Verdict
- Krak Card scores higher overall (7.4 vs 6.0 out of 10).
- Krak Card is clearly stronger on: Cashback & rewards, FX & international, Limits & ATM, Transparency.
- For 1,500 EUR/month of spend, Krak Card comes out about 136 EUR a year ahead on base-tier terms.
Curve Pay is a good fit for
- No specific audience can be derived from the published data yet.
Krak Card is a good fit for
- Frequent travellers
Stronger on: Cashback & rewards, FX & international, Limits & ATM, Transparency
★ 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 | Curve Pay | Krak Card |
|---|---|---|
| Fees | 100 | 100 |
| Cashback & rewards | 3 | 21 |
| Availability | 100 | 93 |
| FX & international | 0 | 100 |
| Product features | 70 | 70 |
| Custody & security | 75 | 75 |
| Credit & financing | – | 30 |
| Limits & ATM | 60 | 100 |
| Transparency | 86 | 100 |
| Best for Cashback | 4.1 | 5.7 |
| Best for Travel | 4.6 | 8.8 |
| Best for DeFi Users | n/a | 6.3 |
| Best for High Spenders | 3.5 | 6.0 |
| Best for Low Fees | 6.7 | 10.0 |
| Best for Beginners | 7.8 | 8.1 |
| Best E-Money Card | 6.4 | 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 cardShow source
Network
MastercardShow source
MastercardConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
UK and EEA; the US card is a Visa
Custody model
CustodialConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
The provider holds the funds
CustodialConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Card spends the Krak account balance (e-money and crypto held by Kraken)
Card issuer / program manager
Curve UK Limited (UK) / Curve Europe UAB (EEA)Show source
Monavate (UK) / UAB Monavate (EEA); e-money by Payward Ireland LimitedShow source
Tiers / plans
Curve Pay · Curve Pay X · Curve Pay Pro · Curve Pay Pro+Show source
Starter · Lite · Pro · Elite · MaxConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Cashback tier by 30-day average assets held
Fees
Annual fee
FreeShow source
Monthly fee
FreeConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Curve Pay (free plan)
FreeShow source
Physical card fee
FreeConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Plastic card; replacement €4.99
Virtual card fee
FreeShow source
Replacement fee
€4.99Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Plastic card; metal card replacement €60
FX fee
2.99%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Free plan above £250/month fee-free FX; paid plans £3,333–£100,000 fee-free
0%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
EEA/UK: Mastercard rate without markup; a variable spread applies when spending crypto. US card: 1%
Top-up fee
FreeConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Bank transfer free; debit card and Apple/Google Pay deposits €0.25 + 3.75% (UK £0.25 + 3.75%); PayPal fees vary by region. US: linked bank (ACH) free, USD/CAD SWIFT wire $3, card deposits $0.25 + 3.75%, PayPal 3.39%
ATM fee
2% (min. £2)Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
No free allowance on the free plan; X £300, Pro £500, Pro+ £1,000 per month
FreeConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
No Krak fee; third-party ATM fees may apply
Transfer fee
FreeConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Incoming and outgoing SEPA free (UK domestic transfers free); outgoing SWIFT: regional funding fees may apply; transfers between Krak accounts free. US: ACH in/out free
Other fees & markups
+1.5% on weekend FX spending (free plan) · 1.5% per transaction on commercial cards · 2.9% when funding through an international payment card above the allowanceShow source
Variable spread when spending crypto · AutoEarn fee: 30% of yield earned · Vault fee: 25% of yield earned · Small balance conversions: fixed 3% feeConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Vault and AutoEarn fees are taken from yield; displayed APYs exclude them
Cashback & rewards
Base cashback
0%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Free plan
0%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Starter tier: under €200 average assets; 0.5% from €200
Max cashback
1%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Paid plans: on non-European/non-UK currency spend (X) or selected retailers (Pro/Pro+, capped £25/£50 per month)
2%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Max tier: 30-day average assets of at least €/£50,000; up to 4% boosted on travel via Krak Concierge
Cashback paid in
Curve CashShow source
EUR, GBP or BTCShow source
Cashback type
FiatShow source
FiatConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Or bitcoin
Interest on balance
3.6%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Up to; on eligible balances, variable
Cashback conditions
1% on non-European/non-UK currency spend requires a premium plan (X, Pro or Pro+) · Pro: 1% at 6 chosen retailers up to £25/month; Pro+: 12 retailers up to £50/month · Brand offers up to 20%, usually one-time and activated in app, UK only (coming soon to EEA)Show source
Rate set by the 30-day average assets held across Krak, Kraken and Kraken Pro: 0.5% from €200, 1% from €1,000, 1.5% from €10,000, 2% from €50,000 · Metal card free from €/£50,000 average assetsShow source
Staking / holding required for top rewards
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Holding assets (not staking) sets the cashback tier
Staking asset
Any assets held at Krak, Kraken and Kraken ProShow source
Capital required for top rewards
€50,000Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
30-day average for the 2% tier
Credit & financing
Credit line
NoShow source
Spend own balance directly
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Spends directly from the Krak Everyday account balance
Availability
Available in
United Kingdom, EEAShow source
European Union, United KingdomConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Residents of the UK and the EU; a separate US card exists
Account / spend currencies
600+ currenciesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Spend in more than 600 currencies
Features
Apple Pay
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Card can be added to Apple Pay for online payments; using Apple Pay for contactless may forfeit cashback and fee-free FX
YesShow source
Google Pay
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Card can be added to Google Pay; using Google Pay for contactless may forfeit cashback and fee-free FX
Physical card
YesShow source
YesShow source
Virtual card
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Curve Pay digital wallet (free plan); physical card free from Curve Pay X
YesShow source
ATM withdrawals
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Fee-free foreign ATM withdrawals only on paid plans (X: up to £/€ 300)
YesShow source
Airport lounge access
NoConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Only Curve Pay Pro+ (paid plan); free Curve Pay does not list it
Security & custody
Regulation / licences
FCA-authorised e-money issuer (Curve UK Limited, UK) · Bank of Lithuania e-money licence No. 73 (Curve Europe UAB, EEA)Show source
EEA: e-money by Payward Ireland Limited, regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland · EEA: card issuer UAB Monavate, licensed by the Bank of Lithuania (LB002139) · UK: card issuer Monavate Limited, FCA-authorised (FRN 901097) · UK: e-money and payment services by Payward Services Limited, FCA-authorised (FRN 1010381) · UK: Payward Ltd registered with the FCA as a cryptoasset business (FRN 928768)Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
US: Payward Interactive, Inc. is a licensed money transmitter (NMLS #1843762) registered with FinCEN as an MSB
Deposit protection
NoConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Stated for UK customers and for funds on the Curve Cash card
NoConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
EEA e-money wallet is not covered by a deposit guarantee scheme; UK: no FSCS protection; US: balances not FDIC or SIPC insured
Annual cost at 1,500 EUR/month
Curve Pay
- Annual & monthly fees+0 EUR
- FX costs−108 EUR
- Crypto conversion–
- ATM costs−29 EUR
- Cashback+0 EUR
- Net annual value-136 EUR
Krak Card
- Annual & monthly fees+0 EUR
- FX costs+0 EUR
- Crypto conversion–
- ATM costs+0 EUR
- Cashback+0 EUR
- Net annual value0 EUR
Assumes 300 EUR foreign spend and 100 EUR ATM per month, base tier only. Use your own numbers