Verdict
- wavecard scores higher overall (7.8 vs 7.5 out of 10).
- Nexo Card is clearly stronger on: Fees, Product features, Custody & security, Limits & ATM.
- wavecard is clearly stronger on: Cashback & rewards.
- For 1,500 EUR/month of spend, wavecard comes out about 397 EUR a year ahead on base-tier terms.
Nexo Card is a good fit for
- Stablecoin holders
- Users who need credit rather than a debit/prepaid card
- Frequent travellers
Stronger on: Fees, Product features, Custody & security, Limits & ATM
wavecard is a good fit for
- Everyday spenders who want cashback
- Frequent travellers
Stronger on: Cashback & rewards
★ 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 | Nexo Card | wavecard |
|---|---|---|
| Fees | 100 | 87 |
| Cashback & rewards | 13 | 75 |
| Availability | 100 | 100 |
| FX & international | 92 | 100 |
| Product features | 80 | 56 |
| Custody & security | 75 | 60 |
| Credit & financing | 90 | – |
| Limits & ATM | 64 | 20 |
| Transparency | 100 | 100 |
| Best for Cashback | 5.2 | 7.7 |
| Best for Travel | 8.1 | 7.9 |
| Best for DeFi Users | 7.1 | 6.9 |
| Best for Stablecoins | 7.5 | n/a |
| Best for High Spenders | 5.8 | 7.3 |
| Best for Low Fees | 9.3 | 8.2 |
| Best for Beginners | 8.4 | 8.0 |
| Best Crypto Credit Card | 7.9 | 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
Debit card, Crypto-backed creditConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Dual mode: Debit Mode and crypto-backed Credit Mode
Debit cardShow source
Network
MastercardConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Network inferred from the Mastercard trademark notice next to the card issuer disclosure
VisaShow source
Custody model
CustodialShow source
CustodialConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Card funded from the user's Wave Space Crypto account held via partner Lightspark
Card issuer / program manager
DiPocket UABShow source
Lightspark Payments Europe AS (partner for financial services); Wave Space acts as distributorConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Card issued via white-label arrangement with a third-party provider
Tiers / plans
Base · Silver · Gold · PlatinumConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Loyalty Tiers
Fees
Annual fee
FreeShow source
Monthly fee
FreeShow source
FreeShow source
Physical card fee
FreeConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Requires at least Gold Loyalty Tier and portfolio above $5,000
€29.99Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Tracked delivery free; express delivery €30
Virtual card fee
FreeConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Balance of at least $50 required to activate; stays in account
€2.99Show source
FX fee
0.2%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Weekdays EEA/UK/CH; weekends 0.7%; rest of world 2% weekdays, 2.5% weekends
0%Show source
Crypto conversion fee
1%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Fee on card payments
ATM fee
2% (min. €1.99)Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
After the free monthly allowance
€2 + 3%Show source
Free ATM allowance
€200/monthConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Per month, Base Loyalty Tier; Silver €400, Gold €1,000, Platinum €2,000
Other fees & markups
Weekend FX surcharge: 0.7% for EEA/UK/CH currencies and 2.5% for other currencies (vs 0.2% / 2% on weekdays)Show source
€30 express delivery for physical card · Network withdrawal fees on crypto withdrawals (may differ from actual network fee) · Possible maintenance fee for accounts inactive 365 daysShow source
Cashback & rewards
Base cashback
0.5%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Base Loyalty Tier, Credit Mode only, account balance above $5,000 in digital assets; paid in NEXO Tokens (0.1% if paid in BTC)
3%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Up to 21,000 sats in total
Max cashback
2%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Up to; Credit Mode only, depends on loyalty tier
Cashback paid in
NEXO Tokens or BitcoinShow source
BTCShow source
Cashback type
CryptoShow source
CryptoShow source
Max cashback per month
$100/monthConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Up to; monthly limit scales with Loyalty Tier
Cashback conditions
Credit Mode only · Account balance above $5,000 worth of digital assets · Rate depends on Loyalty TierShow source
Staking / holding required for top rewards
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Higher cashback tiers depend on the share of NEXO Tokens held
Staking asset
NEXO TokenShow source
Minimum balance
$5,000Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Digital-asset balance required to earn cashback
Credit & financing
Credit line
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Credit Mode
Credit type
Crypto-backed creditShow source
Interest (APR)
1.9%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
'Starting from'; minimum rate
Interest notes
Crypto-backed Credit Line interest starting from 1.9% per year; rates vary by region and loyalty tierShow source
Repayment
Flexible repayment with no fixed schedule or credit checksShow source
Liquidation risk
YesShow source
Spend own balance directly
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Debit Mode
Spend by borrowing against collateral
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Credit Mode
Availability
Available in
EEA, United KingdomConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Page says 'selected European countries'; ID document from the EEA, UK or another eligible European country required
EEAConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Residents 18+
Account / spend currencies
ARS · USDConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Nexo Domestic card (ARS) and Nexo International card (USD)
Own IBAN / bank details
YesShow source
Features
Apple Pay
YesShow source
NoConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Only via the Curve app; direct Apple Pay support coming soon
Google Pay
YesShow source
YesShow source
Physical card
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Requires Gold Loyalty Tier and above $5,000 portfolio
YesShow source
Virtual card
YesShow source
YesShow source
ATM withdrawals
YesShow source
YesShow source
Spend stablecoins
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Debit Mode
Airport lounge access
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Unlocked as portfolio grows (tier-dependent)
Spendable assets
Stablecoins · Crypto · EURx · USDx · GBPxConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Debit Mode; specific coins not listed
BTCConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Bitcoin-only
Blockchains
Bitcoin · LightningShow source
Limits
ATM limit
€350Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Daily; monthly €3,000
Spending limit
€10,000Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Daily and monthly; monthly up to €15,000 with Tier 2 KYC
Security & custody
Regulation / licences
DiPocket UAB: e-money institution licensed by Bank of Lithuania (licence 75) · Tangany GmbH: BaFin-regulated crypto custody under MiCAR · DLT Securities GmbH: BaFin-regulated under MiCAR and MiFID IIShow source
Deposit protection
NoConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Applies to Earn and Borrow products
Annual cost at 1,500 EUR/month
Nexo Card
- Annual & monthly fees+0 EUR
- FX costs−7 EUR
- Crypto conversion–
- ATM costs+0 EUR
- Cashback+90 EUR
- Net annual value83 EUR
wavecard
- Annual & monthly fees+0 EUR
- FX costs+0 EUR
- Crypto conversion–
- ATM costs−60 EUR
- Cashback+540 EUR
- Net annual value480 EUR
Assumes 300 EUR foreign spend and 100 EUR ATM per month, base tier only. Use your own numbers