Self-Custodial Cards - Best Crypto Cards

Last updated: October 25, 2025 • 7 cards

About 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.

Self-Custodial Cards offer several unique advantages compared to traditional payment cards:

True Ownership

Maintain control over your private keys and crypto assets, adhering to the 'not your keys, not your crypto' principle.

Enhanced Privacy

Reduced exposure of personal financial data to third parties, maintaining greater financial privacy.

Censorship Resistance

Protection against potential account freezes or restrictions that can affect centralized crypto cards.

Direct Blockchain Settlement

Transactions that settle directly on-chain without relying on centralized clearing systems.

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

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

Ether.Fi Cash

Core

Visa

+20

USD

0$ fees

20$ rewards

Cashback Rate

Staking Required

None

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

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Gnosis Pay

Tier 2

Visa

+20

USD

0$ fees

20$ rewards

Cashback Rate

Staking Required

1 GNO (≈$130)

No transaction, FX, gas, or off-ramping fees
Includes IBAN bank account for European users
Zero conversion fees when spending crypto worldwide
Weekly GNO rewards delivered automatically to Safe wallet
Physical card with optional ENS name personalization

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Holyheld

Metal

Mastercard

+10

USD

0$ fees

10$ rewards

Cashback Rate

Staking Required

None

1% cashback in USDC on all purchases
Smart contract insurance up to $50,000
Personal Euro IBAN account for SEPA transfers
No monthly maintenance fees
Premium design
1,200+ cryptocurrencies supported across 14+ blockchain networks
Non-custodial approach for crypto assets

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Cypher

Standard

Visa / Mastercard

USD

5$ fees

10$ rewards

Cashback Rate

Staking Required

None

Non-custodial approach - users maintain control of crypto until point of spending
Supports 772 tokens across 25+ blockchains
Available in 160+ countries including the United States
Standard card network zero-liability policies
Earn 1 Cipher token per $1 spent (effectively 1% cashback)
Up to 8x rewards at partner merchants
CYPR token airdrop eligibility

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Metamask

Virtual Card

Mastercard

USD

9$ fees

10$ rewards

Cashback Rate

Staking Required

None

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

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1inch

Standard

Mastercard

USD

20$ fees

20$ rewards

Cashback Rate

Staking Required

None

2% cashback when rewards are taken in BXX (Baanx's token)
1% cashback when rewards are taken in Bitcoin (BTC), Tether (USDT), or 1inch token (1INCH)
Monthly cashback cap of €4,800
Self-custody model maintaining control of assets until point of purchase
CryptoDraft: Interest-free crypto-backed credit line (0% APR on first 10% of collateral value)
No foreign exchange (FX) fees beyond Mastercard's standard rates
Available as virtual card immediately after KYC approval
Higher credit limits available via optional BXX token staking

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Ledger CL

Standard

Visa

-3

USD

23$ fees

20$ rewards

Cashback Rate

Staking Required

None

1% cashback in BTC/USDT or 2% in BXX token on all purchases
True self-custody until moment of spending
Crypto-backed credit lines ("Cryptodraft")
Stablecoin loans ("Stableloans") at rates from 0% APR
No monthly fees
Seamless integration with Ledger hardware wallets
Virtual card available instantly

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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
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 (≈$130)	$20/mo (2.00%)	Europe 35 countries	View Details
Gnosis Tier 1	1%	0.1 GNO (≈$13)	$10/mo (1.00%)	Europe 35 countries	View Details
Holyheld Metal	1%	None	$10/mo (1.00%)	Europe 30 countries	View Details
Ready Lite Card	0.5%	None	$5/mo (0.50%)	Global 179 countries	View Details
Cypher Standard	1%	None	$5/mo (0.50%)	South America, Europe & more 36 countries	View Details
Holyheld Classic	0.5%	None	$5/mo (0.50%)	Europe 30 countries	View Details
Holyheld Limited Edition	0.5%	None	$5/mo (0.50%)	Europe 30 countries	View Details
Metamask Virtual Card	1%	None	$1/mo (0.12%)	South America, Europe & more 37 countries	View Details
1inch Standard	2%	None	-$0/mo (-0.03%)	Europe & North America 33 countries	View Details
Cypher Premium	1%	None	-$12/mo (-1.16%)	South America, Europe & more 36 countries	View Details
Gnosis Base Card	0%	None	$0/mo (0.00%)	Europe 35 countries	View Details
Ledger Standard	2%	None	-$3/mo (-0.33%)	Europe 31 countries	View Details
Mercuryo Ledger Version	0%	None	$0/mo (0.00%)	Europe 30 countries	View Details