BitPay Visa - Why I Love It

[ranlo]

If you've spent any time looking for prepaid Bitcoin debit cards, you know that there are many different options out there. Some are Bitcoin-only, others accept altcoins, and some are based on specific countries. After evaluating the various options, I was looking for two things:

1) Low fees (or none) for converting BTC/depositing to the card
and
2) No dormancy fees

#2 was mainly because I likely won't be using it often, and think it's a little ridiculous to charge people just to even have an account, whether it's used or not. On top of this, some implementations will put your account into the negatives if you already have a zero balance!

BitPay fit both of these, with no fees for depositing BTC (you can see the conversion rate on their exchange chart), as well as zero fees for holding the card. On top of this, they are one of the cheaper options, coming in at under $10 for a card. To see the full fee schedule, check it out here.

Some key features that I especially like are:

*Purchase Limits $10,000/DAY
*Cash Withdrawal Limits $3,000/DAY
*$750/TRAN
*Load Limit $10,000/DAY
*Maximum Card Balance $25,000
*Card to Card Transfer Limit $500/DAY

For pretty much all of us, this is more than good enough.

After deciding this was absolutely the path I wanted to take, it was time to set up an account. A fast and easy process, it does require personal information (as per KYC/AML), but no more than necessary. Once you've signed up, you're taken to the payment page, which shows exactly what to send in, and it's confirmed after you send the funds.

There is a little confusion after, since you don't technically have an account yet -- you make one when you get the card. And the card itself comes in a nondescript envelope, much like a credit card or other debit card would.

After receiving the card (mine took about a week), you set up your account and you're ready to roll. You can send funds through the site (using the BTC address) or use the BitPay wallet to do so. Here, you can send based on how much USD you want credited OR send x BTC and it will convert for you, so there are options there. And you can view your live balance within the BitPay wallet at any time. Confirmation comes quickly, and you're ready to spend your coin! And because it is attached to your identity, you can use all services (even things like PayPal, for example).


I mainly wanted to share this because the process was much easier than I expected it to be, it's a lot more full-featured, and it's the best option I've seen for those in the West. The lack of account fees (just for holding a card), cheap card cost, and no fees for depositing BTC are HUGE. I love when companies do things well, and I wish BitPay a long and happy life, .

[cengsuwuei]

iam never use bitpay
because my country indonesia not supported and not accepted to join bitpay.com, iam not understand why iam register and want verified account always rejected this reason my country not supported

[ranlo]

iam never use bitpay
because my country indonesia not supported and not accepted to join bitpay.com, iam not understand why iam register and want verified account always rejected this reason my country not supported

Ahh, sorry to hear that. There are actually more options for you if you're not in the West. Sadly, for those of us who are, our options are limited (tried to sign up to multiple cards in the past, only to find out there's a block due to country).

[ThatRandom8543]

If there is a max balance limit of $25k, what about in bitcoins? If you had ~30 BTC, only ~25 BTC can be loaded onto the card? (only using the amounts as an example).

[ranlo]

If there is a max balance limit of $25k, what about in bitcoins? If you had ~30 BTC, only ~25 BTC can be loaded onto the card? (only using the amounts as an example).

Yeah, but that's at once. So if you're spending, you can cycle through BTC. Also, I think you may be able to open multiple cards if needed, though I'm not 100% sure on that.

[shield132]

Everything is fine, only one thing which I don't like is 2$ fee on withdraw, it's way too much (On my card fee is 0.2$). Also it seems card is mostly for active members because dormancy fee is 25$ in month after 90 inactive days and if you have this card you mustn't be inactive
Thanks for share and is this possible to own this card in another country? Because I also saw here that we can load money with western union.

[ranlo]

Everything is fine, only one thing which I don't like is 2$ fee on withdraw, it's way too much (On my card fee is 0.2$). Also it seems card is mostly for active members because dormancy fee is 25$ in month after 90 inactive days and if you have this card you mustn't be inactive
Thanks for share and is this possible to own this card in another country? Because I also saw here that we can load money with western union.

