Ethena Pay Spend Card vs Krak Card
Crypto native
Crypto native
Verdict
- Ethena Pay Spend Card scores higher overall (7.6 vs 7.3 out of 10).
- Ethena Pay Spend Card is clearly stronger on: Cashback & rewards, Custody & security, Credit & financing.
- Krak Card is clearly stronger on: Availability, FX & international, Product features, Limits & ATM.
- For 1,500 EUR/month of spend, Ethena Pay Spend Card comes out about 665 EUR a year ahead on base-tier terms.
Ethena Pay Spend Card is a good fit for
- People who want to keep control of their keys
- Users who need credit rather than a debit/prepaid card
- Everyday spenders who want cashback
Stronger on: Cashback & rewards, Custody & security, Credit & financing
Krak Card is a good fit for
- Frequent travellers
Stronger on: Availability, FX & international, Product features, Limits & ATM
★ Our pickEditorial choice · score unchanged · Affiliate link
Neither card is our pick. The card we recommend instead:
Crypto native · ether.fi
Why we recommend it
- 3% cashback in ETHFI on up to $2,000 of spend a monthConditions apply
- 5.35% variable interest on your balanceConditions apply
- No annual or monthly fee on the base tierConditions apply
- Extras on the base tier: airport lounge access, travel / rental car insurance, purchase protectionConditions apply
- Self-custody: funds stay in your own walletConditions apply
Conditions apply; the review lists them with sources.
Score by criterion
| Criterion | Ethena Pay Spend Card | Krak Card |
|---|---|---|
| Fees | 100 | 100 |
| Cashback & rewards | 89 | 21 |
| Availability | 53 | 93 |
| FX & international | 60 | 100 |
| Product features | 53 | 70 |
| Custody & security | 70 | 60 |
| Credit & financing | 75 | 30 |
| Limits & ATM | 78 | 100 |
| Transparency | 93 | 100 |
| Best for Cashback | 8.2 | 5.6 |
| Best for Travel | 7.2 | 8.8 |
| Best for Self-Custody | 7.6 | n/a |
| Best for DeFi Users | 7.8 | 5.9 |
| Best for High Spenders | 8.2 | 6.0 |
| Best for Low Fees | 8.6 | 10.0 |
| Best for Beginners | 7.6 | 8.0 |
| Best Crypto Credit Card | 8.2 | n/a |
Conditions apply, e.g. only for the base tier, up to a monthly cap or in some countries. Tap a value with * (or hover over it) to see them.
Product
Product status
ActiveConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Beta; live in 48 countries, more announced
ActiveShow source
Card type
Crypto-backed creditConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Secured: collateral in your linked self-custodial wallet secures card charges
Debit cardShow source
Network
VisaShow source
MastercardConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
UK and EEA; the US card is a Visa
Custody model
Self-custodyShow source
CustodialConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Card spends the Krak account balance (e-money and crypto held by Kraken)
Card issuer / program manager
Third National (issuer); program managed by Signify Holdings, Inc. d/b/a Rain; access via Ethena Pay Ltd. (Malta)Show source
Monavate (UK) / UAB Monavate (EEA); e-money by Payward Ireland LimitedShow source
Tiers / plans
Standard · Pro · VIPShow source
Starter · Lite · Pro · Elite · MaxConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Cashback tier by 30-day average assets held
Fees
Annual fee
FreeConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
No recurring subscription or account fees for a standard account
FreeShow source
Monthly fee
FreeShow source
FreeShow source
Physical card fee
FreeConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Plastic card; replacement €4.99
Virtual card fee
FreeShow source
FreeShow source
Replacement fee
FreeShow source
€4.99Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Plastic card; metal card replacement €60
FX fee
1%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Card-network conversion fee passed through at cost, typically around 1% and varying by currency; no Ethena Pay markup; USD spend has no conversion cost
0%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
EEA/UK: Mastercard rate without markup; a variable spread applies when spending crypto. US card: 1%
ATM fee
$1 + 0.65%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Only where ATM access is available; ATM operator surcharges extra
FreeConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
No Krak fee; third-party ATM fees may apply
Other fees & markups
Late payment fee up to $40 · Returned payment fee $29 · ATM operator surcharges · Gas fees of liquidation transactions paid from collateralShow source
Variable spread when spending crypto · AutoEarn fee: 30% of yield earnedShow source
Cashback & rewards
Base cashback
4%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Standard tier on the first $2,500 of monthly spend; 1% from $2,500 to $4,000; 0% above
0%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Starter tier: under €200 average assets; 0.5% from €200
Max cashback
5%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
VIP tier on the first $20,000 of monthly spend; Pro 4.5% on the first $8,000
2%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Max tier: 30-day average assets of at least €/£50,000; up to 4% boosted on travel via Krak Concierge
