Best Crypto Cards in United Kingdom (2026)

The FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) regulates crypto assets in the UK under the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017. All crypto exchanges and card issuers operating in the UK must register with the FCA and appear on the Cryptoasset Register.

The FCA's approach is stricter than the EU's MiCA on marketing: all crypto promotions must be approved by an FCA-authorized firm under the Financial Promotions regime (effective October 2023). This means some card issuers restrict promotional features or cashback marketing in the UK even if the card itself is available.

The UK has not adopted MiCA and is developing its own comprehensive crypto framework. Specific stablecoin regulation is already in effect under HM Treasury's phased approach. The FCA has issued consumer warnings about crypto but has not restricted card-based spending.

Plutus and Wirex are UK-headquartered and FCA-registered. Coinbase holds FCA registration. Bybit, OKX, and Binance have had complex UK regulatory histories: Binance was ordered to stop regulated activities by the FCA in 2021 but has since worked on compliance. Verify each issuer's current FCA status on the register before applying.

HMRC treats crypto as property. Spending crypto through a card is a "disposal," subject to Capital Gains Tax (CGT). The annual CGT-free allowance is just £3,000 (reduced from £12,300 in April 2023). Gains above this are taxed at 18% (basic rate) or 24% (higher rate).

The £3,000 Problem

The slashed CGT allowance is the single biggest issue for UK crypto card users. Buy a £5 Pret sandwich with ETH you acquired at £1,000 when it is worth £3,000, and you owe CGT on the proportional appreciation. Across hundreds of small card transactions, you will exceed the £3,000 allowance quickly if you spend appreciated crypto.

Stablecoin funding eliminates this. USDC purchased at £0.79, spent at £0.79, near-zero gain per transaction. Your £3,000 allowance stays intact for actual investment disposals.

Cashback: The Zero Cost Basis Trap

HMRC does not tax crypto cashback when received (it is treated as a discount, not income). However, the reward tokens have a zero cost basis. When you later spend or sell those reward tokens, you owe CGT on the full value. Receive £100 in PLU tokens as cashback, sell them a year later for £150: you owe CGT on the full £150, not just the £50 gain.

HMRC has data-sharing agreements with major exchanges (Coinbase, Crypto.com) and has sent "nudge letters" to UK crypto holders. Keep records of every transaction for your Self Assessment return. Tools like Koinly and CryptoTaxCalculator integrate with most UK-available card issuers.

UK crypto card applications require a valid UK passport or DVLA driving licence (full or provisional), proof of UK address dated within 3 months (utility bill from British Gas, EDF, Thames Water, etc., council tax bill, or bank statement from a UK bank), and National Insurance number for some issuers.

FCA-registered issuers (Plutus, Coinbase, Wirex) typically offer instant or same-day verification for new users. Exchange-linked cards (Bybit, OKX, Crypto.com) are instant if you already have a verified account. Physical cards ship to UK addresses via Royal Mail or courier, typically arriving within 5-7 business days. Virtual cards are available within minutes.

BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) holders and settled/pre-settled status holders can apply with their BRP card as ID. Some issuers may not accept provisional driving licences as primary ID.

The £3,000 Allowance Strategy

The slashed CGT allowance changes everything. At £3,000/year, spending appreciated crypto through a card will exhaust your allowance in weeks. Fund your card with USDC or USDT to keep gains near zero. Reserve the £3,000 allowance for actual investment exits, not coffee purchases.

Card Selection by Use Case

• UK-native, highest rewards: Plutus Visa (up to 9% with PLU staking, $60/yr, 0% FX)
• Best free card: Coinbase Card (4%, free, 0% FX) or OKX Mastercard (5%, free, 0% FX)
• Self-custody: Gnosis Pay (0%, free, 0% FX) or MetaMask Card (0%, free, 0% FX)
• Premium perks + travel: Crypto.com Obsidian (5% + lounges + Spotify/Netflix rebates)
• DeFi-native: ether.fi Cash (3%, free, 1% FX)

Plutus vs Coinbase Break-Even Math

Plutus wins at every spending level because the £48/year fee (~$60) is tiny relative to the 9% rate. However, the 9% rate requires PLU staking. At the base tier (3%), Plutus and Coinbase are closer. Check your PLU staking tier before assuming 9%.

Spending Scenario: £1,500/month

At £1,500/month through Coinbase Card at 4%, you earn £60/month in crypto rewards, or £720/year.

The £720/year in cashback tokens will eventually be subject to CGT when sold (zero cost basis). At 20% effective rate, the after-tax value is ~£576. Add £375/year in FX savings on £1,000/month of eurozone spending (2.5% saved on holidays), and the annual benefit is approximately £951. Fund with stablecoins and keep your £3,000 CGT allowance for real investment exits.

Local Payment Infrastructure

The UK is one of the most contactless-friendly countries in the world. Tap-to-pay works everywhere: TfL (London transport), Tesco, Sainsbury's, Pret, pubs, even market stalls. Apple Pay and Google Pay penetration is among the highest globally. Open Banking and Faster Payments handle bank transfers, but for merchant spending, Visa/Mastercard contactless is the default. The £100 contactless limit covers the vast majority of everyday transactions.

The UK has the broadest exchange-linked card availability in the world. Bybit (Supreme 10%, Standard 2%), Coinbase (4%), Crypto.com (tiers from 0-5%), OKX (5%), Bitget (8%), KuCoin (3%), and Gate.io (2%) all explicitly serve UK residents.

Plutus is the UK-native standout: headquartered in London, FCA-registered, up to 9% cashback with PLU staking. Wirex is also UK-headquartered with deep local roots and GBP settlement.

Self-custody cards are a UK strength: MetaMask Card, Gnosis Pay, Ledger CL Card, ether.fi Cash, and Bleap all serve UK users. This gives the UK the widest range of non-custodial spending options anywhere.

Binance's UK status has been complex. The FCA ordered Binance to stop regulated activities in 2021. Binance has since engaged with UK regulators, but card availability should be verified directly. Nexo (2%, crypto-backed credit line) and KAST (2%, free) round out the options.

Global issuers like xPlace, RedotPay, and Solflare also serve UK residents under worldwide coverage.