Advcash | a new "anonymous" bitcoin debit card [EUR & USD]

[marcotheminer]

BitPay charges a (hidden) fee of 2.5%. Should this be mentioned somewhere?

Can you email me more information about this to andrew@advcash.com? With us, it's our internal rate shown on www.advcash.com and no extra %.

Sent. That's the thing, your internal exchange rate is lower than on other sites. Around 216 USD per BTC rather than 222 USD per BTC. You get less per BTC if you deposit. So the 0% fee is kind of misleading.

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[marcotheminer]

I made some calculations and I found I can save a good amount for one 0.1BTC ATM withdrawal at current price. I calculated this by including loading fee($0.99), BitPay(2.5%), non-USD withdrawal fee($2.99). It still is pretty impressive when compared to BIT-X Debit Card as they have ATM withdrawal fee(3% + 0.02BTC) and conversion fee(1% + 2.5%). Going to order one!

There are no conversion fees with the Bit-X card if you withdraw in USD, EUR or GBP and if you sold BTC from your wallet to give you a balance in one of those.

[AdvancedCash]

Sent. That's the thing, your internal exchange rate is lower than on other sites. Around 216 USD per BTC rather than 222 USD per BTC. You get less per BTC if you deposit. So the 0% fee is kind of misleading.

I don't think it's misleading in any way. Every Bitcoin marketplace has its own rate, Exmo, Kraken, BitPay, Coinbase, they are all different and at certain moments could be close to ours or not, but you can't say any of them is wrong or misleading, can you? With the rate being so volatile, we just think it's easier for people to see the rate than calculate the % thing.

[gkv9]

I made some calculations and I found I can save a good amount for one 0.1BTC ATM withdrawal at current price. I calculated this by including loading fee($0.99), BitPay(2.5%), non-USD withdrawal fee($2.99). It still is pretty impressive when compared to BIT-X Debit Card as they have ATM withdrawal fee(3% + 0.02BTC) and conversion fee(1% + 2.5%). Going to order one!

But this one's a prepaid card, so is it fine comparing it to a Debit Card???
Fees are not an issue though, but is it trustworthy and safe enough to be counted on for our BTC???

[gkv9]

I made some calculations and I found I can save a good amount for one 0.1BTC ATM withdrawal at current price. I calculated this by including loading fee($0.99), BitPay(2.5%), non-USD withdrawal fee($2.99). It still is pretty impressive when compared to BIT-X Debit Card as they have ATM withdrawal fee(3% + 0.02BTC) and conversion fee(1% + 2.5%). Going to order one!

There are no conversion fees with the Bit-X card if you withdraw in USD, EUR or GBP and if you sold BTC from your wallet to give you a balance in one of those.

But here in India, where we will only be able to get fiat in INR, won't 2.5% Forex fee be levied on that transaction???

[marcotheminer]

I made some calculations and I found I can save a good amount for one 0.1BTC ATM withdrawal at current price. I calculated this by including loading fee($0.99), BitPay(2.5%), non-USD withdrawal fee($2.99). It still is pretty impressive when compared to BIT-X Debit Card as they have ATM withdrawal fee(3% + 0.02BTC) and conversion fee(1% + 2.5%). Going to order one!

But this one's a prepaid card, so is it fine comparing it to a Debit Card???
Fees are not an issue though, but is it trustworthy and safe enough to be counted on for our BTC???

True, you can't really compare the two.

[AdvancedCash]

Sent. That's the thing, your internal exchange rate is lower than on other sites. Around 216 USD per BTC rather than 222 USD per BTC. You get less per BTC if you deposit. So the 0% fee is kind of misleading.

Yeah, I saw your email. I believe there is no universal Bitcoin price and each marketplace has its own and the 'average' price you mentioned really does depend on which marketplaces your include in your statistics, right? If that site included us, maybe the average price would be different

Either way, for fiat currencies, there is a Forex exchange rate that you see online on various sites and then there is the exchange rate of your local bank which is most likely going to be different, but you can't say that's misleading, can you?

[Muhammed Zakir]

Damn! Not available in India.

There are no conversion fees with the Bit-X card if you withdraw in USD, EUR or GBP and if you sold BTC from your wallet to give you a balance in one of those.

Exactly. When we withdraw INR, fees are ridiculously high especially the inactive fee.

But this one's a prepaid card, so is it fine comparing it to a Debit Card???
Fees are not an issue though, but is it trustworthy and safe enough to be counted on for our BTC???

I think this is safe for small amounts. I don't store big amounts, anyway. Even if I want, I will fund and withdraw it from ATM. However, we are unlucky, friend!

P.S. I don't see much difference between BIT-X debit card and Advcash prepaid card. AFAIK we will have to fund account prior to loading money to card. So I care about the fees more. In USD, BIT-X's fee doesn't look very high, however, if you look in INR, it is very high.

[marcotheminer]

Sent. That's the thing, your internal exchange rate is lower than on other sites. Around 216 USD per BTC rather than 222 USD per BTC. You get less per BTC if you deposit. So the 0% fee is kind of misleading.

Yeah, I saw your email. I believe there is no universal Bitcoin price and each marketplace has its own and the 'average' price you mentioned really does depend on which marketplaces your include in your statistics, right? If that site included us, maybe the average price would be different

Either way, for fiat currencies, there is a Forex exchange rate that you see online on various sites and then there is the exchange rate of your local bank which is most likely going to be different, but you can't say that's misleading, can you?

It is ever so slightly different with fiat currencies I've noticed. Not 2.5% in difference.

[gkv9]

I think this is safe for small amounts. I don't store big amounts, anyway. Even if I want, I will fund and withdraw it from ATM. However, we are unlucky, friend!

