Best Crypto Cards in El Salvador (2026)
Compare crypto cards available in El Salvador. The world's first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender. KAST, Binance, and Crypto.com offer cashback in a fully dollarized economy.
Verified for El Salvador
42 crypto cards available
Local currency: USD
El Salvador made history on September 7, 2021, becoming the world's first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender alongside the US dollar. The Bitcoin Law (Ley Bitcoin, Decreto Legislativo No. 57) requires all businesses to accept BTC for goods and services (with a practical exception for those lacking technology). President Nayib Bukele launched the Chivo Wallet with a $30 BTC bonus per citizen, purchased BTC for the national treasury (reportedly 5,800+ BTC by early 2026), and announced the Bitcoin-backed "Volcano Bond" to fund infrastructure including the proposed Bitcoin City near the Conchagua volcano.
So why would you need a crypto card in a country that already accepts Bitcoin? Two reasons: coverage and cashback. While Bitcoin is legal tender, actual merchant acceptance via Lightning Network remains concentrated in Bitcoin Beach (El Zonte), some San Salvador restaurants, and tourist areas. Most Salvadoran businesses still prefer USD cash or bank transfers. A crypto card provides universal Visa/Mastercard acceptance at every POS terminal in the country plus 2-10% cashback that direct BTC payments do not offer. And since El Salvador uses USD as its primary currency (adopted in 2001 via Ley de Integracion Monetaria), there is zero FX conversion on any USD-settled crypto card with 0% FX fees.
Banco Agricola (Bancolombia subsidiary, largest by assets, 100+ branches), Banco Cuscatlan (Grupo Terra), Davivienda El Salvador, and BAC Credomatic offer standard debit and credit cards with zero cashback on debit and 0.5-1% on credit cards with annual fees of $25-75. Crypto cards deliver 2-10% cashback at $0 annual fee - a pure upgrade in a dollarized, tax-exempt environment.
| Card | Max Cashback | Annual Fee | FX Fee | Card Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bybit Supreme | 10% | $0 | 0.5% | Prepaid | Maximum cashback ceiling |
| CoCa | 8% | $0 | 0% | Debit | Highest rewards + 6% APY |
| Crypto.com | 5% | CRO stake | 0% | Prepaid | Tiered rewards + lounges |
| ether.fi | 3% | Points | 0% | Debit | Borrow-to-spend |
| RedotPay | 3% | $0-$100 | 0% | Prepaid | Stablecoin spending |
| KAST | 2% | $0 | 0% | Prepaid | Zero-commitment starter |
| Bitget Wallet | 0% | $0 | 1.7% | Prepaid | DCS wallet spending |
| MetaMask | 1% | $0 | 0% | Debit | Self-custody Mastercard |
| Ledger | 1% | $0 | 0% | Debit | Hardware wallet spending |
| Avici | 0% | $0-$30 | 0% | Credit | Crypto-backed credit |
| xPlace | 2% | $0 | 0% | Prepaid | Solana ecosystem |
| Jupiter | 0% | $0 | 0% | Debit | DeFi-native spending |
SpendNode's El Salvador card selection starts with KAST as the easiest entry: 2% cashback, zero fees, no-KYC basic tier. CoCa at 8% plus 6% APY delivers the highest return in a jurisdiction where BTC gains are tax-exempt. Bybit Supreme offers the highest ceiling at 10%. Crypto.com Jade adds lounge access at Monsenor Oscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport (SAL) - valuable for frequent travelers on the growing number of international routes.
