Avalanche Card is a self-custodial crypto-backed Visa card that uses USDC, USDT, AVAX or WAVAX as collateral and is available in virtual and physical formats.
Why Avalanche Card can be a great choice.
Things to consider before applying.
Avalanche Card is a Visa card built on Rain infrastructure and connected to a self-custodial wallet on Avalanche. Instead of requiring users to deposit assets with a centralized card provider, supported crypto remains in a non-custodial smart wallet and is used as collateral for card spending.
The card currently supports USDC, USDT, AVAX and WAVAX. Stablecoins generally provide spending power close to their dollar value, while volatile assets are treated more conservatively because their market value can change. The exact available spending power is shown in the Avalanche Card app.
Both virtual and physical cards are available. The virtual card can be added to Apple Pay or Google Wallet immediately after activation, while the physical card can be ordered without a separate issuance or shipping charge. Users can request up to three virtual cards and one physical card, although only one of each can be active at the same time.
The wallet created through the Avalanche Card app is non-custodial. Rain states that users retain ownership and control of the assets held in it, and neither Rain nor the card issuer acts as custodian of the collateral.
Card spending is secured by those assets. Under the card terms, stable assets generally provide spending power equal to their dollar value. For supported non-stable assets, the available amount can be lower, and U.S. terms specify spending power of up to 50% of their market value.
Because the card uses collateral, falling asset prices can affect available spending power. If the collateral value drops below outstanding card obligations and additional collateral is not supplied, the relevant amount can be liquidated according to the card agreement.
Avalanche Card currently charges no monthly account fee, no virtual card issuance fee and no fee for the physical card or its shipping.
The published FX fee is 1%. Avalanche Card also states that it does not charge a separate crypto conversion fee when assets are used through the card. Blockchain transactions can still incur normal network gas fees.
There is no credit check required to apply. Card agreements currently specify 0% interest on purchases, although the exact legal structure and repayment terms depend on the user's jurisdiction and issuing partner.
Avalanche Card is currently focused on selected U.S. states, Latin America and the Caribbean. KYC is mandatory and applicants must be at least 18 years old, reside in a supported jurisdiction and provide a valid government-issued ID.
Availability is not global. The current exclusion list includes a number of jurisdictions, including Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, India, Nigeria and Venezuela, as well as several U.S. states.
Download the Avalanche Card app.
Register with a phone number.
Complete KYC with a valid ID and the requested personal information.
Create and back up the non-custodial wallet.
Add a supported asset such as USDC, USDT, AVAX or WAVAX.
Issue and activate the virtual card.
Add it to Apple Pay or Google Wallet if needed.
Order the physical card from the app.
Quick answers to common questions about Avalanche Card.
No. Avalanche Card charges $0 for the monthly fee, virtual card issuance, the physical card, and shipping. The only fee is 1% on foreign exchange (FX) transactions.
You can spend USDC, USDT, AVAX and WAVAX anywhere Visa is accepted, both online and in stores.
KYC verification usually takes a few seconds. In some cases it can take up to 72 hours if additional checks are needed. If it takes longer than that, contact support.
You can request up to 3 virtual cards and 1 physical card per account. Only one virtual card and one physical card can be active at a time.
Good for daily use. Use it every day.