Avici Card

Avici Card Visa Credit Review: Fees, Rewards & Availability

Basic Information

Avici Card is a self-custodial crypto Visa credit card that enables users to spend digital assets globally while maintaining full ownership of their funds. Launched in late 2024, the platform addresses a fundamental challenge for crypto holders: the ability to spend cryptocurrency without converting to fiat through exchanges, which typically triggers taxable events and requires surrendering custody.

The technical architecture combines blockchain self-custody with traditional payment rails through a secured credit model. Users deposit USDC into a personal escrow smart contract that only they control via passkey-secured wallet access. This collateral establishes an equivalent USD credit line on the Visa card, which settles purchases by periodically deducting spent amounts from the smart contract every 1-7 days.

Rewards and Benefits

Cashback Structure

Avici Card does not offer a proprietary cashback or crypto rewards program. The platform's value proposition centers on zero fees and asset preservation rather than spending rewards. Users do not earn cryptocurrency, points, or cash back on purchases with either Platinum or Signature tiers.

However, Visa Signature cardholders may access traditional credit card reward ecosystems through Visa's partner programs (airline miles, hotel points) where available, though these are Visa-administered programs, not Avici-specific benefits.

Referral Program

Avici operates an active referral system with the following structure:

• Referrer reward: 20% of the amount paid by the referred user
• Referee benefit: 10% discount on any card purchase
• Referral codes can be entered during card creation on EVM chains

Additional Perks

Visa Signature Benefits (Signature Tier Only):

• 24/7 concierge service for travel, dining, and event bookings
• Airport lounge access eligibility via Visa Airport Companion app (currently pay-per-use)
• Luxury Hotel Collection perks (room upgrades, free breakfast, late checkout)
• Comprehensive travel insurance (trip cancellation/interruption, travel accident, lost luggage)
• Rental car collision damage waiver
• Purchase protection (90 days theft/damage coverage)
• Extended warranty (up to one additional year on manufacturers' warranties)

Staking Requirements:
None. Avici does not require users to stake tokens or hold platform-native cryptocurrency to access card tiers or benefits, contrasting with competitors like Crypto.com or Binance that require significant token lockups.

Fees and Limits

Avici Card fees are structured with exceptional transparency and competitive pricing. The platform charges zero transaction fees on all purchases, with no hidden conversion fees or markup beyond Visa's standard network fees.

Shipping Options:

• Standard untracked delivery: Free (3-4 weeks)
• Priority tracked delivery: $15 U.S. / $50 international (1-2 weeks)

Spending and Withdrawal Limits:

• Daily Spending: No preset limits (constrained only by USDC collateral balance)
• ATM Withdrawals: $250 per day per card, maximum 3 transactions daily
• Top-Up/Withdrawal: No fees for loading or withdrawing USDC from card balance

Virtual Account Fees (USD/EUR Banking):

• Account opening: $0
• One-time onboarding: 35 USDC (refundable if KYC fails)
• Fiat-to-USDC conversion: 0.8%
• ACH in/out: $1 each
• Wire in/out: $15 each
• SEPA in/out: €1 each

Card Tiers and Options

All tiers share identical core functionality including self-custody architecture, zero purchase transaction fees, multi-chain support, and instant virtual card issuance. The primary differences lie in premium benefits and fee waivers rather than fundamental card capabilities.

Top-Up Methods

• Pre-load required via deposit to self-custodial smart contract
• Supports USDC as collateral; any token from supported blockchains auto-converts to USDC
• Top-up through mobile app using wallet connect, direct deposit, or fiat on-ramp
• Multi-chain support: Solana, Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, and more

Self-Custody True Self-Custody

• Users control private keys via a smart contract wallet (account abstraction, passkey-secured)
• USDC collateral for card is held in a user-controlled on-chain escrow; only user can withdraw unspent funds
• Avici can only deduct authorized card settlement amounts; cannot access or freeze full balance
• If Avici ceases operations, users retain full access to all unspent crypto assets

Supported Currencies and Conversion

Primary Collateral Currency:
USDC (USD Coin) serves as the card's collateral currency, held in user-controlled smart contract escrow accounts.

