Cryptocurrency is the digitalized money of the modern era. These digital assets are recorded and existent in the form of electronic databases. The ledger system that stored the currency is called the blockchain. These databases are strongly encrypted to preserve transaction records. Today, many nations have legalized cryptocurrency like bitcoin, but it is still legal in many countries. Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency that was instantiated in the year 2008.
It has been 22 years since this entity was first released on the open-source software. It is the world’s largest cryptocurrency in the stock market. This currency is not handled by any government or central bank, or financial companies. Instead, the users can use this currency on the bitcoin network without any adversities. Online payment transactions are feasible through cryptocurrency as they charge low transaction fees. The virtual presence of this currency has curtailed the hustle of handling physical cash.
In India, the use of cryptocurrency is now legal. The Supreme Court of India has permitted the financial sector for the utilization of cryptocurrency like bitcoin. The Indian crypto community successfully managed to subdue the opposition from the Reserve Bank of India. Thus, the buying, selling, trading, and mining bitcoins is no longer illegal in India. Today 1 Bitcoin is equivalent to 952,200.88 in Indian rupees. This valuation is dependent on the condition of the market. With a population of 135.26 cores, cryptocurrency is inevitable in India. Like any normal transaction, even cryptocurrency has several wallets, debit cards, and credit cards that make transactions possible.
Through this article, I would like to enrich every bitcoin user’s knowledge about the various cards that are available in India. When bitcoin was made legal in India, the crypto business came back on track to flourish its profession. Today, several cards are available in the Indian market that has made transactions easy. The article will cover the importance of bitcoin in India and some of the best cards in India.
Bitcoin And Its Importance
In this article
The number of services accepting bitcoins is rising steadily. As bitcoin is being accepted, this has led to the growth of these funds’ transfer mode. If sellers are not accepting bitcoins, then you would have to exchange and withdraw your currency. But here, the bitcoin cards come to your rescue. They eliminate some steps of exchanging these funds and allow you to spend your money freely.
The Best Bitcoin Cards In India
A list of the various bitcoin cards is provided below.
- Crypto.com cards
- Wirex Debit card
- Cryptopay debit card
- Raxcard.com debit card
- Bitplastic.com debit card
- Nexo card
- Coinbase Bitcoin debit card
- Crypterium card
- Bitpay debit card
These are some of the popular cards that are available in India and used by many. These cards provide services that enable every user to spend their bitcoins easily. Let us explore more about all the cards mentioned above.
1. Crypto.com’s MCO Visa Card (Metal Visa Card)
This is the most famous card among bitcoin users. Crypto.com was formerly called Monaco. The MCO Visa card is a service by crypto.com. It is metallic, and it is available in various types. These cards are available in developed countries like U.S.A, Singapore, Europe, and a few others. It offers marvelous features that are highly beneficial for modern users in the 21st century. Crypto.com also provisions for altcoin called MCO. Thus, bitcoin users can also use altcoin and enjoy benefits like:
i. Free Spotify subscription and Netflix. The user can avail of the plan of his choice, for example, the family pack. But there is a limit set for these free subscriptions. If the limit exceeds then, the users need to pay for the rest. Other than the rebates, there are several cashback with the payment made. The country settings have to be changed for the Spotify account. These settings should be enabled in Singapore. Otherwise, without changing these settings, PayPal can be used to bypass it. This is done as Spotify connects the card issuer’s country and the country settings for charges.
ii. LoungeKey provides free access to business drawing rooms. These benefits are different for different cardholders. For instance, the 10K CRO card enables free access to up to 100 or fewer lounge facilities. But the 100K+ tier card provides free access to even airport lounges with an additional guest.
iii. Cashback after every transaction
iv. The CRO card tier can be downgraded after its locking period. After this, the cardholders will still make free ATM withdrawals, interbank exchanges, and access the loungey services. But the Netflix and the Spotify free subscription will downgrade. For example, if the 10K CRO card downgrades to the 1K CRO tier, the Netflix rebate will be lost, thereby dropping the cashback rate from 3% to 2%.
v. The CRO Visa card can be upgraded from its existing tier. Thus, the subsidies availed from the physical card will be changed.
vi. Cashback on bookings of Airbnb and Expedia
vii. The validation period for a visa card is 4 years.
