How we test crypto cards
At GNcrypto, we put transparency first when evaluating cryptocurrency payment cards. Our reviews are based on hands-on testing and thorough analysis across all key dimensions that matter for spending crypto in the real world.
What We Test
We rate crypto payment cards on seven criteria that matter when you’re actually using them for purchases, withdrawals, and everyday spending. Each card gets a score from 1.0 to 5.0 based on weighted performance across fees, rewards, limits, and regional availability.
Our focus: Can you spend crypto efficiently, earn meaningful rewards, and avoid hidden costs or geographic restrictions?
We don’t audit card issuer solvency or guarantee regulatory compliance in all jurisdictions. These scores reflect practical usability, cost efficiency, and observable security practices – not whether the card issuer will be operating in five years.
How We Score Cards
Each criterion gets rated on a 5-point scale:
- 5/5 – Best in class (no FX fees, 5%+ cashback, global availability)
- 4/5 – Above average, works well for most users
- 3/5 – Acceptable with trade-offs (1-2% fees, basic rewards, regional limits)
- 2/5 – Serious problems (high fees, restrictive limits, poor support)
- 1/5 – Broken or unsafe (hidden fees, frozen accounts, no fraud protection)
Why We Use Weighted Scores
Not all criteria carry equal weight. Fees matter more than app design. Cashback rates matter more than card aesthetics. Regional availability is binary – the card either works in your country or it doesn’t.
Our weighting system:
Tier 1 – Critical (60%)
These determine whether you can use the card profitably:
- Fees & Costs – 25%
- Rewards & Cashback – 20%
- Supported Currencies & Regions – 15%
Tier 2 – Quality (25%)
These affect daily spending control and safety:
- Card Limits & Spending Controls – 15%
- Security & Fraud Protection – 10%
Tier 3 – Experience (15%)
Important, but won’t kill a card if lacking:
- User Experience & App Integration – 10%
- Customer Support & Card Delivery – 5%
Example: A card with perfect app UX (5/5) but 3% FX fees on every purchase (2/5) scores poorly overall. A card with 2% cashback (5/5) and zero fees (5/5) but a clunky app (3/5) still ranks high.
The 7 Criteria
1. Fees & Costs (25% weight)
What we check:
- Card issuance fee (one-time cost for physical/virtual card)
- Top-up fees (depositing crypto or fiat to card balance)
- Foreign exchange (FX) fees on non-native currency purchases
- ATM withdrawal fees (fixed + percentage)
- Monthly or annual card fees
- Inactivity fees
- Card replacement fees
Why it matters:
A card advertising “no fees” might charge 2.5% FX on every foreign purchase. If you spend $500/month abroad, that’s $150/year in hidden costs. ATM fees of $3.50 + 2% mean a $100 withdrawal costs $5.50.
How we test:
We load the card with $200 (via crypto or fiat), make purchases in native currency and foreign currency, withdraw cash from an ATM, and document every fee charged. We calculate the total cost for:
- $100 in local currency spending
- $100 in foreign currency spending
- One $50 ATM withdrawal
We also check if the card charges monthly/annual fees or inactivity penalties.
5/5 example: Free card issuance, 0% top-up fee, 0% FX fee, $2 ATM fee (no percentage), no monthly fee, no inactivity fee
3/5 example: Free issuance, 1% top-up fee, 1.5% FX fee, $3 + 2% ATM fee, no monthly fee
1/5 example: $50 issuance fee, 3% top-up, 3% FX, $5 + 3% ATM, $10/month inactivity fee
2. Rewards & Cashback (20% weight)
What we check:
- Base cashback rate (e.g., 1%, 2%, 3%)
- Tiered reward structure (based on card stake, spending volume, or account balance)
- Reward currency (native token, stablecoin, fiat)
- Reward caps (monthly/annual limits on cashback)
- Bonus categories (higher cashback on specific merchant types)
- Reward vesting or lock-up periods
- Expiry dates on earned rewards
Why it matters:
A 3% cashback card with a $50/month cap pays you $600/year max. A 1% unlimited cashback card pays $1,200/year on $10K/month spending. If rewards are paid in a volatile token that drops 50%, your effective cashback is 0.5%.
