Exa Card (Uphold) vs Lava Card
Crypto native
Crypto native
Verdict
- Exa Card (Uphold) scores higher overall (6.5 vs 6.4 out of 10).
- 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
Lava Card is a good fit for
- Stablecoin holders
- Frequent travellers
★ 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 | Exa Card (Uphold) | Lava Card |
|---|---|---|
| Fees | 100 | 100 |
| Cashback & rewards | – | 33 |
| Availability | – | – |
| FX & international | – | 100 |
| Product features | 53 | – |
| Custody & security | 70 | – |
| Credit & financing | 60 | – |
| Limits & ATM | – | – |
| Transparency | 100 | 100 |
| Best for Cashback | n/a | 5.4 |
| Best for Travel | n/a | 7.6 |
| Best for DeFi Users | 6.8 | n/a |
| Best for Stablecoins | n/a | 7.4 |
| Best for High Spenders | n/a | 6.1 |
| Best for Low Fees | 8.0 | 9.3 |
| Best for Beginners | 7.3 | 6.8 |
| Best Crypto Credit Card | 7.0 | 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
ActiveShow source
ActiveShow source
Card type
Crypto-backed creditShow source
Credit cardConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Secured: spends only the available dollar balance; no unsecured credit
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
Card issuer / program manager
Third National; credit by Exactly ProtocolShow source
Card program by Rain with a partner issuerShow source
Fees
Annual fee
FreeShow source
FreeShow source
Virtual card fee
FreeConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Created automatically with the Instant Credit account
FX fee
0%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
No spread on Visa's exchange rate
Cashback & rewards
Base cashback
1%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Users based outside the US; 3% for US users
Max cashback
5%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
At Lava merchant partners, worldwide
Cashback paid in
BTCShow source
Cashback type
CryptoShow source
Cashback conditions
3% back in bitcoin for US-based users, 1% outside the US · 5% at Lava merchant partners · Redeemable from 100,000 sats (0.001 BTC) · No rewards on fines, taxes, insurance, rentals and schoolsShow source
Credit & financing
Credit line
YesShow source
Credit type
InstalmentsConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
One payment or up to 8 fixed-rate installments every 28 days
Collateral assets
BTC · ETH · USDC · XRPShow source
Interest notes
Fixed APR per payment option, confirmed at purchaseShow source
Liquidation risk
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Spending limit depends on collateral value and health score
Spend own balance directly
YesShow source
Spend by borrowing against collateral
YesShow source
Features
Apple Pay
YesShow source
Google Pay
YesShow source
Physical card
NoShow source
Virtual card
YesShow source
Spend stablecoins
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Stablecoin deposits are credited as dollars
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
Lava Card
- Annual & monthly fees+0 EUR
- FX costs+0 EUR
- Crypto conversion–
- ATM costsunknown
- Cashback+180 EUR
- Net annual valuenot enough data
Assumes 300 EUR foreign spend and 100 EUR ATM per month, base tier only. Use your own numbers