Cryptocurrency debit cards are the next big thing in the digital asset space.
And this shouldn’t come as a surprise.
A crypto debit card bridges the gap between traditional finance and the crypto world by allowing users to spend their digital assets directly from their wallets. From all the cryptocurrency debit cards, Crypto.com’s MCO Visa Card is one of the hottest solutions to spend your coins.
Join us as we take a thorough look at the crypto debit card in this MCO Visa Card review.
What Is the MCO Visa Card?
Crypto.com’s MCO Visa Card is a cryptocurrency debit card that allows users to spend their coins directly from their wallets.
As a result, there is no need for cardholders to exchange coins into fiat currency and withdraw those funds to their bank accounts.
One of the main reasons why the MCO Visa Card is so popular among cryptocurrency enthusiasts is the cashback rewards system, where you can redeem up to 5% of your total transaction value in the company’s native MCO tokens.
Crypto.com offers different card tiers with unique benefits for each. To unlock higher levels, you have to stake – lock up a part of your coins in a wallet for a specific time – MCO tokens (more on this later).
Higher tiers do not only offer higher cashback rewards but other benefits as well, such as free Netflix, Spotify, and Amazon Prime subscriptions, as well as premium airport lounge access.
Formerly known as the Monaco Card, the MCO Visa Card is a part of Crypto.com’s ecosystem.
In June 2017, the Hong Kong-based company successfully launched an Initial Coin Offering (ICO), collecting nearly $27 million of funds from contributors.
Since then, the organization has successfully launched the MCO Visa Card in multiple countries, including the UK, the European Union, Canada, the United States, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Australia, and New Zealand.
In addition to the digital asset debit card, users of the MCO credit card also have access to the wide variety of products in the Crypto.com ecosystem, including a(n):
Cryptocurrency exchange
Smartphone app (iOS and Android)
Crypto wallet
Interest product where you can earn a passive income on your coins
Credit solution where you can borrow stablecoins (e.g., USDT, PAX) on your crypto assets
Automated quant trading solution
How Does the MCO Visa Card Work and How Do I Get One?
The MCO Visa Card works very similarly to other cryptocurrency debit cards.
The First Steps
You register for an account at the service and submit Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti Money-Laundering (AML) documents to the provider to confirm your identity and residential address.
After your account is verified, you should choose the tier of your MCO Visa Card.
If you choose the basic tier (Midnight Blue), you don’t have to stake any coins for your crypto card to be shipped to you.
However, if you choose a higher tier, you have to buy the required amount of MCO tokens, send them to your Crypto.com MCO wallet, where you have to hold them for at least six months.
While you are required to stake coins to access higher tiers, you don’t have to wait six months to get your card as you will be able to order it from Crypto.com as soon as you lock up the required amount of coins in your MCO wallet.
After ordering your card, Crypto.com will ship your card to your address, which you have to activate upon receiving it.
From Top-Ups to Spending Crypto
When you are done with that, the next step is to top up your MCO Visa Card with funds (either crypto or fiat currency).
Now that you have your funds ready, you can start using your MCO Visa Card to spend your crypto and earn cashback rewards.
Despite the fact that your MCO Visa Card is a cryptocurrency debit card, it will work very similarly to a traditional payment card.
The only exception is that you are spending crypto assets instead of fiat currency (unless you have already converted your funds to the latter).
As the MCO Card uses Visa’s global network, you will be able to use it in most countries and millions of stores worldwide.
What Rewards Can I Get With the MCO Visa Card?
The rewards you get for your MCO Visa Card is determined by your card tier.
While the basic tier (Midnight Blue) is free, you have to stake a specified amount of MCO tokens for at least six months – for example, 50 MCO for the second tier (Ruby Steel) – to access higher card tiers and better rewards.
Unlike at some competitor solutions, you also get cashback rewards with the basic Midnight Blue tier (1%).
However, if you stake MCO tokens, you can get an up to 5% cashback in MCO tokens on your card transactions.
