2017 Bitcoin Debit Card Reviews

[DavidMc0]

It looks good on first glance, with the buy price very close to market rate. I'll definitely consider this one, though like the rest, there are lots of bad reviews around... not sure if it's worth the risk.

[Wirex]

Wirex offer a free virtual debit card at the moment, so you could sign up for that.

However, loading with Bitcoin currently has a 3% exchange rate penalty, so if that's no problem, it could be a good option.

Hello. Actually, this is not correct. On Wirex, there are two exchange rates: One for buying bitcoins and one for loading the card. The "Buy Bitcoin" rate is higher than one for "Load Card". But other than that, What you see is what you get. There are no fees for loading your card or Buying Bitcoins in Wirex / E-Coin.

Please remember: an exchange rate and a fee are not the same thing. A "fee" relates to an individual service (issuing a permit, pulling a tooth, selling bitcoins), while a "rate" refers to the price per unit (or minute or day or whatever you want to assign this price). We calculate the rates based on the market price in the Wirex platform and the current bitcoin price all around the world.

Anyway, Wirex has great advantages if you are looking for an agile BTC Debit card, you can check all about in the website www.wirexapp.com

[@sheriff]

Hello. Actually, this is not correct. On Wirex, there are two exchange rates: One for buying bitcoins and one for loading the card. The "Buy Bitcoin" rate is higher than one for "Load Card". But other than that, What you see is what you get. There are no fees for loading your card or Buying Bitcoins in Wirex / E-Coin.

Please remember: an exchange rate and a fee are not the same thing. A "fee" relates to an individual service (issuing a permit, pulling a tooth, selling bitcoins), while a "rate" refers to the price per unit (or minute or day or whatever you want to assign this price). We calculate the rates based on the market price in the Wirex platform and the current bitcoin price all around the world.

Anyway, Wirex has great advantages if you are looking for an agile BTC Debit card, you can check all about in the website www.wirexapp.com

No, no, no, it's not about that.
If I want to pay dollars off the card, I think your bitcoins exchange rate for dollars will be worse than the Xapo rate. I checked. It's true?

[DavidMc0]

Please remember: an exchange rate and a fee are not the same thing.

I don't really mind what it's called. Giving a lower than market rate for Bitcoin to Fiat conversion is an additional cost to the user that isn't mentioned on the web site.

To me, this is just as misleading as FX converters who advertise 'Zero commission' and then provide a terrible conversion rate to make up for it. They're trying to hide costs to the consumer.

Whether you want to call it a fee or not, it's a cost that is hidden unless the user looks into the BTC / Fiat rates elsewhere at the time of loading the card. The size of this additional cost makes it not worth my while using Wirex for now, as I can save money using Local Bitcoins & other exchange methods + my bank.

However, I can see that using Wirex would be simpler, so I'm sure there are many people who are willing to take the hit on poorer conversion rates in exchange for the convenience.

[gosha@e-coin]

Hello. Actually, this is not correct. On Wirex, there are two exchange rates: One for buying bitcoins and one for loading the card. The "Buy Bitcoin" rate is higher than one for "Load Card". But other than that, What you see is what you get. There are no fees for loading your card or Buying Bitcoins in Wirex / E-Coin.

Please remember: an exchange rate and a fee are not the same thing. A "fee" relates to an individual service (issuing a permit, pulling a tooth, selling bitcoins), while a "rate" refers to the price per unit (or minute or day or whatever you want to assign this price). We calculate the rates based on the market price in the Wirex platform and the current bitcoin price all around the world.

Anyway, Wirex has great advantages if you are looking for an agile BTC Debit card, you can check all about in the website www.wirexapp.com

No, no, no, it's not about that.
If I want to pay dollars off the card, I think your bitcoins exchange rate for dollars will be worse than the Xapo rate. I checked. It's true?

still not 100% clear what you mean - paying with the card or loading the card?

[gosha@e-coin]

Please remember: an exchange rate and a fee are not the same thing.

I don't really mind what it's called. Giving a lower than market rate for Bitcoin to Fiat conversion is an additional cost to the user that isn't mentioned on the web site.

To me, this is just as misleading as FX converters who advertise 'Zero commission' and then provide a terrible conversion rate to make up for it. They're trying to hide costs to the consumer.

