Coinbase Card Review
Coinbase Card is a crypto debit card that enables cardholders to directly spend their crypto assets on everyday purchases wherever Visa is accepted. The card currently supports 9 popular crypto assets and is available in most European Economic Area (EEA) countries.
Note: Coinbase Card is currently not available in the US.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Efficient - The Coinbase Card enables users to spend crypto assets from their existing Coinbase wallet. It supports contactless payments, enabling cardholders to tap their cards against a POS machine at physical stores rather than swiping or inserting a chip when making a payment.
- Legitimacy - Coinbase is the first cryptocurrency exchange to become a Visa principal member. The company expects that this status will lead to additional features, services, and cardholder availability in more countries.
Cons
- Exchange Fees - A 2.49% crypto liquidation fee will be charged whenever cardholders make an online or in-store purchase with their crypto assets. This fee is steep in comparison to other card issuers.
- Limited Availability - Cardholder eligibility is currently limited to EEA residents.
- No Cash Balance Support - The Coinbase Card does not support the spending of fiat balances in your account. Cardholders are required to use their crypto asset balances, which includes the 2.49% liquidation fee.
Coinbase Card Overview
Card Network | Visa |
---|---|
Supported Currency | EUR, GBP |
Issuing Exchange | Coinbase Pro |
Virtual Card Support | |
Available in US | |
Available Regions | UK & EEA |
Card Delivery | 5-7 business days |
Crypto-to-Fiat Fees | 2.49% |
Top Up Assets | ETH, XRP, BTC, ZRX, REP, BAT, BCH, XLM |
Top Up Stablecoins | DAI |
Top Up Methods | Crypto Deposit, Direct Deposit, ACH Credit, SWIFT, SEPA |
NFC Support | |
Mobile Wallets | Google Pay |
KYC Check | |
Credit Check | |
Issuing Bank | Paysafe Financial Services Limited |
Benefits & Rewards | No Rewards |
Benefits & Rewards
The Coinbase Card does not currently offer cardholder benefits or rewards.
Coinbase Card Notable Fees and Limits
Physical Card Issuance $4.95 |
Virtual Card Issuance $4.95 |
Domestic ATM 1% |
International ATM 2% |
Domestic Transactions Free |
Intra-EEA Transactions 0.20% |
International Transactions 3% |
Card Replacement $4.95 |
Chargeback Processing $20 |
Monthly Maintenance Free |
Dormancy Free |
ACH Decline No ACH |
ACH Payments No ACH |
Coinbase Card Spending Limits
Daily Spending $10,000 |
Monthly Spending $20,000 |
Yearly Spending $100,000 |
Daily ATM $500 |
Card Balance No Limit |
Daily Top Up No Limit |
How to Get the Card
In order to qualify for a Coinbase Card, existing Coinbase exchange users must request a card through the Coinbase Card mobile app.
The card application process works as follows:
- Cardholders use their existing Coinbase exchange account credentials to log in and sign up for a card.
- The same KYC registration requirements for a Coinbase exchange account apply to cardholders. Users who pass the initial Coinbase exchange account identity verification process shouldn’t have a problem applying for a Coinbase Card.
- Coinbase charges a physical card issuance fee of £4.95 or €4.95. This fee is paid using the crypto asset balance in your linked Coinbase exchange account. Cardholder applicants can pay with BTC, ETH, LTC, BCH, XRP, BAT, REP, ZRX, or XLM. Fiat currency is not supported for card issuance fee payments.
- According to Coinbase, cards are mailed out every afternoon, Monday through Friday.
- Applicants who sign up for a Coinbase Card should receive their card in the mail within 5 to 7 business days.
Mobile App Experience
Mobile Management |
Change Pin |
Security Lock |
Statements |
Google Pay |
Apple Pay |
Samsung Pay |
The Coinbase Card mobile app is used for card registration, card activation, and fund deposits.
Here are a few key details about the mobile app:
Card Activation
Once a cardholder receives their card in the mail, they can easily use the Coinbase Card mobile app to activate the card. In the package, cardholders will find the physical card, along with a letter that includes the card’s activation code.
Cards can also be activated via phone. To find a local support number, go to the mobile app and tap ‘Card Settings’ > ‘Call Support’. Be sure to have your activation code ready when calling.
