Bitwala Card vs Lava Card
Crypto native
Crypto native
Verdict
- Bitwala Card scores higher overall (7.0 vs 6.4 out of 10).
- Lava Card is clearly stronger on: Fees.
- A full annual cost comparison is not possible yet because some fees are not disclosed or not yet researched.
Bitwala Card is a good fit for
- Stablecoin holders
Lava Card is a good fit for
- Stablecoin holders
- Frequent travellers
Stronger on: Fees
★ 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 | Bitwala Card | Lava Card |
|---|---|---|
| Fees | 88 | 100 |
| Cashback & rewards | – | 33 |
| Availability | 100 | – |
| FX & international | – | 100 |
| Product features | 58 | – |
| Custody & security | 70 | – |
| Credit & financing | 30 | – |
| Limits & ATM | 60 | – |
| Transparency | 100 | 100 |
| Best for Cashback | n/a | 5.4 |
| Best for Travel | 6.6 | 7.6 |
| Best for DeFi Users | 6.2 | n/a |
| Best for Stablecoins | 6.8 | 7.4 |
| Best for High Spenders | n/a | 6.1 |
| Best for Low Fees | 7.6 | 9.3 |
| Best for Beginners | 7.9 | 6.8 |
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 cardShow source
Credit cardConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Secured: spends only the available dollar balance; no unsecured credit
Network
VisaShow source
VisaShow source
Custody model
HybridConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Self-custodial crypto wallet; euros held in the Bitwala account
Card issuer / program manager
Card program by Rain with a partner issuerShow source
Fees
Annual fee
FreeShow source
Monthly fee
FreeShow source
Physical card fee
€9.99Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Plus shipping
Virtual card fee
€0.99Show source
FX fee
0%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
No spread on Visa's exchange rate
Crypto conversion fee
1%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Plus €0.20 per crypto payment; euro payments free
ATM fee
€2 + 1%Show source
Other fees & markups
Crypto payments €0.20 + 1% per transactionShow source
Cashback & rewards
Base cashback
1%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Users based outside the US; 3% for US users; 5% at Lava merchant partners
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
NoShow source
Spend own balance directly
YesShow source
Availability
Available in
EEAShow source
Account / spend currencies
USDConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Page says "Spend in Dollars"
Features
Apple Pay
NoConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Only via Curve
Google Pay
YesShow source
Physical card
YesShow source
Virtual card
YesShow source
ATM withdrawals
YesShow source
Spend stablecoins
YesShow source
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Stablecoin deposits are credited as dollars
Spendable assets
BTC · ETH · USDC · EURShow source
Annual cost at 1,500 EUR/month
Bitwala Card
- Annual & monthly fees+0 EUR
- FX costsunknown
- Crypto conversion–
- ATM costs−36 EUR
- 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