The Utility Of MCO Tokens
1. MCO Visa Card
- Reservations for an MCO visa card
- The MCO visa cards can be upgraded to a higher tier by stacking more MCO tokens
- 5% cashbacks are available after every transaction on the MCO card
- Several purchase rebates are available for Spotify, Netflix, Expedia, and Airbnb
2. Crypto Invest
- The users can avail of discounts of up to 50%
- The portfolio can hold a portion of the MCO token
3. Crypto Credit
- When the MCO is at stake, the annual interest rate (APR) is lower at 8%
- When the MCO tokens are used as collateral, loans can be sanctioned immediately.
4. Crypto.com app
- Users can enjoy several platinum referral rewards.
- Vote for the preferred token to be added to the platform
- Receive the ad-hoc token airdrops for selected token listing
The types of metal cards by crypto.com are
- Ruby steel = low entry level for stacking 1K CRP (= 160 USD)
- Royal Indigo/Jade Green = Stacking 10K CRO (= 1.6K USD)
- Icy White/Frosted Rose Gold = High end for stacking 100K CRO (= 16K USD)
- Obsidian Black = High end for stacking 1M CRO (= 160K USD)
Some of the types of the MCO visa card are tabulated in the given tabular column.
Pros And Cons Of The Crypto.com MCO Visa Card
- The rate of cashback is high. Without charging any application fees, the MCO card offers cashback starting from 1%.
- The transactions and withdrawals across international borders are free.
- Huge benefits are accompanying the MCO visa card. These include free Netflix and Spotify subscriptions, free access to loungeKey, low interest, and so on.
- The eligibility criteria to avail of the card are low.
- When applying for the metal card, the card should be locked for a minimum period of 6 months. After 6 months, the card can be unlocked anytime. But would mean that the cardholders will be losing a lot of benefits associated with the card. Instead of unlocking, the holders can downgrade their cards and stop-loss near the cost price.
- The exchange of BTC to currency is not an automatic process. The users have to exchange the currency by themselves.
- Crypto.com does not support cross-border transactions. Thus, services like POS machines and third-party payment services are not applicable.
2. Wirex Bitcoin Debit Card
Previously called E-coin issues, the Wirex Bitcoin debit card is one of India’s most popular debit cards. In-store purchases with this card provide a 0.5% cashback. The Wirex cardholders further enjoy many rewards after making transactions. The rewards program provides 1.5% in bitcoin after using the card to make payments in restaurants, bars, shops, etc. The BTC earned through this program can be redeemed, converted, and spend. Users can purchase and sell cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin with great ease. This card can be either used physically or virtually. The card providers also have an app that helps them to track their expenses.
It is similar to any other debit card where pre-payment is not necessary. Thus, these cards are accepted wherever a normal visa card is accepted. However, prepaid cards do exist. EUR and USD cards are examples of prepaid cards. The services of these cards are only available to nationals from Europe and the UK. The GBP card is a Visa debit card. The Wirex app can be used by any users worldwide to transfer and control their money all over the world. It fully supports 37 countries. It has a 2-factor authentication and sophisticated device authorization that ensures access only to the cardholders. The funds in the Wirex account are protected to the highest level as it is PCI DSS level 1-certified.
The standard fees applicable to the Wirex Bitcoin debit card are given as follows.
The pros and cons associated with this card
- The verification is quick and easy.
- Cashback of up to 1.5% can be received on in-store purchases with a wirex card.
- A maintenance fee of £1/ month is charged on the card.
- The wirex cards are not accepted everywhere.