P.S. I don't see much difference between BIT-X debit card and Advcash prepaid card. AFAIK we will have to fund account prior to loading money to card. So I care about the fees more. In USD, BIT-X's fee doesn't look very high, however, if you look in INR, it is very high.

Even the currency Exchange fee for this card is 2% which is 0.5% less than Bit-X...
The only thing I don't like in the fees was, Balance Inquiry for which we need to give $0.5 (eqv. to INR 30)... Seriously??? Just to check balance???

The Virtual one has something extraordinary to offer, but that won't be of any help...

[Muhammed Zakir]

Can't Indians create a virtual card? After I tried to order the card, it said "not available in your country" and the "Creat card" button disappeared. At least, they should have addred virtual card for Indians.

Why do you use Protectimus instead of widely used Google Authenticator? The hardware OTP looks good but you can support Google Authenticator for software OTP, right?

Edit:

Even the currency Exchange fee for this card is 2% which is 0.5% less than Bit-X...
The only thing I don't like in the fees was, Balance Inquiry for which we need to give $0.5 (eqv. to INR 30)... Seriously??? Just to check balance???

The Virtual one has something extraordinary to offer, but that won't be of any help...

Balance inquiry is high but we always have to make small sacrifices. Still if you compare, you Advcash is better. Anyway, we are out of this. No India, no Indians.

[gkv9]

Balance inquiry is high but we always have to make small sacrifices. Still if you compare, you Advcash is better. Anyway, we are out of this. No India, no Indians.

How come no Indians??? They haven't given any such list on their website...
One thing I would like to tell you is, someone PM'ed me asking to order this card and I have already mentioned my country as India in my profile, why would he ask me to do so knowing I am not allowed to order???

[abyrnes81]

I made some calculations and I found I can save a good amount for one 0.1BTC ATM withdrawal at current price. I calculated this by including loading fee($0.99), BitPay(2.5%), non-USD withdrawal fee($2.99). It still is pretty impressive when compared to BIT-X Debit Card as they have ATM withdrawal fee(3% + 0.02BTC) and conversion fee(1% + 2.5%). Going to order one!

Are you saying that the advanced card is better than the bit-x card? I am still waiting the first one, and I wanted to order the bit-x but if there is not difference I will not order it.

[Muhammed Zakir]

How come no Indians??? They haven't given any such list on their website...
One thing I would like to tell you is, someone PM'ed me asking to order this card and I have already mentioned my country as India in my profile, why would he ask me to do so knowing I am not allowed to order???

They disable "Order card" when I entered India when ordering. I can't even see that button now.

Are you saying that the advanced card is better than the bit-x card? I am still waiting the first one, and I wanted to order the bit-x but if there is not difference I will not order it.

Yes. However, you musy do your own due diligence. The fee becomes high in BIT-X if you aren't withdrawing USD, EUR or GBP.

[marcotheminer]

I made some calculations and I found I can save a good amount for one 0.1BTC ATM withdrawal at current price. I calculated this by including loading fee($0.99), BitPay(2.5%), non-USD withdrawal fee($2.99). It still is pretty impressive when compared to BIT-X Debit Card as they have ATM withdrawal fee(3% + 0.02BTC) and conversion fee(1% + 2.5%). Going to order one!

Are you saying that the advanced card is better than the bit-x card? I am still waiting the first one, and I wanted to order the bit-x but if there is not difference I will not order it.

This card is different to the Bit-X card which is a debit card not a prepaid card. Fees are basically the same, there is a percent of so more with Bit-X since it is a full debit card.

Has anyone received their physical card yet?

[redsn0w]

I made some calculations and I found I can save a good amount for one 0.1BTC ATM withdrawal at current price. I calculated this by including loading fee($0.99), BitPay(2.5%), non-USD withdrawal fee($2.99). It still is pretty impressive when compared to BIT-X Debit Card as they have ATM withdrawal fee(3% + 0.02BTC) and conversion fee(1% + 2.5%). Going to order one!

Are you saying that the advanced card is better than the bit-x card? I am still waiting the first one, and I wanted to order the bit-x but if there is not difference I will not order it.

This card is different to the Bit-X card which is a debit card not a prepaid card. Fees are basically the same, there is a percent of so more with Bit-X since it is a full debit card.

Has anyone received their physical card yet?

I have received the physical card a couple of days ago, why?

[marcotheminer]

I have received the physical card a couple of days ago, why?

Just wondering, I'd like to see what it looks like if possible?

[redsn0w]

I have received the physical card a couple of days ago, why?

Just wondering, I'd like to see what it looks like if possible?

Yes of course, why not:

[marcotheminer]

What's with the "electronic use only"?

[Muhammed Zakir]

What's with the "electronic use only"?

See:

MasterCard® Unembossed

MasterCard has developed a new payment solution for consumer segments who have been traditionally underserved – MasterCard Unembossed. These days, customers are looking for greater utility, security, convenience in a payment card. The result is an accelerating number if new programs designed to meet specific cardholder needs, respond to particular market dynamics, or take advantage of new technologies.

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In most respects it is similar to the MasterCard cards that you already accept: it might take the form of a credit, debit, or MasterCard Prepaid card, and will have the same familiar MasterCard brand mark. There is, however, one major difference – the card will look “flat”. All account information – cardholder name, primary account number (PAN), validity date, and security character – is printed rather than embossed. MasterCard Unembossed has been designed to manage risk by working only in your electronic terminal.

How Does it Work?

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How to Accept MasterCard Unembossed?

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MasterCard Unembossed does not require a separate decalization effort, new equipment, or any system changes; and it is covered by your existing merchant agreement.