I thought $2+ was the norm. Even local banks charge more than that.

The dormancy fee I didn't notice before. I got clarification, though: if you fund the card, that counts as an action. So every 90d just send $1.00 to it (1 mBTC or less now) and you pay no fee, .

[gentlemand]

Everything is fine, only one thing which I don't like is 2$ fee on withdraw, it's way too much (On my card fee is 0.2$). Also it seems card is mostly for active members because dormancy fee is 25$ in month after 90 inactive days and if you have this card you mustn't be inactive
Thanks for share and is this possible to own this card in another country? Because I also saw here that we can load money with western union.

There's a lot more hassle for a Bitcoin debit card provider than one linked to a conventional bank account. I assume every time you use it you're triggering a Bitcoin sale.

There seem to be a lot of providers. Seems like a wonderful way to do a long con/ exit scam so I'd only consider somewhere of the calibre of Bitpay or Coinbase. I assume they're still US only which is no use to me.

[Undermood]

unichange Bitcoin Visa card is quite good! https://unichange.me/debit_cards
It supports many methods to fund the card, like bitcoin，BTC-e USD，litecoin ，Perfect Money, OkPay, FasaPay with low fees.

[lusinda]

unichange Bitcoin Visa card is quite good! https://unichange.me/debit_cards
It supports many methods to fund the card, like bitcoin，BTC-e USD，litecoin ，Perfect Money, OkPay, FasaPay with low fees.

I agree, and also they support many countries, including Indonesia 

iam never use bitpay
because my country indonesia not supported and not accepted to join bitpay.com, iam not understand why iam register and want verified account always rejected this reason my country not supported

cengsuwuei, I suppose you should try to apply to that card. Oh... they even have indonesian version of the website.

[U2]

Everything is fine, only one thing which I don't like is 2$ fee on withdraw, it's way too much (On my card fee is 0.2$). Also it seems card is mostly for active members because dormancy fee is 25$ in month after 90 inactive days and if you have this card you mustn't be inactive
Thanks for share and is this possible to own this card in another country? Because I also saw here that we can load money with western union.

There's a lot more hassle for a Bitcoin debit card provider than one linked to a conventional bank account. I assume every time you use it you're triggering a Bitcoin sale.

There seem to be a lot of providers. Seems like a wonderful way to do a long con/ exit scam so I'd only consider somewhere of the calibre of Bitpay or Coinbase. I assume they're still US only which is no use to me.

No use to a lot of people. Also, I agree that it could easily be a long con whether they appear to be a legitimate business right now or not. Don't bring up coinbase lol. I've seen a lot more unresolved issues with them lately.

It seems like an ok option but I still would never use a bitcoin debit card. Why? My bitcoins are private and the cards are not. They have all of your ID that they are legally required to obtain so if I get a transaction that's not declared on my taxes and spend it I'm fucked.

[mbuk81]

I agree with  above with other members the idea of bitcoin debit are  a good idea and a easy way to get hold of you funds but like a few site they want id to get the card that to take the main point of bitcoin out the window bitcoin ment to be an anonymous currency. With them having your id then your annomise goes out the window.
there is a couple of card that are annoymouse
I would stick to them if you what you bitcoin in a card format

[ranlo]

There's a lot more hassle for a Bitcoin debit card provider than one linked to a conventional bank account. I assume every time you use it you're triggering a Bitcoin sale.

You don't convert on the fly when making purchases... you deposit BTC, which is then converted. So it is no different than sending to an exchange to sell, only you cut out the middleman (as with an exchange you're doing wallet -> exchange -> transfer -> spend, rather than just sending to card -> spend.

[LeGaulois]

I think they accept USA only. Do you have a VISA with a Bitpay logo or those ugly grey cards wich make us look like a poor guy ?

[gentlemand]

There's a lot more hassle for a Bitcoin debit card provider than one linked to a conventional bank account. I assume every time you use it you're triggering a Bitcoin sale.