How we test:
We make $200 in test purchases across different merchant categories, track cashback earned, verify reward currency and payout timing, and check for caps or restrictions. We calculate:
- Net cashback on $1,000/month spending
- Whether rewards offset fees
- If staking requirements are realistic
5/5 example: 5% cashback, paid in USDC, no cap, no staking required, instant payout
3/5 example: 2% cashback, paid in native token, $100/month cap, requires $1K token stake, 30-day payout
1/5 example: 0.5% cashback, paid in illiquid token, $25/month cap, requires $10K stake, rewards expire after 90 days
3. Supported Currencies & Regions (15% weight)
What we check:
- Cryptocurrencies supported for top-up (BTC, ETH, USDT, stablecoins, exchange tokens)
- Fiat currencies supported (USD, EUR, GBP, local currencies)
- Geographic availability (countries where card can be issued and used)
- Merchant acceptance (Visa/Mastercard network, online vs. in-store)
- Restrictions on merchant categories (gambling, adult content, crypto purchases)
Why it matters:
A card that only works in the US is useless for Europeans. A card that doesn’t accept stablecoin top-ups forces you to hold volatile crypto. Merchant restrictions can block legitimate purchases.
How we test:
We verify supported crypto assets for top-up, attempt to use the card in different countries (if applicable), test online and in-store purchases, and check for merchant category blocks. We document any geographic or merchant restrictions.
5/5 example: Supports BTC, ETH, 10+ stablecoins; available in 100+ countries; Visa network; no merchant restrictions
3/5 example: Supports 3-5 major cryptos; available in 30 countries; Mastercard network; blocks gambling/crypto merchants
1/5 example: Supports 1-2 cryptos; available in 5 countries; limited merchant acceptance; blocks many merchant categories
4. Card Limits & Spending Controls (15% weight)
What we check:
- Daily spending limit
- Monthly spending limit
- ATM withdrawal limit (daily/monthly)
- Per-transaction limit
- Ability to adjust limits in real-time
- Spending freeze/unfreeze controls
- Recurring payment support
- International usage limits
Why it matters:
A $500/day limit is fine for groceries but blocks a $1,200 laptop purchase. Low ATM limits ($200/day) mean multiple withdrawals with multiple fees. If you can’t freeze your card instantly via app, a lost card means continued unauthorized spending.
How we test:
We verify default limits, attempt transactions near limit thresholds, test card freeze/unfreeze functionality, and try to adjust limits via app. We document:
- Maximum single purchase amount
- Daily/monthly spending caps
- ATM withdrawal limits
- Time to adjust limits
5/5 example: $10K/day spending, $5K/month ATM, adjustable limits in real-time, instant freeze/unfreeze, no international restrictions
3/5 example: $3K/day spending, $1K/month ATM, limits adjustable with 24hr delay, card freeze available, some countries blocked
1/5 example: $500/day spending, $200/month ATM, no limit adjustment, no freeze option, international usage blocked
5. Security & Fraud Protection (10% weight)
What we check:
- Card freeze/unfreeze controls in app
- Virtual card availability (for online purchases)
- 3D Secure (3DS) authentication for online transactions
- Real-time transaction notifications (push/SMS/email)
- Fraud liability protection (zero-liability policy)
- Card lock by location/merchant category
- Contactless payment limits
- Card replacement process after theft/loss
Why it matters:
Without instant freeze, a lost card means waiting hours or days to stop unauthorized spending. No virtual card means exposing your physical card number online. Weak fraud protection means you eat losses from stolen card use.
How we test:
We test card freeze/unfreeze speed, generate virtual cards (if available), verify 3DS prompts on online purchases, check notification settings, and review fraud liability policies. We document:
- Time to freeze card via app
- Virtual card generation process
- Transaction notification delay
- Fraud protection coverage
5/5 example: Instant freeze/unfreeze, unlimited virtual cards, 3DS on all online transactions, real-time notifications, zero fraud liability, merchant category locks
3/5 example: Card freeze in <1 minute, one virtual card, 3DS on most transactions, 5-minute notification delay, limited fraud liability
1/5 example: No instant freeze (must contact support), no virtual cards, no 3DS, delayed notifications, no fraud protection
6. User Experience & App Integration (10% weight)
What we check:
- Card management interface (top-up, freeze, limits, settings)
- Transaction history detail (merchant name, category, timestamp, location)
- Real-time balance updates
- Top-up flow (crypto to card, fiat to card)
- Spending analytics (category breakdowns, monthly summaries)
- Card delivery and activation process
- Physical card design and durability
- Mobile app stability (iOS/Android)
Why it matters:
A confusing top-up flow means you can’t load funds when needed. Delayed balance updates make it hard to track spending. Poor transaction history means no insight into where money goes.