Adding Fiat & Crypto Assets
The Coinbase Card is linked to the existing balance of your Coinbase exchange account. The card does not currently support direct fiat currency deposits or spending, but fiat can be used to purchase crypto assets via your Coinbase exchange account.
The available crypto balances are BTC, ETH, LTC, BCH, XRP, BAT, REP, ZRX, XLM, and the recently-added DAI stablecoin.
Coinbase enables you to deposit crypto assets, which can then be spent with the debit card.
Accepted fiat currency deposit methods vary for each country. Most users from supported regions can deposit via PayPal, 3-D Secure, debit card, or credit card. From there, users must convert fiat currency to a crypto asset supported by Coinbase Card.
Withdrawing Crypto Assets
Mobile app users can withdraw crypto assets to external wallets by paying standard blockchain transaction fees. The average cost of BTC withdrawals, for example, is around $0.10. In order to initiate a crypto withdrawal, Coinbase typically requires users to complete identity verification first. Specific account limits based on verification status can be found on the Account Levels page.
How to Use the Card
Using Coinbase Card for purchases is comparable to using traditional debit cards, with only a few slight differences.
- Cardholder deposits or purchases crypto assets on their Coinbase exchange account.
- Cardholder links their Coinbase exchange account to their Coinbase Card account.
- Cardholder directly spends crypto assets online or in-store at any Visa-approved merchant.
- Visa verifies that there are sufficient funds available to complete the cardholder’s transaction.
- Coinbase converts crypto assets to fiat currency on behalf of the cardholder.
- The merchant receives payment in their local fiat currency, regardless of which crypto asset has been selected.
Coinbase Card Alternatives
Rating | 7/10 | 6/10 | 5.5/10 |
---|---|---|---|
Supported Currency | EUR, GBP | USD | EUR, GBP |
Physical Card Issuance Fee | $4.95 | $10.00 | Free |
Domestic ATM Fee | 1% | $2.50 | $1.75 |
Crypto-to-Fiat Fees | 2.49% | 1% | 1% |
International Transaction Fee | 3% | 3% | 3% |
Mobile Wallets | Google Pay | Google Pay, Apple Pay | |
Available Regions | UK & EEA | U.S | UK, EEA, APAC, AF, NA, & SA |
Learn More | Review | Review | Review |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coinbase Card available to residents of the United States?
Does Coinbase Card support Apple Pay?
Does Coinbase Card support Google Pay?
Does Coinbase require Coinbase Card applicants to identify themselves via KYC?
How do I add funds to my Coinbase Card?
Can I spend crypto assets directly using my Coinbase Card?
What fees are associated with using the Coinbase Card?
Does Coinbase support contactless payments?
Are there spending limits attached to Coinbase Card?
Does Coinbase Card have a mobile app?
Conclusion: Is Coinbase Card Worth It?
Coinbase is undoubtedly one of the most reputable cryptocurrency exchanges. With this worldwide name recognition, one would expect the Coinbase Card to be a high-quality option.
High transaction fees and low ATM withdrawal limits are the main drawbacks to this crypto debit card. Many customers have complained that the mobile app user experience is also lacking, especially when compared to the main Coinbase exchange app.
Due to becoming a Visa principal member in February 2020, Coinbase may be able to offer additional services and market expansion. Coinbase may issue Visa cards directly to consumers, rather than relying on third party banks. This could eventually result in the removal of extremely high additional fees. That being said, Coinbase decided to work with a third party bank, MetaBank®, N.A., for the initial issuance of Coinbase Card in the US market.
Although the card’s fee structure initially made it an unappealing product, the introduction of cashback rewards in October 2020 helps offset high fees. This added benefit, along with the company’s reputation in the crypto space, could become a catalyst for the mainstream adoption of Coinbase Card.
Company Facts
Legal Name | Coinbase, Inc. |
---|---|
Incorporated Country | United States |
Headquarters | San Francisco, CA United States |
Year Founded | 2012 |
CEO | Brian Armstrong |
Total Employees | 500+ |
Regulators | Money Services Business with FinCEN |
Links | Website, Twitter, Blog, LinkedIn, Crunchbase |