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Nexo Card vs wavecard

Nexo Card

Crypto native

7.5
wavecard

Crypto native

7.8

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:

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

CriterionNexo Cardwavecard
Fees10087
Cashback & rewards1375
Availability100100
FX & international92100
Product features8056
Custody & security7560
Credit & financing90–
Limits & ATM6420
Transparency100100
Best for Cashback5.27.7
Best for Travel8.17.9
Best for DeFi Users7.16.9
Best for Stablecoins7.5n/a
Best for High Spenders5.87.3
Best for Low Fees9.38.2
Best for Beginners8.48.0
Best Crypto Credit Card7.9n/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

No data yet

Fees

Annual fee

FreeShow source
No data yet

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

No data yet
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

No data yet

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

No data yet

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

No data yet

Cashback conditions

Credit Mode only · Account balance above $5,000 worth of digital assets · Rate depends on Loyalty TierShow source
No data yet

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

No data yet

Staking asset

NEXO TokenShow source
No data yet

Minimum balance

$5,000Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

Digital-asset balance required to earn cashback

No data yet

Credit & financing

Credit line

YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

Credit Mode

No data yet

Credit type

Crypto-backed creditShow source
No data yet

Interest (APR)

1.9%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

'Starting from'; minimum rate

No data yet

Interest notes

Crypto-backed Credit Line interest starting from 1.9% per year; rates vary by region and loyalty tierShow source
No data yet

Repayment

Flexible repayment with no fixed schedule or credit checksShow source
No data yet

Liquidation risk

YesShow source
No data yet

Spend own balance directly

YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

Debit Mode

No data yet

Spend by borrowing against collateral

YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

Credit Mode

No data yet

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)

No data yet

Own IBAN / bank details

No data yet
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

No data yet

Airport lounge access

YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

Unlocked as portfolio grows (tier-dependent)

No data yet

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

No data yet
Bitcoin · LightningShow source

Limits

ATM limit

No data yet
€350Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

Daily; monthly €3,000

Spending limit

No data yet
€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
No data yet

Deposit protection

NoConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source

Applies to Earn and Borrow products

No data yet

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