Cashback paid in
AVAXShow source
EUR, GBP or BTCShow source
Cashback type
CryptoShow source
FiatConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Or bitcoin
Interest on balance
6%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Up to 6% on dollar balance, variable; the Boost portion only up to the tier's Boost Cap and requires at least one qualifying card transaction per month
3.6%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Up to; on eligible balances, variable
Cashback-eligible spend cap
$2,500/monthConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Standard: headline rate on the first $2,500 per calendar month; Pro $8,000, VIP $20,000; lower rates above
Cashback conditions
Rate depends on tier and steps down with monthly spend (bands reset each calendar month) · Transactions under $1.00 earn no cashback · Paid daily after the transaction settlesShow source
Rate set by the 30-day average assets held across Krak, Kraken and Kraken Pro: 0.5% from €200, 1% from €1,000, 1.5% from €10,000, 2% from €50,000 · Metal card free from €/£50,000 average assetsShow source
Staking / holding required for top rewards
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Holding assets (not staking) sets the cashback tier
Staking asset
Any assets held at Krak, Kraken and Kraken ProShow source
Capital required for top rewards
€50,000Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
30-day average for the 2% tier
Reward exclusions
Cash advances, ATM withdrawals, money orders, traveler's checks and cash equivalents · Purchases of crypto, stablecoins, NFTs, securities, foreign currency · Gambling, wagering, lottery, gaming · Gift card and stored-value purchases · Peer-to-peer transfers and remittances · Account funding, loan/credit repayments, balance transfers, insurance premiums · Fees, taxes, fines and payments to government agencies · Returned, refunded or charged-back transactionsConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Eligibility follows the MCC assigned by the card network
Credit & financing
Credit line
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Secured by your own collateral
NoShow source
Credit type
Crypto-backed creditShow source
Interest (APR)
0%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Purchases; issuer and Ethena Pay may introduce interest on new purchases with prior notice
Interest notes
Currently 0% interest on all purchases; Issuer and Ethena Pay may introduce interest on new purchases in future with prior disclosureShow source
Grace period
Outstanding payment obligation must be paid within one calendar day, otherwise a Liquidation Event occurs; additional grace period at discretionShow source
Repayment
Repay Ethena Pay for card charges per User Agreement by permitted means in the Ethena Pay Account; prepayment without penaltyShow source
Liquidation risk
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Collateral can be liquidated after a Liquidation Event (e.g. unpaid charges)
Availability
Available in
Argentina, BZ, BO, Brazil, Colombia, CR, EC, SV, GT, GY, HN, Mexico, PA, PY, Peru, SR, UY, AG, BS, BB, KY, DM, DO, GD, KN, LC, VC, TT, TC, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, PK, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, CI, EG, GH, Kenya, MA, SN, South Africa, UG, ZM, Australia, New ZealandConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Beta. Announced as coming soon: USA, EU, UK, Switzerland, Canada, Taiwan, South Korea
European Union, United KingdomConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Residents of the UK and the EU; a separate US card exists
Not available in
United StatesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Not available to U.S. citizens, U.S. residents or other U.S. persons; other restricted jurisdictions per Ethena Pay Terms of Use
Account / spend currencies
600+ currencies and assetsShow source
Own IBAN / bank details
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Virtual account (IBAN) not yet available in BB, JP, MY, PK, MA, SN, UG, AU, NZ
Features
Apple Pay
YesShow source
YesShow source
Google Pay
NoConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Announced as available soon
Physical card
YesShow source
Virtual card
YesShow source
YesShow source
ATM withdrawals
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Availability limited and depends on card, device and country
YesShow source
Blockchains
Ethereum · Polygon · Optimism · ArbitrumConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Supported blockchains for collateral; list may be updated by issuer
Security & custody
Deposit protection
NoShow source
Smart-contract risk
YesShow source
Annual cost at 1,500 EUR/month
Ethena Pay Spend Card
- Annual & monthly fees+0 EUR
- FX costs−36 EUR
- Crypto conversion–
- ATM costs−19 EUR
- Cashback+720 EUR
- Net annual value665 EUR
Krak Card
- Annual & monthly fees+0 EUR
- FX costs+0 EUR
- Crypto conversion–
- ATM costs+0 EUR
- Cashback+0 EUR
- Net annual value0 EUR
Assumes 300 EUR foreign spend and 100 EUR ATM per month, base tier only. Use your own numbers