Whether you want to call it a fee or not, it's a cost that is hidden unless the user looks into the BTC / Fiat rates elsewhere at the time of loading the card. The size of this additional cost makes it not worth my while using Wirex for now, as I can save money using Local Bitcoins & other exchange methods + my bank.

However, I can see that using Wirex would be simpler, so I'm sure there are many people who are willing to take the hit on poorer conversion rates in exchange for the convenience.

valid points, mate.

Local bitcoins and exchanges + bank, and a debit card are all very different services. You can't expect bread to be priced the same at a wholesale retailer like Costco and in a corner shop next to your home, right? Convenience has to come at a certain price, otherwise, your corner shop simply won't survive. Same thing here. Different services, different volumes, different business models and cost structures.

[PremiumCodeX]

So helpful! Thank you for writing your feedback from them!

How are these debit cards used? You go to a crypto ATM, put in your card and withdraw cash ($/EURO...etc)?

Can you pay with it in shops that accept VISA/MasterCard (e.g.: MediaMarkt)?

[gosha@e-coin]

So helpful! Thank you for writing your feedback from them!

How are these debit cards used? You go to a crypto ATM, put in your card and withdraw cash ($/EURO...etc)?

Can you pay with it in shops that accept VISA/MasterCard (e.g.: MediaMarkt)?

you go to ANY ATM, doesn't have to be a crypto one, that's the whole point of having such card. You load it from your BTC wallet via the mobile app or via web and can then use the card at any shop that accepts MasterCard/VISA

[Igogo]

Hello! Can you advise any USD Bitcoin that have decent(blockchain rate) top up usd/bitcoin rate?
Why when you advise advcash, spectrocoin or coinsbank you do not write that their bitcoin rate is usually 3% lower then blockchain rate?
Thanks!

I'd go with Coinsbank but if you close your account it will cost you somethin like 200 usd

Thanks for advice but their btc/usd rate is also 2% less then blockchain rate.

[SimmonenY]

Hey! I've noticed that after an upgrade a virtual card is no longer free

[Igogo]

shakepay.co use btc/usd rate from bitpay.com and have 1% for card load fee. Seems to be the best option for people who need to top up USD cards. They have Euro cards as well(Virtual and Plastic)
bitwa.la use almost the same rate but their load fee is lower, 0.5%. I found their offer the best one for an Euro Card.(Virtual and Plastic cards available)

If someone have better offers, please let me know!

[Wirex]

Hey! I've noticed that after an upgrade a virtual card is no longer free

Hello. The virtual card has never being free. However, You can get a free virtual debit card if it is your very first card in the system and you request it on the Wirex Mobile App. Otherwise, It cost 3 USD 

[Igogo]

Hey! I've noticed that after an upgrade a virtual card is no longer free

Hello. The virtual card has never being free. However, You can get a free virtual debit card if it is your very first card in the system and you request it on the Wirex Mobile App. Otherwise, It cost 3 USD  

shakepay.co offer for free virtual debit card and they have 3% better btc/usd rate then wirex

[magneto]

Great review.

I enjoy watching bitcoin related videos on youtube, it intrigues me how easily the bitcoins can be used by someone who travels a lot to overseas. You'll save a ton of currency conversion fees if you use a bitcoin debit card because bitcoin can be paired with any currency directly.

Here's a vid on bitwa.la, i think it's a great debit card: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2vN-oKXQrg

[Avirunes]

I am searching for a virtual prepaid card service which is available for India. I haven't got through most of the services and none of them have it available for India. Can anyone find me one if they are aware of any available for India?

[DavidMc0]

A word of warning about Wirex.

From my recent / current experience, I'd recommend avoiding Wirex - they are either incompetent, or are purposefully holding on to customer funds unnecessarily.  

It should never take 6+ (edit: now 8+) days to withdraw BTC from an account.

I put a small amount of BTC on my account to order a card, then when I saw the hidden below market BTC / Fiat rate they offer, I decided to withdraw the BTC.

Since 6 days ago, support have been assisting, and have yet to be able to get my BTC back to me, and they've said it'll be another 2-3 days.

They've asked me to create a new account, and have just transfered the BTC to the new account, but I can't withdraw BTC from that one either.

Wirex are holding on to my bitcoin while they give me the run around. I'm not sure if this is just due to poor systems, or is purposeful. Neither of these options inspire confidence.

Can the wirex rep please let me know - are your systems broken / inadequate, or are you doing this on purpose to hold onto people's funds?