In addition to the above-mentioned cashback rate, you get the following benefits for the highest MCO Card tier (Obsidian):
Free Spotify subscription
Free Netflix subscription
Free Amazon Prime subscription
10% Expedia cashback
10% Airbnb cashback
The ability to earn bonus interest on your tokens
Exclusive merchandise welcome pack
Access to Crypto.com Private
LoungeKey Airport Lounge Access for you and a guest
$1,000 of free ATM withdrawals every month
Unlimited currency exchanges on interbank rates
A metal card (all MCO Card tiers include a metal card except for Midnight Blue)
For more information on MCO Visa Card rewards, we recommend visiting Crypto.com’s website.
How Do I Top Up the MCO Visa Card?
You can top up your MCO Visa Card easily within your Crypto.com wallet using the “Top Up” menu under the “Card” section inside the app.
Based on where you are located, Crypto.com offers multiple payment methods you can use to load your MCO Visa Card with funds.
For example, in the United States, you can top up your MCO Visa Card with the following cryptocurrencies:
Bitcoin (BTC)
Litecoin (LTC)
Ethereum (ETH)
Ripple (XRP)
PAX Standard (PAX)
TrueUSD (TUSD)
EOS
Stellar Lumens (XLM)
US customers can top up their MCO Card with fiat currency (USD) via a credit card or bank transfers.
On the other hand, in addition to card top-ups, EU customers have access to low-cost SEPA bank transfers to fund their MCO Visa Card.
What Are the Fees for Using the MCO Visa Card?
Compared to other crypto debit card solutions, the MCO Visa Card features competitive fees.
You don’t have to pay a dime for card issuance while account and card maintenance are also free.
Furthermore, crypto-to-crypto exchanges, internal transfers (to other Crypto.com users), as well as SEPA withdrawals and bank transfer deposits come at no cost.
Until you reach your limits – which are very generous for even the basic Midnight Blue tier ($200 for ATM withdrawals and $2,000 for interbank exchanges) – you don’t have to pay for ATM cash withdrawals and currency conversions.
However, after your monthly limits are reached, Crypto.com charges 2% for ATM withdrawals and 0.5% for interbank exchanges.
Also, there is an inactivity fee where you have to pay approximately $5 after being inactive for 12 months.
While instant fiat-to-crypto exchanges (via credit cards) will cost you 3.5% per transaction, Crypto.com will charge $50 for card re-issuances and upgrades, as well as for account closures.
For more information on the MCO Visa Card’s fees, we recommend checking the “Fees & Limits” menu inside “Settings” in the Crypto.com smartphone app.
What Are the Pros of the MCO Card?
Widespread availability, including the European Union, the UK, the US, Canada, and some APAC countries
High free ATM withdrawal and interbank exchange limits for even the basic tier
Premium benefits and great crypto cashback rewards at higher tiers
A decent ecosystem where you have access to multiple Crypto.com products and services in addition to your MCO Visa Card
The basic 1% cashback rate for the free Midnight Blue tier is highly competitive among cryptocurrency credit cards
Unlike most of its competitors, there are no foreign exchange fees at Crypto.com until you reach your monthly limits. And, even when you reach your limits, you get interbank rates for currency exchanges where Crypto.com charges only 0.5%
What Are the Cons of the MCO Visa Card?
While the highest tiers provide tremendous benefits and high cashback rates, they are inaccessible for most users due to the excessive staking requirements
Staking MCO tokens at higher levels come with increased risks of volatility, which may result in losses for MCO cardholders
To continue receiving most of the benefits for higher tiers, you have to keep staking MCO tokens after the initial six-months period
The MCO Visa Card: An Excellent Crypto Credit Card Solution With Widespread Availability
The MCO Visa Card is indeed one of the best crypto credit cards on the market.
In addition to the competitive fees, the Monaco Visa Card offers excellent cashback rewards and access to premium features and benefits at higher tiers.
Even at the lowest Midnight Blue tier, you get 1% cashback on all your card transactions, which is highly competitive among crypto debit cards.
With the high limits for free ATM withdrawals and interbank exchanges, as well as access to other products in Crypto.com’s ecosystem, the MCO Visa Card could be a great choice for cryptocurrency enthusiasts in the EU, UK, US, Canada, and APAC countries.