3. Cryptopay Debit Card
The Cryptopay debit cards enable the expenditure of bitcoins anywhere provided Visa is accepted. The cardholders can spend their bitcoins without any limit. The Cryptopay app helps them to manage their funds and beware of frauds with verified Visa. The private and secure debit card ensures effortless transactions all over the world. The cards are available in physical and virtual forms. The card is prepaid; hence there are no overdraft charges. Cryptopay maintains the funds with a lot of security. The cardholders are privileged to lock and unlock their cards with the app’s help without the authority’s assistance. The transactions make worldwide are easy to trace.
The fees charged for the plastic debit card are as follows:
The fees charged for the virtual card are as follows:
The limits set for using the Cryptopay debit card are as follows:
4. Raxcard.com Debit Card
Raxcard enables its users to make transactions anonymously. This means that the debit card users can now withdraw cash and make purchases with the card without disclosing their identity. It offers bitcoin debit services all over the world. It is one of the most popular brands and is still running. The company registered its foundation in the year 2013, but it has been functioning since 2008.
The debit card works like any other normal debit card that permits online and offline transactions for the clients. For the people who receive their salary in bitcoin or deal with cryptocurrency, the raxcard.com debit card is a great boon. Since the bitcoin wallet is directly linked to the card account, the cardholders can withdraw their cash in bitcoin without assistance from the third party.
The debit cards by raxcard are safe, secure, easy to use, and anonymous. Private data of the clients is need not be provided as identity verification is not required. Along with the bitcoin debit card, Raxcard issues 2 more types of debit cards. They are the perfect money card and the Webmoney debit card. The fee structure and limits for both these cards are the same. Raxcard does not specify the countries they ship their cards to. This is not legal as the bitcoin debit cards can be shipped to any country in the world. This practice is not followed even by the biggest BTC companies in the world.
To avail of this card, the users need to register themselves. This process is swiftly concluded without any delays. The applicants need to fill an order form and pay the amount to be deposited. Then the card is dispatched not more than 24 hours.
Anyone in the world can order the bitcoin debit card by raxcard without any restrictions. The card is distributed with a tracking number. The number enables users to track their orders.
The Raxcard company has set limits for the utilization of the bitcoin debit cards. For instance, the cash withdrawal is limited only to $10,000 per day. A top-up of $10,000 can be credited to the card without any monthly limits.
The applicants should pay a one-time fee of $50 for issuing the bitcoin debit card. This cost includes the FEDEX shipping charges for delivery within the US. For international order, the DHL shipping charges are considered. After negotiations, there is a bulk price for international users. There are no monthly or annual maintenance charges associated with the card.
The Raxcard bitcoin debit card is a viable option for users who do not wish to disclose their personal information when shopping. It is one of the cheapest cards in the bitcoin market with a good fee structure and an initial issuance fee. However, there is a huge risk associated with the company, and as there is no relevant information provided on its website. It almost resembles a scam website. Thus, enabling the fraudsters to create one of their own and loot people.
The pros and cons of the Raxcard debit card are listed as follows:
- The services are anonymous.
- There are no monthly and annual maintenance fees involved.
- There isn’t any currency exchange fee on international spending.
- The website is poorly developed, which makes it almost similar to a spam site.
- There is no information provided about the background of the company.
5. Bitplastic.com Debit Card
Bitplastic also ensures the anonymity of its clients on the web. These cards are ordered with privacy, and there is no need to provide personal information like the name, age, and nationality of the user. The cards do not list the name of the user and store his data. Similar to Raxcard, the bitplastic also does not disclose the company information over the web. This company has been delivering services since 2013. They are one of the earliest pioneers of bitcoin cards.
The bitplastic debit card enables its users to make anonymous withdrawals and transactions of funds. Once the registration and the payment procedures are resolved, identity verification is no longer mandatory. There is no need to present proofs like proof of identity and proof of residence to avail of the card facilities. The TOR network has access to the website; this is for those who keep track of their internet footprints.
