Amp Pay Card

Amp Pay Card Visa Prepaid Review: Fees, Rewards & Availability

Basic Information

Amp Pay Card represents a distinctive approach to crypto spending through a self-custodial wallet paired with a Visa card that allows users to spend their on-chain stablecoin holdings at any Visa-accepting merchant. Unlike traditional custodial crypto cards, users retain ownership of their digital assets through smart contracts while the card functions as a spending interface rather than a traditional bank account.

The card operates on a collateralized model where users pledge digital asset collateral that determines their spending capacity on a 1:1 USD basis. The issuer holds no custody but retains contractual rights to trigger liquidation upon defined events, eliminating traditional credit checks while introducing unique risks including potential total loss of funds if recovery phrases are lost.

Rewards and Benefits

Cashback Structure

Amp Pay's cashback is promotion-based rather than a permanent feature, with rates and terms varying by time period.

February 2026 Promotion (most recent):

• 4% cashback for users who purchased a physical Amp Card
• 2% cashback for virtual card users
• Spending cap: Up to $10,000 in qualifying spend per cardholder
• Minimum payout threshold: As specified in promotion terms

Excluded transaction categories:

• Quasi-cash transactions
• Cryptocurrency purchases
• Gift cards and gambling
• Bill pay, utility payments, rent
• Wire transfers and money orders
• Other cash-like transactions

Unique Features and Integrations

• Self-custody architecture: Users retain control of private keys with no custodial risk
• Free global USDC transfers through the app
• No credit check approval process
• Zero monthly fees for app and wallet services
• USDC compression feature: Amp Pay covers on-chain fees but collects SOL from rent-exempt accounts
• Third-party wallet connectivity: Compatible with MetaMask and Ledger
• Variable on-chain yield access: Through third-party DeFi protocols (not provided by Amp Pay)

Fees and Limits

Amp Pay Card fees vary significantly between U.S. and international versions, with U.S. cardholders enjoying substantially more favorable terms.

U.S. Card Fee Structure

International Card Fee Structure

Spending and Withdrawal Limits

Spending limits: Primarily determined by collateral value on 1:1 USD basis, with discretionary daily/monthly limits possible at issuer discretion.

Withdrawal limits: Minimum $5 for card-to-wallet transfers; no maximum specified in public documentation.

ATM access: Cash advances explicitly not available for international cards; U.S. card terms show "N/A" for cash advance APR, suggesting limited or disabled functionality.

Card Tiers and Options

Both tiers feature the same core collateralized spending model, Apple Pay/Google Pay integration, and self-custodial architecture. The primary differences lie in fee structures and liquidation timelines, with international users facing significantly higher costs and more aggressive repayment requirements.

Top-Up Methods

• No traditional top-up needed
• Deposit stablecoins or crypto as collateral to unlock spending limit
• Supports USDC, USDT, PYUSD, USDS, and other assets on Solana, Ethereum, Polygon, Optimism, and Arbitrum
• Fund via in-app wallet deposit or connect external wallet (e.g., MetaMask, Ledger)

Self-Custody True Self-Custody

• Users retain full control of private keys at all times
• Collateral is held in user-owned smart contracts; issuer can only trigger liquidation via contract
• If provider disappears, users keep access to all assets (unless recovery phrase is lost)

Supported Currencies and Conversion

Supported Cryptocurrencies

Amp Pay does not publish a comprehensive supported tokens list. Explicitly referenced digital assets include:

Stablecoins: USD Coin (USDC), PayPal USD (PYUSD), Tether (USDT), USDS, and other unspecified stablecoins

Native tokens: SOL (Solana) for on-chain fees and rent-exempt account mechanics

Card collateral: Digital assets with types designated by Amp Pay per issuer policy (no public enumeration available)

Supported Blockchains

• Solana (primary blockchain)
• Ethereum
• Polygon
• Optimism
• Arbitrum

Currency Conversion

Conversion mechanism: Automatic at point of card transaction; collateral value determines spending capacity with purchases drawing against collateral

Exchange rates: Visa network conversion rates for foreign currency purchases; issuer does not independently adjust rates beyond disclosed fees

Settlement currency: All transactions settled in USD regardless of original merchant currency

Geographic Availability

Amp Pay Card is available in most regions to verified users, though the company does not publish a comprehensive country list. The service operates separate programs for U.S. and international users with different terms and fee structures.

Europe

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Holy See (Vatican City)

Americas

Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela

Asia

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

Africa

Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Oceania

Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

Restricted Countries

Prohibited jurisdictions: Afghanistan, Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Central African Republic, Congo (Democratic Republic), Congo (Republic), Croatia, Cuba, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Kosovo, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, North Macedonia, North Korea, Syria

Prohibited regions: Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk (Ukraine)

Compliance and Security

Identity Verification

KYC required: All users must complete identity verification to obtain an Amp Pay Card and access rewards programs.

