISA Debit Card
SpectroCoin offers Bitcoin prepaid cards, which can be used at any ATM around the globe or shops as an ordinary payment card.
The card is funded instantly, so you do not have to worry about exchanging your bitcoins in advance.
The card can be denominated in dollars (USD), euros (EUR) or pounds (GBP).
Pay with bitcoins wherever you want. SpectroCoin bitcoin debit card is accepted everywhere where MasterCard or VISA is accepted. That includes automated teller machines (ATMs) for cash withdrawal, online sites, and physical shops. This Bitcoin debit card can also be linked to PayPal or any other online wallet.
Virtual and physical bitcoin debit cards are available. Virtual bitcoin cards are issued instantly and can be used to spend bitcoins anywhere online. Physical bitcoin cards are delivered within 1-4 weeks and can be used to spend bitcoins anywhere physically and online.
Instant loading. Bitcoin debit cards can be loaded immediately from SpectroCoin wallet.
No verification required. To simplify the process, you are not obliged to complete verification immediately. However, to benefit from higher debit card limits, you will have to verify your account.
Cards in several currencies are available. USD (dollar), EUR (euro) and GBP (pound) cards are issued.
Multiple digital currencies this debit card can be funded with various digital currencies including Bitcoin, DASH and more.
Low fees are guaranteed for SpectroCoin bitcoin debit card holders. The dollar, euro or pound denominated debit card costs 9 USD/8 EUR/6 GBP respectively. There is also no loading fee.
Unlimited lifetime withdrawals and deposits to the bitcoin debit card for verified cardholders. Other limits also being high.
Uquid VISA Debit Card
Uquid guaranteed for free access to Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoint, PIVX, Ripple, Monero, DASH and other 75 cryptocurrencies network.
Uquid enables users to utilise all the benefits of transfer coins into the debit card with real market price.
With guaranteed provides an easy and hassle-free. Unbanked and travellers can obtain a Visa debit card with no identification or credit check required and free delivery to 178+ countries.
Uquid users can spend over 75 different cryptocurrencies on mobile top ups, bill payments, pharmacy and food vouchers, transportation tickets, wi-fi recharges, and PIN-less calls.
BitPay VISA Debit Card
Although the newest Bitcoin debit card, BitPay's VISA card is perhaps the most exciting of the bunch. It is the first Bitcoin debit card that is available to US residents from all 50 states.
BitPay's debit card costs $9.95 to order, and arrives 7-10 days after purchase. It can be used online, in-person, and also works with any ATM that works with VISA cards.
Unlike Shift's debit card (featured below), deposits lock in value in dollars. Shift's debit card spends directly from your Coinbase balance, which creates an accounting nightmare for capital gains taxes when it comes time to file.
Xapo Debit Card
Xapo's debit card was the first to market. It is available in most European countries, but not the United States.
The Xapo debit card costs $20 and also has an annual fee of $12. Once ordered, the card takes 10-25 days to be delivered. It debits funds directly from your Xapo web wallet.
Coinbase / Shift Card
Shift was the first Bitcoin debit card available to U.S. residents. It is currently available to residents in 41 U.S. states.
The Shift card connects to your Coinbase account. For each debit card purchase, it automatically withdrawals the necessary amount of bitcoins based on the dollar value of the transaction.
For now, the Shift card is completely free to use but costs $10 to purchase. Shift and Coinbase have both stated that in the future there will be transaction fees for each purchase.
Bitwala Visa Debit Card
Bitwala’s VISA debit card is the most affordable bitcoin debit card on the market, both in terms of card price and the lowest, transparent fees that follow card usage.
The Bitwala debit cards are issued in both physical and virtual forms and costs €2.00. Customers can also enjoy a super low 0.5% (€1 min.) fee for card top ups using Bitcoin or Altcoins.
Denominated in Euros, the Bitwala debit card can be used to pay online and offline where VISA is accepted. Cardholders can also cash out at any ATM worldwide with the best rates and transparent fees.
Bitwala offers 2 shipping plans: Free of charge (Arrives 7-10 days after purchase, no tracking information) and express shipping that costs €69.00 (Arrives 3-5 days after purchase incl. tracking information).
Services To Avoid
BitPlastic - was among the first Bitcoin debit cards. However, they do not appear to be innovating much.
Supposedly they are TOR compatible but I get strange error messages whenever I try to use their services. Perhaps I have too much cybersecurity on my computer for them!!
Additionally, many websites may fail to process a card with no-name. And if you lose your card then you have lost your funds so be extra careful!
E-Coin/Wirexapp - The signup process was extremely poor and required a phone verification. Then the account did not even function properly. So I am not sure they even offer a legitimate Bitcoin debit card at all. So just steer clear of these guys.