Best Card For Every Need in El Salvador
Top 10 Crypto Cards in El Salvador
1. KAST Pengu Luxe Card
Pudgy Penguins Luxe: 12% Cashback - KAST's Highest Rate
2. Bybit Supreme VIP Card
The Ultimate Trader Card: 10% Back + ChatGPT & TradingView Rebates
3. COCA Visa Card
Self-Banking: 8% Cashback + 6% APY + Zero Fees
4. KAST Pengu Premium Card
Pudgy Penguins Premium: 8% Cashback on Every Swipe
5. Prime
The Apex: 8% Uncapped CRO Rewards + Private Account Manager
6. Tria Premium Card
Ultimate Web3 Luxury: 6% Cashback + Zero ATM Fees
7. Private (Obsidian)
The Pinnacle: 5% Cashback + Private Jet Perks
8. ether.fi Core Card
Zero Barriers: 3% Back on Every Purchase, No Stake Required
9. ether.fi Luxe Card
Purple Metal Prestige: Lounge Access + 65% Hotel Discounts
10. RedotPay Solana Card
Solana Goes IRL: 3% Cashback + Apple Pay at 130M+ Merchants
Crypto Card Regulation in El Salvador
El Salvador has the world's most crypto-friendly regulatory framework for Bitcoin specifically. The Bitcoin Law (Ley Bitcoin, Decreto Legislativo No. 57, June 8, 2021) established BTC as legal tender with these key provisions:
- Bitcoin is legal tender alongside the US dollar for all debts public and private
- Every economic agent must accept Bitcoin when offered as payment (practical exception for those lacking technology)
- Bitcoin can be used to pay taxes
- Exchange rate with USD is set by the free market
- The state guarantees automatic and instant convertibility between BTC and USD through BANDESAL (Banco de Desarrollo de El Salvador)
The Comision Nacional de Activos Digitales (CNAD) was established in January 2024 as the primary regulator for digital assets, replacing earlier informal oversight. CNAD oversees Bitcoin service providers, digital wallet operators, exchanges, and the emerging tokenized securities market. The Superintendencia del Sistema Financiero (SSF) continues to regulate traditional banks (Banco Agricola, Banco Cuscatlan, Davivienda, BAC) and their interaction with crypto.
The Digital Securities Law (Ley de Emision de Activos Digitales), approved in January 2024, created a comprehensive framework for tokenized securities, Bitcoin-backed bonds (the "Volcano Bond"), and expanded regulatory scope beyond Bitcoin to other digital assets. El Salvador also established a National Bitcoin Office (ONBTC) to coordinate national Bitcoin strategy and promote adoption.
The IMF has repeatedly expressed concern about El Salvador's Bitcoin Law as part of loan negotiations, pushing for limitations on government BTC purchases and public sector exposure. El Salvador has pushed back, maintaining the law while making some concessions (limiting government wallet functionality, increasing financial transparency).
El Salvador is the world's most Bitcoin-friendly jurisdiction. Bitcoin is legal tender, profits are tax-exempt, the government actively purchases BTC, and the regulatory framework explicitly supports crypto activity. Crypto card usage is fully legal and encouraged.
Tax Treatment of Card Rewards in El Salvador
El Salvador offers one of the most favorable crypto tax regimes globally. The Bitcoin Law explicitly exempts Bitcoin profits from capital gains tax.
Bitcoin Tax Exemption
Under the Bitcoin Law, gains from Bitcoin appreciation are exempt from capital gains tax. This applies to both individuals and businesses transacting in BTC. Foreign investors earning income from Bitcoin-related technology innovations or services in El Salvador are also exempt from income tax on those earnings. This makes El Salvador one of only a handful of countries where BTC gains are explicitly statutory tax-free (alongside the UAE, Bahrain, and a few others with zero-CGT regimes).
Standard Income Tax
Non-crypto income is taxed at progressive rates by the Direccion General de Impuestos Internos (DGII): 0% on the first $4,064, 10% on $4,064-9,142, 20% on $9,143-22,857, and 30% above $22,857. Social security contributions (AFP pension + ISSS health) total approximately 10.5% of salary for employees.
Other Digital Assets
The tax exemption applies specifically to Bitcoin. Other cryptocurrencies (altcoins, stablecoins) do not have explicit exemptions under the Bitcoin Law, though the Digital Securities Law framework may clarify treatment. In practice, enforcement on altcoin gains is minimal - the DGII has not published specific altcoin tax guidance and compliance infrastructure does not exist for tracking these transactions.
Example: You hold 0.1 BTC purchased at $30,000 ($3,000 cost basis). BTC appreciates to $90,000. You spend $500 through your crypto card at a restaurant in Zona Rosa. The proportional gain of approximately $333 triggers zero tax under the Bitcoin Law exemption. No reporting required, no holding period, no annual threshold.
| Cashback Type | Tax When Received | Tax When Spent/Sold | Optimal Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| BTC cashback | Tax-exempt (Bitcoin Law) | Tax-exempt (Bitcoin Law) | Hold or spend freely |
| Stablecoin cashback (USDC) | Not taxed (rebate) | Near-zero gain | Spend anytime |
| CRO/token cashback | Unclear (no altcoin guidance) | Unclear (no guidance) | Convert to BTC or stablecoin |
BTC-denominated cashback is the optimal choice in El Salvador thanks to the explicit tax exemption. Stablecoin funding is simplest operationally, but BTC funding carries zero tax penalty. This is a unique advantage globally - in most countries, spending appreciated BTC triggers capital gains tax.