Verification process: Standard identity verification including name, address, date of birth, and government ID collection with ongoing monitoring rights.

Custody Model

Self-custodial architecture: Users maintain control of private keys; Amp Pay never has custody or control over user funds

Card collateral: Remains owned by users and held in smart contracts on supported blockchains; issuer can trigger liquidation but does not hold custody

Recovery responsibility: Users are solely responsible for safeguarding recovery phrases; Amp Pay cannot recover wallets or funds if recovery phrase is lost

Regulatory Framework

Service operator status: Amp Pay explicitly states it is not a broker, financial institution, financial advisor, investment advisor, intermediary, or custodian

Card program structure:

• Issuer: Third National (Visa-licensed)
• Network: Visa
• Program Manager: Signify Holdings, Inc.

Security Features

• Private key control retained by users
• Device eligibility controls (no jailbroken/rooted devices for mobile wallets)
• Fraud monitoring with card tokenization suspension capabilities
• OFAC and sanctions compliance

User Experience

Mobile App

Platform availability: iOS (Apple App Store) and Android (Google Play)

Core features:

• Self-custodial wallet management
• Send/receive crypto with free global USDC transfers
• Card request and virtual card access
• Apple Pay and Google Pay integration
• Swap functionality and third-party DeFi protocol access

Support Channels

Contact methods:

• Email: [email protected] (48-hour response goal)
• Telegram community (faster response times)

Security warnings: Official support emphasizes that Amp Pay will never ask for private keys or recovery phrases, with explicit warnings about scammers

Merchant Restrictions

Excluded categories:

• Cryptocurrency purchases and gift cards
• Gambling and quasi-cash transactions
• Bill pay, utilities, rent payments
• Wire transfers and money orders
• Cash advances and balance transfers (international card)

Best Suited For

• Crypto-native users who hold stablecoins and want mainstream merchant spending without traditional banking intermediation
• Self-custody advocates who prioritize private key control and are comfortable with DeFi protocol risks
• USD-focused spenders who primarily make USD-denominated purchases to minimize foreign transaction fees
• DeFi-experienced individuals who understand smart contract risks and collateral liquidation mechanics

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Self-custodial model with user-controlled private keys
• No credit check or traditional banking requirements
• Zero fees on USD purchases (U.S. card)
• Competitive 1% foreign transaction fee (U.S. card)
• Apple Pay and Google Pay integration

Cons

• Aggressive collateral liquidation timelines (48 hours or less)
• No fund recovery if private keys are lost
• International cards face up to 6% foreign transaction fees
• Limited official documentation on supported features
• Promotion-dependent cashback with extensive exclusions

Conclusion

Amp Pay Card stands out as a self-custodial crypto spending solution that prioritizes user control over funds while enabling Visa merchant acceptance. The product successfully eliminates traditional banking friction and credit checks, but replaces those gatekeepers with smart contract dependency and collateral liquidation risk. For U.S. cardholders making primarily USD-denominated purchases, the fee structure is competitive with 0% transaction fees and promotional cashback up to 4%, though the $10,000 spending cap and extensive category exclusions limit practical value. International users face significantly less attractive economics with potential total fees reaching 6% on foreign purchases, making the card substantially less competitive outside the U.S. market.

The card is best suited for crypto-native users comfortable with DeFi primitives who want to spend stablecoins at mainstream merchants without converting to traditional bank accounts. However, the aggressive liquidation timelines, lack of fund recovery mechanisms, and minimal safeguarding arrangements make it unsuitable for users expecting traditional banking protections or those uncomfortable with the possibility of total loss if recovery phrases are compromised.

Additional Information

USDC Compression Value Capture

Amp Pay's USDC compression feature covers on-chain transaction fees but collects SOL held in rent-exempt accounts as compensation. This value-capture mechanism may not be obvious to users unfamiliar with Solana rent mechanics, representing a subtle cost that accumulates over time.

Third-Party Protocol Dependencies

The service relies heavily on third-party DeFi protocols including DeFi Carrot and Jupiter, with extensive disclaimers about protocol failure risks. Amp Pay provides no staking rewards directly, with all yield coming from external protocols subject to smart contract exploits and service discontinuation risks.

Arbitration Provisions

U.S. cardholders are subject to binding arbitration provisions that may limit legal recourse in disputes, with potential class action waivers and $30 dispute handling fees under certain conditions.

Regulatory Uncertainty

Terms include broad language reserving rights to modify or terminate services based on regulatory changes, with particular uncertainty around blockchain and cryptocurrency regulations that may affect service availability in specific jurisdictions.