True Ownership
Maintain control over your private keys and crypto assets, adhering to the 'not your keys, not your crypto' principle.
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Last updated: December 12, 2025 7 cards
Self-Custodial Cards
Cards that allow you to maintain control of your crypto assets without surrendering private keys to third parties. Self-custodial cards allow you to maintain control over your cryptocurrency assets while spending them. These cards typically don't require you to deposit funds with a centralized provider. Compare our selection of self-custodial options if maintaining ownership of your private keys is a priority.
Enhanced Privacy
Reduced exposure of personal financial data to third parties, maintaining greater financial privacy.
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Censorship Resistance
Protection against potential account freezes or restrictions that can affect centralized crypto cards.
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Direct Blockchain Settlement
Transactions that settle directly on-chain without relying on centralized clearing systems.
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How Cards Are Ranked
Cards in this category are ranked based on estimated monthly value using these assumptions:
Monthly Spend
$1,000
Staking Budget
$500
Fx Spend Percentage
0%
Atm Withdrawal Percentage
10%
The ranking considers calculated cashback minus fees based on the typical user profile above. It includes only cards identified as self-custodial, factoring in category-specific features and tier balancing.
Top Self-Custodial Cards
Showing 7 cards
Gnosis Pay
OG NFT Holder
Visa
+50
USD
0$ fees
50$ rewards
- +1% bonus cashback (up to 5% total)
- Early access to new features
- Exclusive events and partner perks
- Weekly GNO rewards delivered automatically to Safe wallet
- Google & Apple Pay support
- Optional ENS domain name printed on card
- Physical and virtual cards available
- IBAN bank account for eligible European users
- Zero transaction, FX, gas, or off-ramping fees
- Worldwide Visa acceptance
Rizon
Standard
Visa
+49
USD
1$ fees
50$ rewards
- Non-custodial architecture with full user control of stablecoins
- RIZpoints rewards program with up to 5% cashback
- Up to 20 RIZpoints (valued $200) for each successful referral
- Maximum of 10 friends can be referred for total of $400 in rewards
- Free stablecoin transfers to other Rizon users
- Instant virtual card issuance upon verification
- No staking requirements to access features or benefits
- Multi-chain support for deposits (Solana, Polygon, Base, Arbitrum, Optimism, Avalanche, Ethereum)
- Global usage at over 100 million merchants and ATMs where Visa is accepted
Ether.Fi Cash
Core
Visa
+20
USD
0$ fees
20$ rewards
- Seasonal rewards
- Priority support
- Up to 65% off luxury hotels
- Referral rewards: 1% cashback on referral purchases + 10% points on their deposits
- Airport Companion lounge access
- Concierge service
- Family Member Cards with controls
Metamask
Virtual Card
Mastercard
+1
USD
9$ fees
10$ rewards
- True self-custody model with funds remaining in your wallet until point of purchase
- 1% cashback
- Direct spending from MetaMask wallet without transferring to third parties
- No bank account required for crypto spending
- Full control of funds until the moment of payment
- Minimal transaction fees
- Global acceptance at any Mastercard merchant
- Instant digital issuance
1inch
Standard
Mastercard
-1
USD
21$ fees
20$ rewards
- Up to 2% cashback in BXX token or 1% in BTC, USDT, or 1INCH
- CryptoDraft: Interest-free crypto-backed credit (0% APR on first 10% of collateral value)
- StableLoan: Fixed-term loans with predetermined interest rates
- Optional BXX staking for enhanced benefits (up to 50% LTV interest-free borrowing with $10,000+ staked)
- BXX staking yields up to 25% APR/APY for 12-month stakes
- Apple Pay and Google Pay integration
- No foreign exchange fees beyond Mastercard's standard rates
- Virtual card issued immediately after KYC approval
- Self-custody model maintaining control of assets until purchase
- Instant crypto-to-fiat conversion at point of sale
- Monthly cashback cap of €4,800
Cypher
Standard
Visa / Mastercard
+0
USD
10$ fees
10$ rewards
- 1 Cipher token per $1 spent (1% cashback)
- Up to 8x rewards at partner merchants
- Supports 772 tokens across 25+ blockchains
- Non-custodial approach
- Global acceptance at 40+ million merchants
- Standard fraud protections
- Access to CYPR token airdrop program
Ledger CL
Standard
Visa
-34
USD
44$ fees
10$ rewards
- 2% cashback if rewards taken in BXX token (vs 1% in BTC/USDC/USDT)
- Crypto-backed credit lines (Cryptodraft) with APR from 0% based on staking tier
- Stablecoin loans (Stableloans) with rates varying by staking tier
- Direct paycheck deposit capability via bank transfer
- Optional auto-conversion of deposits to cryptocurrency
- Integration with Ledger Live, MetaMask, and 1inch
- Apple Pay and Google Pay support for contactless payments
- Self-custody of crypto until card top-up
- Accepted at 90 million merchants globally
- Free virtual card available instantly
- Rewards calculated monthly and paid at month-end (claimable at any time per FAQ)
- Recurring payment authorizations supported
Comparing Self-Custodial Cards
When comparing self-custodial crypto cards, prioritize security mechanisms, transaction settlement transparency, and true key ownership rather than conventional rewards or perks.