[PremiumCodeX]

you go to ANY ATM, doesn't have to be a crypto one, that's the whole point of having such card. You load it from your BTC wallet via the mobile app or via web and can then use the card at any shop that accepts MasterCard/VISA

Wow! How UB3R. I can suggest having more than one debit card anyway. Not only in crypto, but generally. The ATM could eat your card and it is uncomfortable if it was your only card. If you are a crypto holder, you could have a crypto debit card next to your fiat debit card, which means two cards already. I should get my one soon

[gosha@e-coin]

A word of warning about Wirex.

From my recent / current experience, I'd recommend avoiding Wirex - they are either incompetent, or are purposefully holding on to customer funds unnecessarily.  

It should never take 6+ days to withdraw BTC from an account.

I put a small amount of BTC on my account to order a card, then when I saw the hidden below market BTC / Fiat rate they offer, I decided to withdraw the BTC.

Since 6 days ago, support have been assisting, and have yet to be able to get my BTC back to me, and they've said it'll be another 2-3 days.

They've asked me to create a new account, and have just transfered the BTC to the new account, but I can't withdraw BTC from that one either.

Wirex are holding on to my bitcoin while they give me the run around. I'm not sure if this is just due to poor systems, or is purposeful. Neither of these options inspire confidence.

Can the wirex rep please let me know - are your systems broken / inadequate, or are you doing this on purpose to hold onto people's funds?

please, do not misinform the readers. From your description, it is a known issue, but there is no straightforward solution to it, hence the support team are trying to help the way it's possible to help now. Meanwhile, developers are working on a permanent fix.

To be more specific, please, provide your support ticket nuber and/or registered e-mail, so that I can follow it up with the support team.

Understand your frustration and apologise for the inconvenience, but no one is holding to your bitcoin deliberately, with all respect, it's quite a lame accusation, given the amount of effort and money we are throwing into improving the product, the long term vision and the investment round just closed with a very serious Japanese conglomerate

[DavidMc0]

please, do not misinform the readers. From your description, it is a known issue, but there is no straightforward solution to it, hence the support team are trying to help the way it's possible to help now. Meanwhile, dev

If it is a known issue that you can't transfer Bitcoin out from what is advertised as a Bitcoin wallet, perhaps you should warn customers of this before they send Bitcoin to it? This kind of issue should be known to customers, not just insiders.

I'm not aiming to mislead anyone. I'm warning people that from my experience Bitcoin withdrawals from a Wirex account don't work as would be expected.

It's now 8 days since I first requested withdrawal of Bitcoin from my Wirex bitcoin wallet and I've not received my BTC despite input from support.

To be more specific, please, provide your support ticket nuber and/or registered e-mail, so that I can follow it up with the support team.

Understand your frustration and apologise for the inconvenience, but no one is holding to your bitcoin deliberately, with all respect, it's quite a lame accusation, given the amount of effort and money we are throwing into improving the product, the long term vision and the investment round just closed with a very serious Japanese conglomerate

If nobody is holding my Bitcoin deliberately, then unfortunately it follows that incompetence in running a Bitcoin wallet service is being displayed. I don't think it's lame to call things what they are.

I'm sure it's not easy to build these kinds of services, and the app in general seems very nice. I hope that this is fixed and that similar issues can be avoided in the future, and that better performing systems are put in place with your new investment.

I appreciate your apology for the inconvenience. I'd rather use the standard support channels to fix this issue and report here how it's going without any special treatment for speaking publicly.

However, if there's any information I can provide following the resolution of this issue that will help you sort the issue for other customers, I'm willing to help where I can.

[gosha@e-coin]

If nobody is holding my Bitcoin deliberately, then unfortunately it follows that incompetence in running a Bitcoin wallet service is being displayed. I don't think it's lame to call things what they are.

I'm sure it's not easy to build these kinds of services, and the app in general seems very nice. I hope that this is fixed and that similar issues can be avoided in the future, and that better performing systems are put in place with your new investment.

I appreciate your apology for the inconvenience. I'd rather use the standard support channels to fix this issue and report here how it's going without any special treatment for speaking publicly.

However, if there's any information I can provide following the resolution of this issue that will help you sort the issue for other customers, I'm willing to help where I can.

it is a known issue which occurs in a negligible % of cases, not that there is a general issue with transfers. We are working on resolving it.

please, let me know if you need any assistance here or whether it works via normal support channel