The Mbank or WBK issues this card. These are the local banks of Poland. The card is accepted at any ATMs, POS terminals, and online shopping sites because their payment mode is Visa or Master Card. It has a unique PIN code for every user that is sent via email. This card is available globally, including India, China, Nigeria, including North Korea. On average, it takes almost 2 to 3 weeks for the shipment of the card. Once customers have ordered 200 pieces all over the world, then the shipment process begins. But the customers who have already ordered before the count of 200 would have to wait.
The daily limit set for transactions using this card is different for different cards. It has a limit of $1,000 set for per day transactions. The White card has a limit of $1,00,000. But the Gold card has no limit set daily. The customers are permitted to own more than one debit card, but unlimited withdrawals are not permitted.
The bitplastic debit card is free to use till transactions of up to 3,500 USD. But once this limit is exceeded, then a fee is charged. The company follows an unusual way of collecting this fee. The company collects an initial deposit of 0.2 to 0.4 BTC. When the maximum limit has reached, the deposit is returned.
There are several prepaid virtual, anonymous debit cards that this company has to offer. The range of these cards is from 20 USD to 900 USD. These virtual cards are similar to the offshore cards as they do not require identity verification.
The process of ordering a bitplastic debit card is rather simple. The interested parties should visit the official website of the company. There will be an option called“Bitcoin debit card.” This should be clicked, and then they will be led to a form that should be duly submitted with all the application details. These details are the applicant’s name, phone number, email address, and the desired card for the purchase. After applying, the virtual cards will be available within 24 hours after application. But the shipment of physical cards relies on various factors.
The pros and cons of the bitplastic debit card are listed as follows
- The services provided by bitplastic are anonymous on cyber.
- An individual can have numerous debit cards.
- But the only platform that can access data from bitplastic is the TOR network.
- Only USD currency is permitted.
- The information provided by the company is shady.
- The shipment of the physical card takes a long time.
- There a fees charges on cash withdrawals with this card.
6. Nexo Card
The Nexo card enables the cardholders to spend the value of their assets without selling them. It is available in the physical form and can also be accessed through the Nexo Mobile App. Payment with the Nexo card makes the cardholder eligible for a cashback of up to 2%. This amount is directly credited to the Nexo wallet, and the users can spend this amount to meet further expenses. More than 40 million traders accept this mode of payment in the world. The Nexo wallet has military-grade 256 encryption and a 24/7/365 fraud monitoring system. This abstains from frauds and ensures the safety of the funds and transactions made by its clients.
The prominent features of this card are
- The Nexo card can be frozen and unfrozen with a single tap.
- The virtual cards available are safe for online purchases.
- The transactions are monitored in full-detail.
- The card PIN can be changed at any ATM if required.
- There are no monthly and maintenance fees allied with the card.
- Foreign exchange, surcharges at Point-of-Sale payment, and inactivation fees are not charged.
7. Coinbase Bitcoin Debit Card
The coinbase bitcoin debit card provides access to all the funds from the coin base’s wallets. Customers all over the world can sign up for the bitcoin debit card by coinbase. This card is valid for transactions where every visa is accepted. The card is accepted offline, online, and international utility. The card can also be used to make daily purchases at registered traders and ATMs for cash withdrawals.
After fulfilling the online application for the coinbase debit card, it may take 5 to 7 business days to arrive at your doorsteps. Once arrived, the card must be activated through the coinbase card app or by calling the local support number. The card also has a spending limit set for transactions made every day, every month, and every year. The daily limit should not exceed £10,000 / 10,000 €. The monthly limit should not exceed £20,000 / 20,000 €, and the yearly limit should not exceed £1,00,000 / 1,00,000 €. The limit set for daily ATM withdrawals is £500 / 500€.
The fees associated with the coinbase bitcoin debit card are as follows:
8. Crypterium Card
The crypterium card is also a prepaid card. The card can be ordered from any country, including India, Nigeria, Brazil, and other countries. It can be used for ATM withdrawals and online and offline shopping. The crypterium bitcoin card is a one-stop solution for all the crypto-related needs of every individual.
Some of the services offered by crypterium are as follows:
- It has its very own mobile crypto wallet.
- Prepaid bitcoin debit card that allows online and offline transactions only from the supported ATM services.