Key Features to Compare
- Method of maintaining private key control
- Security features protecting self-custodied assets
- Transaction settlement process and transparency
- Integration with popular self-custody wallets
- Backup and recovery options
Comparison Tips
- Verify that the card truly never takes custody of your main crypto assets
- Understand the exact settlement process when a card transaction occurs
- Check for any centralized components that could compromise self-custody
- Research the team's background and security track record
The ideal self-custodial card provides true financial sovereignty without compromising on usability or requiring technical expertise for everyday use.
Frequently Asked Questions about Self-Custodial Cards
1 How do self-custodial crypto cards work without giving up control of my keys?
Self-custodial cards typically work by creating temporary payment channels or using smart contracts that authorize specific limited transactions without surrendering full control of your assets. When you make a purchase, you cryptographically sign an approval for just that transaction, keeping your main holdings secure in your self-custodied wallet.
2 Are self-custodial cards more secure than centralized alternatives?
Self-custodial cards eliminate custodial risk (the risk of a centralized provider being hacked or going bankrupt with your funds), but they introduce different security considerations like seed phrase management and smart contract risk. They're generally considered more secure philosophically but require greater personal responsibility.
3 How do transaction confirmations work with self-custodial cards?
Since blockchain transactions typically take time to confirm, self-custodial cards use various approaches to provide instant payments. Some utilize Layer 2 solutions, payment channels, or temporary custodial authorizations. Others might require pre-funding a spending wallet while keeping the majority of assets self-custodied.
4 What happens if I lose my private keys or seed phrase?
With true self-custodial cards, losing your private keys or seed phrase typically means losing access to your funds, as the provider doesn't have backup access. Some solutions offer social recovery options or multi-signature setups to mitigate this risk, but these require advance configuration.
5 Can self-custodial cards offer the same features as centralized options?
Self-custodial cards are evolving rapidly but often have some feature limitations compared to centralized alternatives. They may have different reward structures, fewer integrated services, or more complex user experiences. However, they offer unique benefits like censorship resistance and true asset ownership that centralized cards cannot match.
Detailed Comparison
| Card | Cashback | Staking | Effective Return | Availability | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gnosis OG NFT Holder | 5% | 0.1 GNO (≈$13) | $50/mo (5.00%) | South America & Europe 34 countries | View Details |
| Rizon Standard | 5% | None | $49/mo (4.90%) | South America & North America 22 countries | View Details |
| Ready Metal Card | 3% | None | $20/mo (2.00%) | Global 179 countries | View Details |
| Ether.Fi Core | 2% | None | $20/mo (2.00%) | Global 181 countries | View Details |
| Gnosis Tier 2 | 2% | 1 GNO (≈$125) | $20/mo (2.00%) | South America & Europe 34 countries | View Details |
| Gnosis Tier 1 | 1% | 0.1 GNO (≈$13) | $10/mo (1.00%) | South America & Europe 34 countries | View Details |
| Ready Lite Card | 0.5% | None | $5/mo (0.50%) | Global 179 countries | View Details |
| Metamask Virtual Card | 1% | None | $1/mo (0.12%) | South America, Europe & more 37 countries | View Details |
| 1inch Standard | 2% | None | -$1/mo (-0.06%) | Europe 31 countries | View Details |
| Cypher Standard | 1% | None | $0/mo (0.00%) | South America, Europe & more 36 countries | View Details |
| Gnosis Base Card | 0% | None | $0/mo (0.00%) | South America & Europe 34 countries | View Details |
| Ledger Standard | 1% | None | -$34/mo (-3.40%) | Europe, South America & more 39 countries | View Details |
| Mercuryo Standard | 0% | None | $0/mo (0.00%) | Europe 30 countries | View Details |
| Osmosis Standard | 0% | None | -$20/mo (-2.00%) | Global 201 countries | View Details |
| Osmosis Premium | 0% | None | -$10/mo (-1.00%) | Global 201 countries | View Details |
