What it is

A crypto debit card looks and behaves like the debit card from your bank. It runs on a card network such as [CARD NETWORK], it works in shops, online and in Apple Pay or Google Pay where available, and it is issued by a licensed card issuer.

The difference is where the money comes from. Instead of a salary landing in a bank account, you send crypto from your own wallet. The provider converts it to a currency the card can spend, usually EUR or USD, and holds that balance for you.

When you tap the card, the shop is paid in its own currency through the network. The shop never sees crypto. You never have to visit an exchange.

What happens between wallet and checkout

There are four steps, and a good provider shows you each one.

1. Deposit. You pick an asset (say USDC) and a chain (say Base). Your Fundly account gives you a deposit address. You send from your wallet.
2. Confirmation. The provider waits for the chain to confirm the transaction. On Solana this is seconds. On Ethereum it is a few minutes. On Bitcoin it can be longer.
3. Conversion. The deposit is converted to your account currency at a published rate, with the fee shown before you send. This is the step where hidden spreads live, so read the rate.
4. Spend. Your balance is now ordinary money on a card. Tap, pay online, add to your phone wallet.

At Fundly the whole path typically takes under five minutes. See how deposits work for the chain by chain detail.

Debit, not credit

A crypto debit card spends what you have already deposited. There is no credit line and no credit check. If your balance is zero, the card declines. That is by design. It keeps the product simple and it keeps you in control.

What it costs

Most crypto cards have three fees that matter.

• Deposit or top-up fee. Charged when crypto is converted. Fundly charges 1% on Free (min 1 EUR), 0.5% on Plus and 0% on Premium.
• FX fee. Charged when you pay in a currency other than your account currency. Fundly charges 1.5% on Free, 0.5% on Plus and 0% on Premium, shown before every payment.
• Spread. The gap between the market rate and the rate you get. This is where many cards quietly earn. Fundly publishes the rate source and the fee before every deposit and does not add a hidden spread.

Some cards also charge a monthly fee, an ATM fee and a physical card fee. All of ours are on the pricing page.

Instant or verified

Many providers only issue a card after full identity verification. Fundly offers two tiers.

The Instant card needs an email, a phone number, a country check and screening. It is issued in minutes as a virtual card. Limits apply: roughly 1,000 to 2,500 EUR a month and around 500 EUR per transaction, set by our issuing partner.

The Verified card needs ID verification. It unlocks higher limits, a physical card, ATM withdrawals and an EUR IBAN account.

Who is it for

People who already hold crypto and want to spend it without an exchange in the middle. Freelancers paid in stablecoins. Nomads without a local account. Anyone whose bank makes crypto income awkward.

What to check before you sign up

• Can you deposit from your own wallet, or only from an exchange balance?
• Which chains and assets are supported?
• Is the rate shown before the deposit, and is the spread disclosed?
• What are the FX and ATM fees, and are they in the marketing or only in the fine print?
• Who issues the card, and who holds your money?

If a provider cannot answer these on its website, that is your answer.