- It also has banking services that enable its users to transfer funds to individuals across borders. Interest is earned on the funds parked in the bank accounts.
To start working with crypterium, users need to download the mobile app. They should create an account and sign in using their phone number and email. After successfully signing in to the account, the users are allotted a crypterium ID. The ID is a unique number that is different for every user. With the IID’s help, users make several transactions with their currency and other currencies supported by the card. Through the app, funds can be sent and received by users worldwide using the phone number. If any recipient does not have an account, then he will receive a mail to create one. Once created, the funds will be debited to his newly created account.
The crypterium debit card can be ordered via the mobile app. When the card is used to pay the existing wallet balance, the merchant will receive the money. In this way, there is no need to liquidate the funds to local currency to make payments.
How to order the crypterium debit card?
To order the crypterium debit card, the candidates should download the crypterium app and then complete the KYC process from the cards option. It takes at most 2 days to complete this procedure along. After successfully submitting the KYC, the card is booked.
Before ordering the card, make sure that you follow the pointers given below.
- Deposit some BTC funds in the wallet so that your request for placing an order for the card will be successful. Approximately 0.0025 BTC should be enough to buy a basic card with DHL delivery charges, which take about 2 days.
- The DHL delivery can be abstained by opting for a free delivery, which takes a few weeks.
- 199 CRPT can be locked to reduce the card insurance fees.
The different types of crypterium cards available in the market are as follows.
9. Bitpay Debit Card
The Bitpay debit card is a prepaid Mastercard for cryptocurrency users. Download the Bitpay mobile app to facilitate the process of ordering this card. Once the download is complete, the user has to load the wallet and order the card. This enables the users to check their balance, change their PIN, and reload the balance without any conservation fees. The card is highly secure as it includes an EMV chip, options to lock the card, and control on how to spend the money. While transacting the BTC, the BitPay app makes it easy to convert the crypto to spend the money.
The limits set for transactions on the Bitpay debit card are as follows.
The various fees charged on the Bitpay debit card are given as follows:
Which Bitcoin Debit Card To Choose?
The cryptocurrency is one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century. Popular companies like Crypto.com, Wirex have brought about some amazing debit cards in the crypto market. But the choice of selecting the best card among those available in the market remains a question. Many startups are coming up with a variety of debit cards. But before availing of one, the users should look into the details like
- Are the services available in your country?
- What is the background of the company?
- How is the fee structure? Is it economical for my budget?
- Are there any hidden charges?
- Is it a VISA or a MasterCard?
- Is the company well-funded?
- Are the software wallets free of bugs?
These are a few questions that should be raised before ordering a bitcoin debit card. In India, there is a small minority of firms that offer crypto services. Thus, the Indian crypto community should be well aware of the same. So, research thoroughly well on the card and the card company. This will ensure that you make the best choice for a bitcoin debit card.
FAQs
1. Why are the crypto.com cards called prepaid cards and not debit cards?
The prepaid cards need to be topped up, whereas a debit card is directly linked to the bank account. Since the crypto.com cards are topped up, they are called prepaid cards.
2. How to apply for a crypto.com card?
The cards can be ordered by signing up in the crypto.com app and completing the KYC. All the crypto.com cards are metallic. After an order is placed, this card will be delivered within a few days or weeks.
3. Where can the MCO visa card be used?
The card can be used in over 40 million Point of Sales worldwide and online retail shops.
4. Can a cardholder have more than one crypto.com card?
No, every user can have only one card.
5. How much does a wirex card cost?
The wirex card can be purchased free of cost. They also offer free delivery of the card.
6. How should the Wirex card be funded?
The funds can be added by credit cards, debit cards, or crypto transfer.
7. Where to use the wirex card?
The wirex card can be sued wherever visa cards are accepted.
8. Why should I order a Cryptopay card?
Cryptopay is the best card to cash our cryptocurrency as it is fast and easy. The app or the website could be used to exchange coins from BTC (Bitcoin), LTC (Litecoin), XRP (Ripple), ETH (Ethereum) whenever needed.
