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Exa Card (Uphold) vs KAST

Exa Card (Uphold)

Crypto native

6.5
KAST

Crypto native

6.0

Verdict

  • Exa Card (Uphold) scores higher overall (6.5 vs 6.0 out of 10).
  • Exa Card (Uphold) is clearly stronger on: Custody & security, Transparency.
  • KAST is clearly stronger on: Product features, Credit & financing.
  • A full annual cost comparison is not possible yet because some fees are not disclosed or not yet researched.

Exa Card (Uphold) is a good fit for

  • Users who need credit rather than a debit/prepaid card

Stronger on: Custody & security, Transparency

KAST is a good fit for

  • Stablecoin holders
  • Users who need credit rather than a debit/prepaid card

Stronger on: Product features, Credit & financing

★ Our pickEditorial choice · score unchanged · Affiliate link

Neither card is our pick. The card we recommend instead:

ether.fi Cash

Crypto native · ether.fi

8.1

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

CriterionExa Card (Uphold)KAST
Fees10099
Cashback & rewards–35
Availability––
FX & international–30
Product features5370
Custody & security7060
Credit & financing6070
Limits & ATM–33
Transparency10086
Best for Cashbackn/a5.2
Best for Traveln/a5.0
Best for DeFi Users6.86.3
Best for Stablecoinsn/a6.3
Best for High Spendersn/a5.2
Best for Low Fees8.07.0
Best for Beginners7.37.2
Best Crypto Credit Card7.07.0

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

ActiveShow source
ActiveShow source

Card type

Crypto-backed creditShow source
Stablecoin cardShow source

Network

VisaConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

Visa Signature

VisaShow source

Custody model

HybridConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

Collateral leaves Uphold and is held in Exactly Protocol smart contracts

CustodialConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

Deposited assets are sold to KAST and held by a custodian on behalf of KAST, not the user

Card issuer / program manager

Third National; credit by Exactly ProtocolShow source
No data yet

Tiers / plans

No data yet
Standard · Premium · PrivateConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

Account-level memberships replacing card tiers (announced May 5, 2026)

Fees

Annual fee

FreeShow source
FreeConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

Standard membership; Premium $1,000/yr, Private $10,000/yr

Physical card fee

No data yet
$40Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

Delivery fee; the Standard physical card itself is free

Virtual card fee

FreeConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

Created automatically with the Instant Credit account

$2Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

Certain markets only, Standard tier

FX fee

No data yet
1.75%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

Up to; 0.5%–1.75% on non-USD card spend depending on membership

ATM fee

No data yet
$3 + 2%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

Plus FX fee on non-USD ATMs; operators may add charges

Small transaction fee

No data yet
$0.10Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

Non-USD transactions under $25

Other fees & markups

No data yet
Monthly inactivity fee of $1 on dormant accounts (12 months without transaction activity) · Possible reactivation fee after 6 months of inactivity · Possible card renewal fee (specified in app) · Non-refundable chargeback/dispute processing feesShow source

Cashback & rewards

Base cashback

No data yet
1.5%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

Standard membership, first $2,000 of spend per month

Max cashback

No data yet
3%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

Private membership ($10,000/yr), first $40,000 per month; plus 2% in KAST Points

Cashback paid in

No data yet
USDShow source

Cashback-eligible spend cap

No data yet
$2,000/monthConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

Standard; Premium $10,000, Private $40,000 per month

Cashback conditions

No data yet
Premium adds 1% and Private 2% in KAST Points on all spend · Subject to eligibility, caps and regional availabilityShow source

Reward expiry / vesting

No data yet
Accrued unused benefits/rewards are forfeited when the membership expires or is terminatedShow source

Reward exclusions

No data yet
Some merchant categories excludedShow source

Credit & financing

Credit line

YesShow source
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

Card described as a credit card secured by deposited virtual assets

Credit type

InstalmentsConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

One payment or up to 8 fixed-rate installments every 28 days

No data yet

Collateral assets

BTC · ETH · USDC · XRPShow source
No data yet

Interest notes

Fixed APR per payment option, confirmed at purchaseShow source
No data yet

Liquidation risk

YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

Spending limit depends on collateral value and health score

No data yet

Spend by borrowing against collateral

YesShow source
No data yet

Features

Apple Pay

YesShow source
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

Region-dependent

Google Pay

YesShow source
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

Region-dependent

Physical card

NoShow source
YesShow source

Virtual card

YesShow source
YesShow source

ATM withdrawals

No data yet
YesShow source

Spend stablecoins

No data yet
YesShow source

Spendable assets

No data yet
USDT · USDCConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

Acceptable Tokens for deposit

Blockchains

No data yet
Ethereum · Solana · Polygon · Arbitrum · TRONConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

Deposit networks for USDT/USDC; list not exhaustive, varies by coin

Limits

ATM limit

No data yet
$750Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

$250 per withdrawal incl. fees, max 3 withdrawals per rolling 24h

Security & custody

Deposit protection

No data yet
NoShow source

Annual cost at 1,500 EUR/month

Exa Card (Uphold)

  • Annual & monthly fees+0 EUR
  • FX costsunknown
  • Crypto conversion–
  • ATM costsunknown
  • Cashbackunknown
  • Net annual valuenot enough data

KAST

  • Annual & monthly fees+0 EUR
  • FX costs−63 EUR
  • Crypto conversion–
  • ATM costs−56 EUR
  • Cashback+270 EUR
  • Net annual value151 EUR

Assumes 300 EUR foreign spend and 100 EUR ATM per month, base tier only. Use your own numbers