How we test:
We order the card, document delivery time and activation process, use the app for top-ups and transaction tracking, test freeze/unfreeze and limit adjustments, and evaluate spending analytics. We document:
- Card delivery time
- Top-up flow complexity
- Transaction history clarity
- App crashes or bugs
5/5 example: Card delivered in 5 days, instant activation, one-tap crypto top-up, detailed transaction history with maps, spending analytics by category, stable app
3/5 example: Card delivered in 14 days, manual activation, 3-step top-up flow, basic transaction list, no analytics, occasional app lag
1/5 example: Card delivered in 30+ days, complex activation, confusing top-up, incomplete transaction history, no analytics, frequent app crashes
7. Customer Support & Card Delivery (5% weight)
What we check:
- Support channel availability (live chat, email, phone)
- Response time for urgent issues (lost card, frozen account)
- Card delivery time (standard and expedited)
- Card replacement process and fees
- Dispute resolution for unauthorized transactions
- Educational resources (fees guide, reward structure, security tips)
- Community support (forums, social media responsiveness)
Why it matters:
When your card is frozen at checkout or stolen while traveling, fast support matters. Slow card replacement (2+ weeks) means no spending access. Poor dispute resolution means eating fraudulent charges.
How we test:
We submit support tickets for common issues (card activation, top-up problems, limit questions), measure response times, test card delivery speed, and review dispute policies. We document:
- Support response time
- Card delivery timeline
- Replacement card process
- Dispute resolution quality
5/5 example: 24/7 live chat with <5min response, card delivered in 5 days, free express replacement (2 days), clear dispute process, comprehensive FAQ
3/5 example: Email support with 12hr response, card delivered in 14 days, $25 replacement fee (7 days), basic dispute process, limited FAQ
1/5 example: Email-only support with 3+ day response, card delivered in 30+ days, $50 replacement (14+ days), no dispute support, no documentation
How We Calculate Final Scores
Step 1: Rate each criterion on the 1-5 scale
Step 2: Multiply each score by its weight
Step 3: Sum the weighted scores
Example: Card X
| Criterion | Score | Weight | Weighted Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees & Costs | 4/5 | 0.25 | 1.00 |
| Rewards & Cashback | 5/5 | 0.20 | 1.00 |
| Supported Currencies & Regions | 4/5 | 0.15 | 0.60 |
| Card Limits & Spending Controls | 4/5 | 0.15 | 0.60 |
| Security & Fraud Protection | 5/5 | 0.10 | 0.50 |
| User Experience & App Integration | 3/5 | 0.10 | 0.30 |
| Customer Support & Card Delivery | 4/5 | 0.05 | 0.20 |
| Total | 29/35 | 1.00 | 4.20/5.00 |
Final rating: 4.20/5 (84%)
What We Don’t Rate
- Card issuer financial stability – We’re not auditors. Check public financials if available.
- Regulatory compliance in all jurisdictions – Rules vary by country; we focus on functional availability.
- Long-term reward program stability – Cashback rates can change; a 5/5 today might be 3/5 next year.
- Tax reporting tools – Varies by jurisdiction and changes frequently.
- Premium card perks – Airport lounge access, concierge services are nice-to-haves, not core card functionality.
Why Trust Our Ratings?
We test cards with real funds ($200), make real purchases (online and in-store), withdraw cash from ATMs, track fees and cashback over 7-14 days, and test app functionality daily. We don’t accept payment for ratings or modify scores based on partnerships.
Our process:
- Apply for card, complete KYC (if required)
- Wait for card delivery, document delivery time
- Activate card via app
- Load card with $200 (via crypto or fiat)
- Make 10-15 test purchases ($10-30 each) across merchant types
- Make 1-2 foreign currency purchases to test FX fees
- Withdraw $50 from ATM to test withdrawal fees
- Track cashback earned over test period
- Test card freeze/unfreeze and limit adjustment
- Submit support ticket and measure response time
- Calculate total fees paid and net cashback earned
- Compare to competitor cards
What we don’t do:
- We don’t test cards unavailable in our test regions
- We don’t stake large amounts of tokens to unlock premium tiers (we test base tier cards)
- We don’t hold cards long-term to test annual fees (we extrapolate based on monthly costs)
Questions?
If you think we’ve missed something or scored a card unfairly, contact us at [email protected]. We update ratings quarterly or when cards make major changes (fee structure adjustments, cashback rate changes, new regional availability, security incidents).
Last updated: January 2026
Next methodology review: Expected Q2 2026