Best Crypto Cards in India (2026)

The RBI (Reserve Bank of India) has had a complex relationship with crypto. The 2018 banking ban was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2020. The 2022 Union Budget introduced the 30% tax and 1% TDS framework, effectively regulating crypto through taxation rather than explicit licensing.

SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) has explored crypto regulation but primary oversight remains with the Ministry of Finance and RBI. India's approach is tax-first: heavy taxation instead of outright bans, discouraging speculative trading while allowing ownership.

Bybit, OKX, and Bitget serve Indian users through their APAC entities. Crypto.com has served India historically. International APAC issuers may have varying levels of availability for Indian residents due to RBI compliance requirements.

The 1% TDS applies to all crypto transfers above INR 10,000. Factor this into card loading costs.

India taxes crypto gains at a flat 30% rate with no loss offsets (you cannot deduct crypto losses against gains). Additionally, 1% TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) is levied on all crypto transfers above INR 10,000/year. This is among the world's harshest crypto tax regimes, comparable to Japan.

Example: You bought 0.001 BTC at INR 10,000 and spend it when it is worth INR 50,000. The INR 40,000 gain is taxed at 30% = INR 12,000. Plus 4% cess = INR 12,480 total.

No loss offsets: If you made INR 40,000 gain on BTC and INR 30,000 loss on ETH, you still pay 30% on the INR 40,000 gain. The ETH loss cannot reduce your tax. This is unique to India's crypto tax.

Stablecoin spending is non-negotiable in India. At 30% with no loss offsets, spending appreciated crypto is extremely expensive. Fund with USDC or USDT exclusively. The 1% TDS on loading is a sunk cost either way.

Indian crypto card applications require an Aadhaar card (12-digit biometric ID) or PAN card (Permanent Account Number, 10-digit alphanumeric, mandatory for tax). Many issuers require both. A valid passport serves as alternative photo ID.

Proof of Indian address via Aadhaar (which includes address), utility bill (bijli/gas bill), bank statement, or voter ID (EPIC). KYC through Indian exchanges (WazirX, CoinDCX) may be accepted by some APAC issuers as supplementary verification.

Physical cards ship to Indian addresses within 10-21 business days. Virtual cards are available immediately for Apple Pay and Google Pay use, though Apple Pay launched in India only in 2023.

30% Tax = USDC-Only Strategy

India's 30% flat tax with no loss offsets makes spending appreciated crypto through a card one of the most expensive disposal events globally. Fund exclusively with USDC or USDT. The 1% TDS on loading is unavoidable regardless of which crypto you use, so minimize it by loading in stable amounts.

Card Selection by Use Case

• Bitget (8% cashback, free): Best all-around card, zero FX fee critical for INR users
• Bybit (up to 10% VIP): Best for high-volume Bybit traders
• KAST (2% cashback, free): Best no-fee starter card
• Crypto.com (up to 5%): Best for lounge access at DEL and BOM

Spending Scenario: INR 30,000/month (~$360)

USDC funding saves INR 8,640/year in tax. The 1% TDS (INR 3,600) applies either way. Net benefit of INR 25,200/year is significant at Indian cost of living.

UPI Dominance Limits Card Utility

UPI (PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm) handles 80%+ of digital payments in India. Crypto cards are most valuable for: international online purchases (avoiding bank FX markups), travel spending, and merchants that accept Visa/Mastercard but not UPI. Major retailers (Reliance, DMart, Big Bazaar), malls, restaurants, and hotels accept contactless. Street vendors, auto-rickshaws, and chai stalls are cash or UPI only.

Local Payment Infrastructure

Apple Pay launched in India in 2023 but adoption is limited. Google Pay (via UPI, not Visa/Mastercard) is the dominant mobile payment method. Crypto cards fill the international spending gap that UPI cannot cover.

APAC exchange cards: Bybit (up to 10% VIP), OKX (5%), Bitget (8%), and Crypto.com (up to 5%) may serve Indian users through APAC entities. Card availability for Indian residents may be more limited due to RBI compliance requirements.

Globally available: KAST, xPlace, and RedotPay may be accessible under worldwide coverage.

Domestic exchanges: WazirX (regulatory issues after Binance separation), CoinDCX, CoinSwitch Kuber, and ZebPay are major Indian platforms. None offer Visa/Mastercard spending cards tracked in our comparison. They primarily serve as INR-to-crypto on-ramps.

Self-custody options: Bleap (2%, free) and Tria (up to 6%) offer self-custody spending for users wanting wallet control.