Supported Cryptocurrencies for Top-Up:
Avici accepts deposits from any token on supported networks, with automatic conversion to USDC via integrated DEX aggregators. Documented support includes major tokens across Solana (SOL, USDT, SPL tokens), Ethereum (ETH, WBTC, ERC-20 tokens), Polygon (MATIC, USDT, USDC), Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, BSC, Avalanche, Mantle, and Scroll networks.

Virtual Account Stablecoin Support:

Fiat Currency Support:

• USD (primary settlement currency for all card transactions)
• EUR (via virtual accounts with SEPA access)
• All fiat received through virtual accounts automatically converts to USDC at 0.8% fee

Conversion Process:
The system uses a collateralized credit model rather than traditional crypto-to-fiat conversion. USDC collateral remains in crypto form until settlement (every 1-7 days), when equivalent amounts are deducted from the smart contract to pay card charges. Top-up conversions from other tokens to USDC happen instantly via DEX aggregators with no Avici fees.

Geographic Availability

Avici Card is available across select regions with notable exclusions from major markets. The platform's official documentation contains some internal contradictions regarding country availability, and users should confirm eligibility directly with support before purchasing.

Americas:
United States (select states only), Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, and various Caribbean nations including Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Trinidad & Tobago

Asia-Pacific:
Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Bangladesh, Pakistan

Africa:
Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Morocco, Senegal

Middle East:
United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Major Exclusions:

• European Union: All EU member states currently unsupported
• United Kingdom: Not available
• Canada: Not supported
• Restricted Countries: China, India, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Syria, Venezuela, Ukraine, and others under international sanctions

U.S. State Availability:
Supported in 34 states including California, New York, Texas, Florida, and Illinois. Notable exclusions include Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Transaction Blocking:
Card spending is blocked when physically located in sanctioned territories (Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela) even for existing cardholders.

Compliance and Security

KYC Requirements

Card KYC (Mandatory):
All users must complete full Know Your Customer verification before accessing card features. The process includes personal information, government-issued photo ID, and liveness verification via Sumsub. Processing typically takes minutes through automated verification.

Virtual Accounts KYC (Separate):
Users enabling USD/EUR virtual bank accounts must complete additional KYC through Persona, requiring enhanced documentation and a 35 USDC onboarding fee (refundable if verification fails).

Business Account KYB:
Business accounts require Know Your Business verification including corporate registration documents, beneficial ownership information, and enhanced due diligence for certain industries.

Custody Model

Cryptocurrency Assets (Non-Custodial):
Avici employs a self-custodial model where each user's USDC collateral is held in a personal smart contract controlled exclusively by the user's wallet. Avici cannot access funds beyond authorized card settlement amounts, and users can withdraw unspent collateral at any time without company approval.

Fiat Assets (Custodial - Temporary):
Fiat currency in virtual accounts is held custodially by partner banks but immediately converted to USDC, minimizing custodial exposure. USD accounts may be FDIC-insured up to $250,000 while in bank custody before conversion.

Security Features:

• Passkey authentication with device biometric confirmation
• Account abstraction wallet eliminates seed phrase vulnerability
• Social recovery options for wallet access
• Real-time transaction monitoring and fraud protection via Visa Zero Liability

Technical Details

Smart Contract Architecture

Wallet Framework:
Built using ZeroDev's account abstraction framework supporting ERC-4337 standards and EIP-1271 signature validation. The system eliminates traditional Web3 friction through sponsored gas fees and automatic transaction handling.

Escrow Mechanism:
Individual smart contracts hold each user's USDC collateral with cryptographic attestation required for settlement deductions. The architecture ensures bankruptcy-remote fund protection and transparent on-chain transaction visibility.

Multi-Chain Support

Supported Networks:
Solana, Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, BSC (Binance Smart Chain), Avalanche, Mantle, Scroll, and other EVM-compatible chains.

