How to avoid FX fees on crypto cards
If you spend in a currency other than your card’s base currency, an FX fee often applies, and it can cost more than the cashback you earn. Here’s how to keep it low.
What an FX fee is
When you spend in a currency different from the one your card settles in, most issuers add a foreign-transaction markup, commonly around 1%. Some also add a separate conversion fee on every purchase. A few cards genuinely charge 0%.
Because a 1–2% FX fee can exceed a card’s 1% cashback, FX is one of the most important (and most overlooked) factors in choosing a card.
It depends on the card’s base currency, not your country
A USD-settling card costs a US spender nothing but adds a fee for someone spending euros or pounds. A euro-settling card is the reverse. The fee is triggered by the spend currency differing from the card’s base currency.
How to minimise it
Pick a card whose base currency matches where you spend most, or one that advertises (and contractually honours) 0% FX. Watch for “0% FX” claims that hide a crypto-to-fiat conversion spread at the point of sale.
Our rankings estimate each card’s FX cost for your region and fold it into the effective rate, so the card at the top is genuinely cheapest for where you spend.
Ready to compare? Find the card that pays you the most for your spend, or browse the best-for lists.
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