1inch vs MetaMask

Despite both being Web3-native brands, these cards operate under opposite custody models.

1inch is custodial. Powered by Baanx, your funds are held by the card platform when loaded. You deposit crypto into Baanx's infrastructure, and they manage the conversion and spending. If Baanx experiences an outage, security incident, or insolvency, your loaded funds are at risk. This is the same counterparty model that failed FTX users in November 2022.

MetaMask is self-custodial. Your funds remain in your personal MetaMask wallet until the exact moment of purchase. The card spends directly from on-chain balances on Linea, Base, or Solana L2s. No deposit into a third-party custody system, no counterparty risk on idle balances. You hold the keys throughout the spending process.

For users who specifically chose DeFi tools to avoid centralized custody, MetaMask's model is philosophically aligned. 1inch - despite being a DEX aggregator - routes its card through a custodial intermediary.

1inch charges a 1.75% crypto conversion fee on every crypto-funded transaction. MetaMask charges 0% on everything: 0% FX, 0% conversion, 0% ATM (Virtual).

Choosing BTC or USDT rewards on 1inch (1%) minus the 1.75% conversion fee produces a -0.75% net loss on every transaction. A user spending $3,000/month with BTC rewards loses $270/year by using the card. Only the 2% BXX tier stays positive at 0.25% net ($90/year), and BXX (Baanx's ecosystem token) carries significantly more liquidity risk than MetaMask's direct cashback.

MetaMask Virtual at 1% with zero fees earns $360/year - 4x more than 1inch's best case. MetaMask Metal at 3% earns $1,080/year - 12x more, though Metal is currently waitlist-only with limited availability.

The 1.75% conversion fee is 1inch's defining problem. It exceeds the BTC/USDT reward rate, making those options money-losing. It nearly eliminates the BXX reward. It is the highest conversion fee among self-custody-adjacent cards on SpendNode (though 1inch is technically custodial).

1inch: EEA and UK only. 8 assets (1INCH, ETH, USDT, USDC, BTC, LTC, XRP, BXX). $8,000/day spending limit. $500/day ATM limit. 2% ATM fee. Low-KYC.

MetaMask Virtual: 50+ countries including US, EEA, UK, and global markets. 9 assets (USDC, USDT, wETH, EURe, GBPe, mUSD, amUSD, aUSDC, aBasUSDC) across Linea, Base, and Solana. $10,000/month spending limit. 0% ATM fee. Low-KYC.

MetaMask Metal: Same 50+ countries. Same assets. $50,000/month spending limit. $1,000/day ATM with $5,000/month cap. 2% ATM fee.

Outside Europe, MetaMask is the only option. For US users, LATAM users, APAC users - 1inch is unavailable. MetaMask's 50+ country reach makes it one of the most globally accessible self-custodial cards.

MetaMask's asset list includes Aave-wrapped variants (aUSDC, aBasUSDC) that allow spending directly from yield-generating positions. 1inch supports more traditional assets (BTC, LTC, XRP) but requires custodial loading.

Both support Apple Pay and Google Pay. Both are Mastercard.

MetaMask earns 1 Rewards point per $1 spent in addition to cashback. Season 1 distributed $LINEA tokens to active cardholders. Future seasons may distribute tokens from Base, Solana, or other partner ecosystems. For users who view card spending as an airdrop farming strategy, MetaMask's points system adds speculative upside with no additional cost.

1inch offers no comparable airdrop or points program through the card. The 1INCH token already trades publicly, and card usage does not appear to contribute to future distribution events.

MetaMask's ecosystem scale reinforces this advantage: 73,000+ App Store reviews at 4.74 rating versus 1inch's 644 reviews at 4.0 rating. More users means more ecosystem development, more potential partner airdrops, and more value flowing to active cardholders.

The airdrop value is speculative and unpredictable - but the cost of earning it is zero (it is layered on top of the standard 1% cashback). Any airdrop value above $0 makes MetaMask's total return higher than its cashback alone.

Choosing 1inch at the 1% BTC/USDT reward tier without calculating the conversion fee impact. At 1% BTC rewards minus 1.75% conversion fee, every crypto-funded transaction is a -0.75% net loss. A user spending $2,000/month in crypto loses $180/year by using the 1inch card with BTC rewards. MetaMask Virtual at 1% with zero fees earns $240/year on the same spending - a $420/year swing. How to avoid it: If you use the 1inch card, select the 2% BXX reward tier exclusively. BTC and USDT reward options are money-losing due to the conversion fee. Better yet, compare 1inch's best case (0.25% net) to MetaMask's 1% net and choose accordingly. The only way to avoid the 1.75% fee on 1inch is to pre-load fiat currency and spend from a fiat balance, bypassing crypto conversion entirely.

Assuming the 1inch card is self-custodial because 1inch is a DEX aggregator. The 1inch protocol is decentralized. The 1inch card is not. The card is powered by Baanx with custodial fund management - your loaded crypto is held by Baanx, not in your personal wallet. A security incident at Baanx would put your card balance at risk. MetaMask's card spends directly from your wallet on Linea/Base/Solana with no custodial intermediary. How to avoid it: If self-custody is a priority (and for many DeFi users it is), verify the custody model before committing to a card. "DeFi brand" does not equal "self-custodial card." MetaMask, ether.fi, Gnosis Pay, and Solflare offer genuine self-custody. 1inch does not.

For most users: MetaMask Virtual at 1% with zero fees, true self-custody, 50+ country availability, and airdrop potential. Delivers 4x more net value than 1inch's best tier with none of the custodial risk.

For premium spenders: MetaMask Metal (3%, waitlist) triples the return while maintaining the same self-custodial architecture. Join the waitlist if available.

For committed 1inch ecosystem users: The 1inch card at 2% BXX keeps rewards within the Baanx ecosystem, but the 1.75% conversion fee limits net returns to 0.25%. Only worth it if you exclusively spend pre-loaded fiat or actively want BXX exposure.

For US users: MetaMask is the only option between these two (1inch is EEA/UK only).

Outlook: MetaMask's multi-chain approach (Linea, Base, Solana) positions it to capture users across the major L2 ecosystems, while 1inch's card remains tied to Baanx's custodial infrastructure. The key variable for 1inch is the 1.75% conversion fee - reducing it to match MetaMask's 0% would transform the comparison. Without a fee reduction, 1inch's card remains a niche product for Baanx ecosystem participants. MetaMask Metal's wider availability (beyond waitlist) would establish it as the premium self-custodial card globally. Watch for MetaMask Rewards Season 2 announcements, which could add significant airdrop value to active cardholders.