Gas Sponsorship:
Avici sponsors gas fees on Layer-2 networks and Solana for top-ups and swaps, reducing user friction. Ethereum mainnet gas fees are not sponsored.

Token Conversion:
Integrated DEX aggregator (Relay) sources liquidity from Uniswap, SushiSwap, 1inch, and other major protocols for automatic token-to-USDC conversion during deposits.

User Experience

Mobile App Availability:
Available on iOS ("Avici: Spend crypto easily") and Android ("Avici – Spend crypto easily") with no web portal. All functionality is mobile-app based.

Onboarding Process:
Streamlined account creation through Google/Apple sign-in, typically completing KYC approval within minutes. Virtual cards become available approximately 2 minutes after verification, with immediate Apple/Google Pay integration capability.

Support Channels:

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: U.S. number provided in Terms of Service
• Social Media: Active X/Twitter (@AviciMoney) and Telegram presence
• Response times vary but team demonstrates transparency in addressing issues publicly

User Feedback Themes:
Positive feedback consistently highlights low fees, self-custody benefits, and transaction reliability. Common criticisms include the absence of cashback rewards, collateral capital efficiency concerns, and limited geographic availability. The November 2025 withdrawal bug (promptly resolved) illustrates early-stage platform risks.

Best Suited For

• Self-custody crypto advocates who prioritize control of private keys and distrust custodial exchanges
• Crypto-earning professionals including freelancers receiving crypto payments or wanting seamless fiat-to-crypto conversion
• Premium card seekers wanting Visa Signature benefits without token staking requirements
• International spenders seeking near-interbank FX rates with minimal fees

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• True self-custody with smart contract escrow protection
• Zero transaction fees and transparent pricing structure
• Multi-chain support with automatic token conversion
• Premium Visa benefits without staking requirements
• Instant virtual card issuance and mobile wallet integration

Cons:

• No cashback or crypto rewards program
• Limited geographic availability excluding major markets
• Requires 100% USDC collateral for spending
• Early-stage platform with limited track record
• Off-ramp functionality still in development

Conclusion

Avici Card successfully delivers on its core promise of enabling self-custodial crypto holders to spend digital assets globally with minimal friction and fees. The platform's technical architecture is innovative, fee structure is genuinely competitive, and user feedback validates official claims about zero hidden charges and reliable transaction processing.

For its target audience—crypto-native users prioritizing sovereignty and integration over rewards—Avici represents arguably the best available solution as of early 2026. The self-custody model, exceptional fee transparency, and premium Visa benefits without token lockup create a compelling value proposition for users who value control over their assets.

However, the platform's early-stage status, limited geographic availability, and complete absence of cashback mean it's not a universal solution. Users must weigh self-custody benefits against opportunity costs of collateral lockup and foregone rewards. The ideal approach for many may be a hybrid strategy: using Avici for crypto spending while maintaining traditional cashback cards for fiat purchases.

As Avici matures with planned DeFi yield features, geographic expansion, and off-ramp functionality, it has potential to become a comprehensive crypto banking platform. Currently, it excels as a specialized tool for crypto enthusiasts in supported regions rather than a mass-market product.

Additional Information

Banking Features

Virtual Bank Accounts:
Avici provides personal USD and EUR bank accounts through licensed partners, offering ACH routing numbers, SEPA IBANs, and Fedwire capability. All received fiat automatically converts to USDC at 0.8% fee, creating seamless crypto-fiat integration.

Business Banking:
Business accounts launched in early access with enhanced KYB verification, multi-card capabilities, and corporate treasury management features targeting crypto-native businesses and DAOs.

Upcoming Features

Planned Developments:

• Visa Infinite tier with metal cards and enhanced benefits
• Fiat off-ramp functionality (currently closed beta)
• DeFi yield integration ("Avici Earn") allowing collateral to earn returns
• Geographic expansion targeting EU and UK markets
• Enhanced business banking tools and accounting integrations

Development Timeline:
Most features lack specific launch dates, with geographic expansion dependent on regulatory approvals and licensing in target jurisdictions.