You don't convert on the fly when making purchases... you deposit BTC, which is then converted. So it is no different than sending to an exchange to sell, only you cut out the middleman (as with an exchange you're doing wallet -> exchange -> transfer -> spend, rather than just sending to card -> spend.

I didn't realise that. That's kind of sucky as sometimes you want to spunk your enormous gains. Still, I suppose it at least locks things in at a certain price.

[Digital_Lord]

If there is a max balance limit of $25k, what about in bitcoins? If you had ~30 BTC, only ~25 BTC can be loaded onto the card? (only using the amounts as an example).

Yeah, but that's at once. So if you're spending, you can cycle through BTC. Also, I think you may be able to open multiple cards if needed, though I'm not 100% sure on that.

I don't think it should be any issue. if you can only load 25BTC once that not bad at all. I don't think anyone here will spend that much BTC. if you are sending btc just to store there than better use a secure wallet instead of using any card accounts.

[Arcteryx]

Everything is fine, only one thing which I don't like is 2$ fee on withdraw, it's way too much (On my card fee is 0.2$). Also it seems card is mostly for active members because dormancy fee is 25$ in month after 90 inactive days and if you have this card you mustn't be inactive
Thanks for share and is this possible to own this card in another country? Because I also saw here that we can load money with western union.

I thought $2+ was the norm. Even local banks charge more than that.

The dormancy fee I didn't notice before. I got clarification, though: if you fund the card, that counts as an action. So every 90d just send $1.00 to it (1 mBTC or less now) and you pay no fee, .

That is good that you cleared that up because that is a lot really to have a card not in use.
I think the one that I have adds $2 every 30 days of not being loaded. Then when it is, the amount for this dormancy fee will be deducted from the loaded amount. Which sucked when I heard about it but if this one is every 90 days that isn't so bad and it's only a mbtc to keep it active.

[bravehearth0319]

unichange Bitcoin Visa card is quite good! https://unichange.me/debit_cards
It supports many methods to fund the card, like bitcoin，BTC-e USD，litecoin ，Perfect Money, OkPay, FasaPay with low fees.

I think this one is much better than bitpay, because in bitpay limited country exclusive for western nation only. Unlike in unichange.me  much more capable to give their service and extend it to some other Asian country. I'd Like to try buy this one,

[eckmar]

Well the dormancy fee isn't quite so bad... Anyway I got a question. When you put your money on this card does it work like a wallet and you can withdraw your BTC if you change your mind for example or when I put my BTC to the cardI can only withdraw on ATM ?

[Tomashta]

Everything is fine, only one thing which I don't like is 2$ fee on withdraw, it's way too much (On my card fee is 0.2$). Also it seems card is mostly for active members because dormancy fee is 25$ in month after 90 inactive days and if you have this card you mustn't be inactive
Thanks for share and is this possible to own this card in another country? Because I also saw here that we can load money with western union.

There's a lot more hassle for a Bitcoin debit card provider than one linked to a conventional bank account. I assume every time you use it you're triggering a Bitcoin sale.

There seem to be a lot of providers. Seems like a wonderful way to do a long con/ exit scam so I'd only consider somewhere of the calibre of Bitpay or Coinbase. I assume they're still US only which is no use to me.

No use to a lot of people. Also, I agree that it could easily be a long con whether they appear to be a legitimate business right now or not. Don't bring up coinbase lol. I've seen a lot more unresolved issues with them lately.

It seems like an ok option but I still would never use a bitcoin debit card. Why? My bitcoins are private and the cards are not. They have all of your ID that they are legally required to obtain so if I get a transaction that's not declared on my taxes and spend it I'm fucked.

I 100% get where you're coming from, and I do agree to a certain extent, but... For example, right now all of my income is currently being paid to me in BTC, so this is a great option.  Now if I didn't want 100% of my income linked to my BitPay Visa, I can easily make that happen.  As should anyone else who finds themselves in this situation.  If you have plenty of $$$ in your bank, in your back pocket, under your mattress, then you don't really need this service I guess.