Coinbase's crypto debit card is launching in the U.S. and lets users earn back bitcoin

Quick Take

  • Coinbase is launching a Visa debit card in the U.S.
  • The card will also offer spending rewards in the form of BTC and XLM.
  • The daily spending limit for Coinbase Card in the U.S. will be $2,500, a Coinbase spokesperson told The Block.
  • The firm has now opened a waitlist for customers. 

Crypto exchange Coinbase is launching a Visa debit card in the U.S. next year. 

Sharing the news with The Block on Wednesday, Coinbase said it opened up a waitlist for U.S. customers who wish to get the card and will start distributing them "in the first half of next year." Debit cards for Coinbase customers are currently available in the U.K. and EU.

Coinbase Card is a Visa debit card that allows users to spend their cryptocurrency funds directly from their Coinbase accounts. The card is accepted at any retailer that accepts Visa debit cards.

Notably, the card will come with spending rewards — specifically, U.S. residents can opt to earn 1% back in bitcoin (BTC) or 4% back in Stellar lumens (XLM). 

Coinbase said the card's U.S. launch is a "significant milestone," as it would help expand crypto's mainstream adoption.

"Customers can make everyday purchases like coffee and lunch or can shop online directly with the crypto in their Coinbase accounts," a Coinbase spokesperson told The Block. "The utilities for cryptocurrencies are vast and have so much more potential beyond trading and investing."

The card will be available in all U.S. states except Hawaii. Coinbase said that "the first customers will be approved this winter."

Spending rewards

What makes U.S. Coinbase Card different from its U.K. and EU counterparts are the spending rewards it offers.

THE SCOOP

Keep up with the latest news, trends, charts and views on crypto and DeFi with a new biweekly newsletter from The Block's Frank Chaparro

By signing-up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
By signing-up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Coinbase, for the first time, will offer rewards in crypto for spending through Coinbase Card in the U.S. This feature isn't currently available to U.K. and EU residents.

They will also be able to spend stablecoins like USD Coin (USDC) or any other cryptocurrencies and stablecoins that Coinbase supports in the U.S.

Coinbase's U.K. and EU cards, on the other hand, support limited nine cryptocurrencies: BTC, ether (ETH), litecoin (LTC), bitcoin cash (BCH), XRP, Brave's basic attention token (BAT), Augur (REP), 0x (ZRX), and XLM.

Coinbase said it wouldn't charge any fees if U.S. customers spend via USDC. Non-USDC pays, on the other hand, would be charged a 2.49% transaction fee. There are also no sign-up or annual membership fees for Coinbase Card in the U.S.

The daily spending limit for Coinbase Card in the U.S. would be $2,500, the Coinbase spokesperson told The Block. In the U.K. and EU, the card has limits of £10,000 or €10,000, respectively.

Coinbase Card in the U.S. will be issued by MetaBank, which has a Visa U.S.A. Inc. license to issue debit cards, and the card would be powered by payments processor Marqeta.

Coinbase rival Binance, meanwhile, recently launched its own crypto debit card in the U.K. and Europe via its acquisition of crypto card startup Swipe.


© 2023 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

About Author

Yogita Khatri is a senior reporter at The Block, covering all things crypto. As one of the earliest team members, Yogita has played a pivotal role in breaking numerous stories, exclusives and scoops. With nearly 3,000 articles under her belt, Yogita holds the records as The Block's most-published and most-read author of all time. Prior to joining The Block, Yogita worked at crypto publication CoinDesk and The Economic Times, where she wrote on personal finance. To contact her, email: [email protected]. For her latest work, follow her on X @Yogita_Khatri5.