Cryptocurrency is no longer resigned to online trades and investment opportunities. In fact, since 2010, people have been using Bitcoin to buy goods and services. Even huge companies like Microsoft and Expedia are accepting cryptocurrency as payment.
It's easier than ever to exchange, sell and buy Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies with these cards and apps.
When researching for the best crypto cards, the two names that appear, again and again, are Revolut vs Crypto.com. They have both been operating with cryptocurrency for a few years and they're both established companies offering crypto debit cards.
Yes, crypto is jumping off the screen and into our wallets. But who is better for first-time crypto card users? Revolut or Crypto.com? How does each broker compare?
Our guide will take you through the key features and pros and cons of both companies so you can make an informed decision for yourself.
What Is Revolut?
In their own words, Revolut is "the world's first truly global financial super app." They started in 2015 in London as a currency exchange card, allowing users to pay for items abroad in different currencies.
Revolut is a fully-fledged neobank, which is a bank that operates solely online. They are open to residents in the European Economic Area (EEA), as well as the UK, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Japan, and the USA.
Revolut first dipped its toe in the cryptocurrency world in 2017 when it launched in-app cryptocurrency exchange features.
What Services Does Revolut Offer?
Revolut is registered with the FCA and currently supports 25 fiat currencies and 10 Cryptocurrencies. These include:
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Litecoin (LTC)
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Ripple (XRP)
- Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
- Stellar Lumens (XLM)
- Tezos (XTZ)
- EOS (EOS)
- OMG Network (OMG)
- 0x (ZRX)
You can buy, hold and exchange cryptocurrencies with the fiat currencies that are included in the app. Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ether are the three most prominent currencies that Revolut exchanges.
In the Revolut app, you can check real-time rates and track your performance history.
Pros and Cons of Revolut
Revolut is certainly a unique and revolutionary type of bank. But that doesn't mean it offers the best crypto card on the market, especially Revolut vs Crypto.com. Let's take a look at Revolut's pros and cons.
The Pros
Because the Revolut crypto card is first and foremost a bank card, it's ideal for those who are new to crypto and are looking for a user-friendly crypto broker. And though it makes little difference to their worth, Revolut's cards are very pretty.
Setting up an account is also incredibly easy and fast, with instructional videos available on their YouTube and website. Other cryptocurrency companies sometimes take weeks to authorize new accounts.
Revolut's trading fees are currently at 1.5% regardless of whether you're buying or selling. This is fairly low when you look at the average market fees.
The Cons
The biggest con is that you don't actually own any of the cryptocurrencies you buy or sell through Revolut. You can only exchange through the app, or you can exchange with any of the other 25 fiat currencies available.
That is currently the only way you can release your funds. This means you can't withdraw your crypto funds into a separate crypto wallet or use them for payments. Also, any cryptocurrency you hold is not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
And you also need to purchase a premium Revolut card to access their crypto exchange which costs €7.99 per month. And if you want more features, be prepared to pay more.
What Is Crypto.com?
also started offering payment cards around the same time as Revolut, back in 2017. Crypto.com was founded in Monaco and they are first and foremost a cryptocurrency company offering VISA-backed rewards cards, unlike Revolut.They started with an Initial Coin Offering (ICO) of $26.7 million in their MCO (Monaco) tokens. Since 2017, they've developed a new token called Crypto.com Chain (CRO) which is seen as more of a high-end, premium token. These are both ERC-20 (Ethereum) tokens.
Crypto.com cards are currently available in all EU countries, Singapore, and the USA.
What Services Does Crypto.com Offer?
For US residents, their currency is backed by FDIC insurance. Crypto.com offers over 50 types of crypto coins that their customers can buy and sell. These include:
- Crypto.com Chain (CRO)
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Ripple (XRP)
- Binance Coin (BNB)
- Litecoin (LTC)
Crypto.com users can process crypto payments through their app and card, just as they would any other type of payment card. Individuals can also borrow lines of credit using Stablecoin, trade, buy, and sell.
Pros and Cons of Crypto.com
There are generally a lot more features available on the Crypto.com crypto card than there are through Revolut. But how do their offerings measure up for those fairly new to cryptocurrency?
The Pros
One of the biggest pros of the Crypto.com payment card is that it can be used for payments. Customers receive a 5% cashback paid in cryptocurrency. Most other credit card providers only give 1-2%, so it's a big jump.
They put a lot of emphasis on their own cryptocurrency, CRO, and offer better credit card benefits for individuals using this currency. Crypto.com also offers rebakes on payments made to a wide range of popular companies such as Netflix, Spotify, and Expedia depending on what tier card you have.
Aside from their crypto card, Crypto.com offers Crypto Exchange which they set up in 2019. This exchange allows users to buy, sell and exchange in all 50 of the cryptocurrencies they work with.
There are also no minimum balance fees, minimum transaction fees, or international fees.
The Cons
Though the app does integrate all of Crypto.com's features, the sheer amount of features and all the different levels that they offer could be too overwhelming for complete beginners to crypto cards.
Naturally, Crypto.com does also prioritize their own tokens, the MCO and CRO. To earn higher rates through their system, you need to be using CRO.
It's also confusing which of their many features are available in different countries. Crypto.com's headquarters are in Switzerland with offices in Hong Kong and Singapore, so it's not USA-based. The Crypto.com Exchange and credit lines are not yet available in the US.
Compare with the best crypto debit card alternatives
| Provider | Processor | Rewards | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coinbase | Visa | Up to 4% XLM, 1% BTC | → |
| Crypto.com | Visa | 1–5% CRO, free Spotify & Netflix | → |
| Wirex | Visa / Mastercard | 0.5%–1.5% BTC | → |
| Binance | Visa | Up to 8% BNB | → |
| Uphold | Mastercard | 2% crypto, 1% cash | → |
Revolut vs Crypto.com: Which Is Best for You?
So, when we weigh up Revolut vs Crypto.com, it's easy to see the two crypto cards are used for entirely different purposes.
is primarily a bank account for individuals who frequently travel internationally and offer the opportunity to buy and sell cryptocurrency as a bonus.There isn't a lot of flexibility with the cryptocurrency side of their company. However, their app incredibly easy to use and the limitations may be beneficial to complete beginners.
However, Crypto.com offers a range of services and benefits through their VISA cards and is an excellent choice for those who know a little about Cryptocurrency and want to start reaping the benefits. Just make sure which of their features are available in your country first.
Check out our full Crypto.com review to learn more about what they offer.