9. How to activate the Cryptopay card?
After the card is delivered to your doorstep, use the activation code accompanied by the card. This code will activate the card for use.
10. How to pay for the Cryptopay card?
The payment for the Cryptopay card can be made with BTC (Bitcoin), LTC (Litecoin), XRP, or ETH (Ethereum).
11. How to generate the Cryptopay card statement?
The payments, deposits, withdrawals, and transactions can be tracked online. This is achieved through the Cryptopay wallet.
12. Why should I avail of a coinbase card?
The coinbase card enables the cardholders to spend the funds from their cryptocurrency wallets.
13. Where is the coin base card used?
The coinbase card is a visa card. Thus, it can be used wherever the visa cards are accepted. It can be used for making online and offline purchases and international transactions. It can also be used for ATM withdrawals and online purchases.
14. had ordered the coinbase card, but it still hasn’t been delivered. What should be done?
The delivery of a coinbase card takes 5 to 7 business days. The cards are only mailed from Monday to Friday. If the order was placed after this period, then the card will be mailed on the following working day.
15. Is contactless payment with a coinbase card possible?
Yes, it is possible. To make contactless payments, a chip and a PIN transaction should be made.
16. Which assets can be spent using a coin base card?
The coinbase card users can spend their cryptocurrency in nine different wallets. These are BTC, ETH, LTC, BCH, XRP, BAT, REP, ZRX, and XLM.
17. What kind of a card does Crypterium offer?
Crypterium offers a union pay card. It can be used on an international platform as it is valid in over 174 countries.
18. Who issues Crypterium Card?
A financial company only issues the crypterium card in the Philippines.
19. What is the exchange rate associated with the Crypterium card?
The funds in the Crypterium card will be directly converted into fiat. Thus, the conversion process is simple and easy. The executives use the top 10 exchanges to get the best rate for digital currency to fiat conversion.
20. Is Crypterium card safe or a scam?
Yes, Crypterium is safe. The company is managed by the General Manager of VISA and had successfully delivered 3800 cards in over 70 countries.
Conclusion
A few years back, buying and selling bitcoins was illegal in India. But the situation is different today. Some Indian banks have already started providing crypto banking services at their physical bank branches. This would provide additional benefits to their customers by enabling them to buy bitcoin and several other cryptocurrencies with Indian currency. Opening bank accounts with crypto wallets; loans against cryptocurrencies are no longer a fallacy in India. Cryptocurrency is presently gaining popularity in India. It may soon is accepted for online purchases, in-store shopping, and payment of salary. with years to come
There are several international firms offering bitcoin cards. But only a few of them are offering services in India. As India wasn’t a popular destination before, in the coming years, blockchain will be a booming industry in the future. The government has already legalized its use in the nation.
So, the crypto community can now invest in bitcoin and avail of several benefits. ISome of the debit cards can easily fulfill international transactions in fiat currency. Thus, some cards save the burden of exchanging the currencies to make transactions. It is ultimately up to the users to decide which card would be most suitable to meet their needs.
Crypto.com’s MCO debit card is one of the popular bitcoin cards. It has various topographies that makes it beneficial for modern users like you and me. Wirex is another great company whose bitcoin debit cards are accepted wherever Visa or a MasterCard is accepted. Cryptopay ensures the safety of funds over the network through its app, that tracks every transaction. The bitcoin debit cards by Raxcard.com ensures the anonymity of the users over the network. Bitplastic.com also ensures the anonymity of its users over the network other than TOR. Similarly, cards by Nexo, Coinbase, Crypterium, and BitPay are viable options for any Indian user
Trudi Fyfe says
Hi Looking at this site
Your saying Wirex card is available in India
When i down loaded the app no where can i apply for card
Please explain how i can do this if you say wirex is ok here
Regards
Trudi Fyfe
Ravi says
Well, I’m already knee deep in crypto segment and love the crypto.com’s cards feature. Are they currently delivering their cards in India?