How to Apply from El Salvador
Crypto card applications from El Salvador require the Documento Unico de Identidad (DUI), issued by the Registro Nacional de las Personas Naturales (RNPN). The DUI is mandatory for all Salvadoran citizens over 18, contains biometric data, a unique identification number, and voter registration. DUI renewal is required every 5 years.
Alternative identification: Salvadoran passport (Pasaporte de la Republica de El Salvador), issued by the Direccion General de Migracion y Extranjeria. NIT (Numero de Identificacion Tributaria) is the tax ID issued by DGII - some issuers may request this. Proof of address via utility bills from CAESS/DELSUR/EEO/CLESA (electricity distribution companies by region), ANDA (Administracion Nacional de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, water), or telecom bills from Tigo, Claro, or Digicel. Bank statements from Banco Agricola, Banco Cuscatlan, Davivienda, or BAC Credomatic also work.
Physical cards ship to Salvadoran addresses within 14-21 business days. Virtual cards are available immediately for Apple Pay and Google Pay use. The USD economy means zero currency conversion on card loads or spending. For the Salvadoran diaspora in the US (approximately 2.3 million), US-issued documents provide access to broader card options including US-only issuers.
Spending Tips for El Salvador
The Bitcoin Legal Tender Paradox
El Salvador is the only country where Bitcoin is legal tender, yet crypto cards are arguably more useful here than BTC payments. The Lightning Network (via Chivo Wallet, Strike, Bitcoin Beach Wallet/Blink) works at participating merchants, but coverage is thin outside El Zonte and select San Salvador businesses. A crypto card on the Visa/Mastercard network works at every POS terminal in the country - approximately 120,000+ acceptance points versus a few thousand Lightning-enabled merchants. The card adds 2-10% cashback that Lightning payments do not offer. In practice, a crypto card is the bridge between Bitcoin's legal status and the reality of everyday commerce in El Salvador.
Banking System: Bancolombia Dominance, Zero Rewards
Banco Agricola (Bancolombia subsidiary, largest bank, 100+ branches, 1,000+ ATMs) dominates Salvadoran retail banking. Standard debit cards offer zero cashback. Credit cards (Visa/Mastercard) carry annual fees of $25-75 with 0.5-1% cashback at best. Banco Cuscatlan (Grupo Terra, Honduras-based holding) is the second-largest, similar terms. Davivienda El Salvador (Colombian parent) and BAC Credomatic (largest Central American banking group, GIC/Lie Fung family ownership) complete the big four.
The gap is enormous. Salvadoran bank debit = 0% cashback. Crypto cards = 2-10% cashback at $0 annual fee. In a dollarized economy with BTC tax exemption, every dollar of cashback is pure untaxed profit.
Card Selection in the Bitcoin Republic
- Best free starter: KAST (2% cashback, free, no-KYC)
- Highest cashback: Bybit Supreme (10%) or CoCa (8% + 6% APY)
- BTC holders (tax-free spending): Bybit Standard (2%, fund with BTC, zero CGT)
- Premium perks: Crypto.com Jade (3% + lounges at SAL airport)
- Self-custody: MetaMask (1%) or Ledger CL (1%)
- Crypto-backed credit: Avici (no disposal, Visa credit)
Break-Even Math: KAST vs CoCa vs Bybit
All USD. BTC gains tax-exempt. Zero FX (dollarized).
| Monthly Spend | KAST (2%, free) | CoCa (8%, COCA tokens) | Bybit Supreme (10%, 0.5% FX) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200 | $48/yr | $192/yr | $228/yr |
| $400 | $96/yr | $384/yr | $456/yr |
| $800 | $192/yr | $768/yr | $912/yr |
| $1,500 | $360/yr | $1,440/yr | $1,710/yr |
At El Salvador's average formal sector salary of approximately $400/month, KAST at $96/year and CoCa at $384/year are substantial. The zero-FX, zero-BTC-CGT combination means every dollar of cashback is pure net value - no tax filing, no FX erosion, no annual fee to amortize.
Cost of Living by Area
Zona Rosa/Colonia Escalon/Santa Elena (San Salvador upscale): Rent $600-1,500/month. The commercial and diplomatic district. Multiplaza, Galerias, and the growing restaurant and cafe scene along Boulevard de los Heroes. Universal card acceptance at formal establishments. International restaurants, coworking spaces, and the emerging tech scene.
