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Quick summary
Brand and trust
Ready Card is built by the pioneers formerly known as Argent. Operating since 2018 with zero hacks, it offers a level of proven smart-wallet security and reliability that is highly respected in the crypto space.
The hidden cost of spending
To load the Crypto.com Card, you must first convert your crypto to fiat – a process that incurs a 0.5–1.5% conversion spread. On top of that, topping up via debit or credit card costs 1%, and there's a £5/month inactivity fee if you stop using the card. Ready Card uses seamless smart spending approvals that don't cost you a penny to set up or change, and there are zero conversion fees.
Fees and travel
The entry-level Crypto.com Midnight tier charges 0.2% for UK/EU transactions, 2% outside the UK/EU, and a 2% ATM fee above a modest £180/month free limit. Getting 0% FX fees requires staking thousands of pounds worth of CRO tokens. Ready Card gives you 0% foreign exchange fees, zero conversion fees, and generous free ATM limits right out of the box.
Safe and separate spending
The Crypto.com Card is a traditional prepaid card: your crypto is converted to fiat and held by Crypto.com before you spend it. That means you give up custody of your funds the moment you load the card. Ready Card takes a fundamentally different approach: it only touches your "digital cash" (USDC) in your self-custody wallet at the exact moment of purchase, keeping your funds under your control at all times.
Ready Card & Crypto.com Card compared
| Ready Metal | Ready Lite | Crypto.com Card | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cashback | 3% | 0.5% | 0% - 8% |
| Cashback requirements | None | None | CRO staking (higher tiers) |
| Upfront cost | $120 / year | Free | Free to £4.99 + CRO staking |
| Card type | Metal + Virtual | Plastic + Virtual | Metal + Virtual |
| Fully self-custodial | Yes  | Yes | No  |
| Free ATM withdrawals* | $800 / month | $200 / month | £180 - £900/month |
| Fee-free foreign exchange | Yes | Yes | No (0.2% - 2%) |
| Perks | Yes | Yes | Yes (tier-dependent) |
| Brand history & security | Since 2018 (Zero hacks) | Since 2018 (Zero hacks) | Since 2016 (100M+ users) |
| Availability | EEA + UK | EEA + UK | EEA + UK |
*Free withdrawals means that the card provider (e.g. Ready) does not charge any fees up to the limit. But the ATM provider may still charge a fee.
Ready Card vs Crypto.com Card: Self-custody meets the crypto exchange giant
Crypto.com is one of the biggest names in the crypto exchange world, and their Visa card has attracted millions of users with its cashback rewards and sleek metal designs. Ready Card takes a fundamentally different approach: true self-custody spending without ever converting your crypto to fiat. These two cards serve very different philosophies, and the right choice depends on what matters most to you.
The good about Crypto.com Card
Crypto.com has built an impressive ecosystem with over 100 million users worldwide. Their card programme offers up to 8% cashback on spending for users who stake significant amounts of CRO tokens, and higher-tier cards come with perks like Spotify and Netflix rebates, airport lounge access, and 0% foreign exchange fees. The metal card designs are widely regarded as some of the best-looking in the industry, and the brand's extensive marketing – including high-profile sponsorships – has made it a household name in crypto. If you are already deep in the Crypto.com ecosystem and happy to stake CRO, their card rewards can be genuinely attractive.
The Ready Card advantage: True self-custody without the catch
The Crypto.com Card sounds great on paper, but the headline cashback rates hide a web of costs and conditions. To earn anything above 0% cashback, you must stake CRO tokens – and the staking requirements are steep. The entry-level Ruby tier requires a £300 stake locked for six months just to earn 1% back. Higher tiers demand thousands of pounds locked up in a volatile token. On top of that, every time you load your card, your crypto is converted to fiat with a 0.5–1.5% spread. Add in a 1% debit card top-up fee, a £5/month inactivity charge, and FX fees of 0.2–2% on the free tier, and those cashback rewards start looking a lot less generous.
Ready Card was built from the ground up to do things differently. Built by the trusted team formerly known as Argent, Ready Card lets you spend your "digital cash" directly from your self-custody wallet. There is no conversion to fiat, no staking requirement, no lock-up period. The free Ready Lite tier gives you 0% foreign exchange fees, zero crypto conversion fees, and generous free ATM limits straight away. Your money stays in your wallet until the exact moment you tap to pay.
The clincher: Your keys, your crypto, your card
The fundamental difference between these two cards comes down to custody. With Crypto.com, the moment you load your card, your crypto is converted and held by a centralised exchange. If Crypto.com were ever to face issues – as other major exchanges have – your loaded funds could be at risk. Ready Card never takes custody of your funds. Your crypto stays in your own wallet, protected by smart contract security that has operated since 2018 with zero hacks.
Ready Card simply uses built-in smart spending approvals. You grant the card permission to touch only your "digital cash" (USDC) at the point of sale. There is no pre-loading, no conversion spread, and no third party holding your money. The rest of your crypto portfolio remains completely untouched and secure. If you lose your card, you simply tap a button to cut off access instantly, for free.
It provides the ultimate peace of mind: the proven security of a Web3 pioneer, true self-custody of your assets, and zero hidden fees eating into your wealth. No staking, no lock-ups, no conversion spreads – just your money, under your control.
