Methodology
How we rank crypto cards.
Every card is scored against the same six criteria. No card can pay for a higher position.
Real FX cost, not advertised FX cost
We measure the spread you actually pay on a non-home-currency transaction, including weekend markups and the point at which a 'free' allowance runs out.
Fee transparency
Top-up fees, ATM fees, inactivity fees and lock-up requirements are weighted heavily. A hidden fee is treated as a deal breaker, not a footnote.
Custody and counterparty risk
Self-custodial settlement scores higher than pooled custody. Operating history, licensing and past incidents all factor in.
Perk durability
Cashback that depends on a volatile token lock-up is discounted against cashback paid in stablecoins or fiat.
Onboarding friction
How long from signup to first successful transaction, and how much identity data the card actually needs to function.
Day-to-day reliability
Decline rates, Apple Pay and Google Pay support, regional acceptance and how support responds when a payment fails.
On affiliate links
Some "Get Card" links are affiliate links, which is how this site is funded. Placement is decided before any commercial conversation, and a card that pays nothing can still rank first. Where a card has a serious flaw, we say so on its page regardless of the payout.