Centro Historico/Barrio Concepcion (San Salvador historic): Rent $200-500/month. Cathedral, National Palace, Mercado Central. Cash-dominant for market purchases. Card acceptance limited to larger establishments.
Antiguo Cuscatlan/Santa Tecla (Greater San Salvador suburbs): Rent $400-1,000/month. La Gran Via and El Paseo shopping centers, residential neighborhoods popular with professionals. Good card acceptance at malls and chain restaurants. Santa Tecla's downtown has revitalized with cafes and boutiques.
El Zonte (Bitcoin Beach) (La Libertad coast): Rent $300-800/month. The birthplace of grassroots Bitcoin adoption. Hotel and restaurant pricing is tourist-level but has the highest Lightning Network merchant density in the country. Surf town atmosphere with a growing international crypto community. Card acceptance is actually strong here because of the tourist economy.
San Miguel (eastern city): Rent $200-500/month. Second-largest city, agricultural hub. Card acceptance at Metrocentro San Miguel, Despensa de Don Juan, Super Selectos. Cash-dominant outside the commercial center. Carnival de San Miguel (November) is the country's largest festival.
Santa Ana (western city): Rent $200-500/month. Coffee country, Cathedral, Teatro de Santa Ana (one of Central America's finest). Card acceptance at malls and supermarkets. Growing weekend tourism from San Salvador.
The Remittance Economy
Salvadoran remittances totaled approximately $8 billion in 2025 (over 25% of GDP), primarily from the 2.3 million Salvadorans in the United States (concentrations in Los Angeles, Washington DC metro, Houston, New York, San Francisco). Traditional remittance channels (Western Union, MoneyGram, Remitly) charge 4-8% in fees. A family member in the US can purchase USDC on a US exchange (zero or near-zero fees), send it to a relative's RedotPay or KAST wallet (zero fee), and the relative spends it through the card in El Salvador (zero FX since everything is USD) while earning 2-3% cashback. This turns a 4-8% cost into a 2-3% gain - a 6-11% swing.
The government has explicitly encouraged Bitcoin-based remittances through the Chivo Wallet (which offers zero-fee BTC transfers). Strike also processes zero-fee Lightning remittances. A crypto card funded by these channels adds cashback on top of the already zero-fee transfer.
Cross-Border and Online Spending
Guatemala (direct land border, largest Central American economy): Strong commercial corridor, daily bus and shuttle traffic. Honduras (direct land border): Grupo Terra/Banco Cuscatlan banking linkage. US/Miami/LAX/Houston: The diaspora corridor, multiple daily flights from SAL. Online shopping is USD-denominated, so Amazon US, Netflix ($7-17/month), Spotify, and all digital services charge at face value with zero FX on crypto cards. TIGO/Claro mobile top-ups and utility payments via online platforms are growing but still primarily handled through bank transfers.
Local Payment Infrastructure
Card acceptance is strong in San Salvador's commercial zones. Contactless Visa/Mastercard works at supermarkets (Super Selectos 100+ stores, Despensa de Don Juan/Walmart, PriceSmart), shopping centers (Multiplaza, Galerias Escalon, MetroCentro, La Gran Via), pharmacies (Farmacias San Nicolas, Farmacias Beethoven), gas stations (Puma, Texaco, Shell), hotels (Sheraton Presidente, Real InterContinental, Crowne Plaza), and formal restaurants. Apple Pay and Google Pay work through international issuers.
Bitcoin Lightning acceptance exists but is concentrated: El Zonte (Bitcoin Beach) has the highest density of BTC-accepting merchants through the Blink wallet. Some San Salvador restaurants and businesses display Bitcoin Accepted signage. Chivo Wallet (government-backed) and Strike are the primary BTC payment apps. Cash USD remains dominant for markets (Mercado Central, Mercado Ex-Cuartel), buses, pupuserias (the national dish - pupusas - typically $0.25-0.75 each), and informal commerce. Outside San Salvador, card acceptance exists in Santa Ana and San Miguel at major chains but most of the country is cash-based.
Supported Exchanges & Wallets in El Salvador
SpendNode checked USD conversion rates across all twelve card issuers serving El Salvador through LATAM and GLOBAL coverage. The BTC tax exemption plus dollarization creates a uniquely favorable environment where every cashback dollar is untaxed profit.
CoCa delivers the highest combined yield: 8% cashback in COCA tokens plus 6% APY on stablecoin deposits, zero tax on either in a dollarized economy. The effective 14%+ combined return rivals aggressive DeFi strategies without the smart contract risk. Bybit provides the highest ceiling: Supreme at up to 10% (0.5% FX fee reduces net to approximately 9.5%), Standard at 2% free. Both can be funded with BTC for tax-exempt spending under the Bitcoin Law.
Crypto.com offers the best premium perks for El Salvador. The Jade/Indigo tier at 3% includes Priority Pass lounge access at SAL airport - valuable as El Salvador's international connectivity grows (new routes to Madrid, Bogota, and expanded US service). Obsidian at 5% adds Spotify, Netflix, and Amazon Prime rebates - services that Salvadoran professionals already pay for in USD.
KAST provides zero-friction entry: 2% cashback, free, no-KYC basic tier - the most accessible option for Salvadorans who want to start earning cashback immediately. RedotPay serves the remittance use case perfectly: the Solana card at 3% cashback turns USDC received from family in the US into spending power with rewards on top. The Physical card at $100 adds ATM access for cash withdrawal.
ether.fi offers borrow-to-spend, which has a unique angle in El Salvador: while BTC gains are already tax-exempt, ETH stakers can maintain their yield-generating positions while spending borrowed stablecoins. Avici provides crypto-backed Visa credit without triggering any disposal at all - relevant for holders who want to preserve both BTC and altcoin positions.
MetaMask at 1% and Ledger CL Card at 1% provide self-custody spending for users who want non-custodial control. In a country that adopted Bitcoin as legal tender, self-custody philosophy resonates strongly with the local crypto community. Bitget Wallet Card serves DCS wallet users under LATAM coverage with a $400/month zero-fee FX quota. xPlace and Jupiter target the Solana/DeFi ecosystem.
On-Ramps: The Chivo-Strike-P2P Ecosystem
El Salvador has a unique on-ramp situation. Chivo Wallet (government-backed) provides zero-fee BTC-to-USD conversion and Lightning payments. Strike (Jack Mallers) offers zero-fee Lightning BTC transfers. Binance P2P operates with USD pairs (no local currency conversion needed since El Salvador uses USD). Bitcoin ATMs (Chivo-branded and third-party like Athena) are deployed in major cities. The Lightning Network provides the fastest BTC transfer method for card funding. For USDC/USDT, P2P platforms and direct exchange withdrawals to card wallets work seamlessly in a dollarized economy.
El Salvador's unique combination of Bitcoin as legal tender (zero CGT on BTC), full USD dollarization (zero FX), government-backed Lightning infrastructure, massive remittance economy ($8B+/year), and 12 available card issuers make it the world's most structurally favorable country for crypto card adoption. The paradox: the country that adopted BTC benefits most from the Visa/Mastercard network via crypto cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which crypto cards work in El Salvador?
El Salvador is served by LATAM-region and globally available cards including KAST (2% cashback, no fees), Binance (up to 8%), RedotPay (up to 3%), Crypto.com (up to 5%), CoCa (up to 8%), and MetaMask (1%, self-custody). The country uses USD, so there is zero FX conversion on any USD-settled crypto card.
Is Bitcoin legal tender in El Salvador?
Yes. The Bitcoin Law (Ley Bitcoin, Decree No. 57) took effect September 7, 2021, making El Salvador the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender alongside USD. All businesses are legally required to accept Bitcoin (though enforcement is flexible). The government launched the Chivo Wallet with a USD 30 BTC bonus for citizens.
How is crypto taxed in El Salvador?
El Salvador explicitly exempts Bitcoin profits from capital gains tax under the Bitcoin Law. Foreign investors earning income from Bitcoin-related technology services are also exempt from income tax. Standard income tax rates (10-30%) apply to non-crypto income. This makes El Salvador one of the most crypto-tax-friendly jurisdictions globally.
Do I need a crypto card if El Salvador already accepts Bitcoin?
Yes, for two reasons: (1) While Bitcoin is legal tender, actual merchant acceptance is limited outside of tourist areas in El Zonte (Bitcoin Beach) and some San Salvador businesses. Most merchants still prefer USD cash. (2) A crypto card provides cashback rewards (2-8%) that direct BTC payment does not, plus seamless Visa/Mastercard acceptance everywhere.
