Best Crypto Cards for HODLers (2026)
Spend fiat without selling your BTC or ETH - stablecoins and credit lines preserve your stack.
Curated for HODLers
37 matching cards
Filtered by stablecoin spend, self custody spend
The entire point of HODLing is not selling. But you still need to eat, pay rent, and buy things. The moment you swipe a crypto card that converts BTC to fiat, you have sold BTC - triggering a taxable event and reducing your position. Every $100 purchase becomes a disposal that your tax software needs to track, and if BTC has appreciated since you bought it, you owe capital gains on each transaction.
There are two ways to solve this. The first is to keep a separate stablecoin balance for spending - your BTC/ETH investment stack stays untouched, and your USDC spending balance generates near-zero taxable gain per transaction. The second is crypto-backed credit: borrow fiat against your crypto collateral, spend the borrowed money, and repay later without ever selling your holdings. Both approaches let you live off your crypto wealth without reducing your position.
The cards below support either stablecoin-only spending or crypto-backed credit lines, specifically chosen for people who refuse to sell their stack.
HODLer Card Comparison
| Card | Approach | Custody | Stablecoin Support | Network | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nexo | Credit line (borrow vs BTC) | Custodial | USDC, USDT | Visa/MC | Free |
| Avici Platinum | Crypto-backed credit | Self-custody | USDC | Visa | Free |
| Gnosis Pay | Stablecoin spend | Self-custody | DAI, EURe | Visa | Free |
| Ledger CL | Stablecoin spend | Self-custody | USDC, USDT | Visa | Free |
| MetaMask Card | Stablecoin spend | Self-custody | USDC | Mastercard | Free |
| Ready Lite | Stablecoin spend | Self-custody | USDC | Mastercard | Free |
| RedotPay | Stablecoin spend | Custodial | USDC | Visa | $10 |
What HODLers Need in a Crypto Card
Stablecoin spending so you never trigger a taxable BTC or ETH disposal
Crypto-backed credit option to borrow against holdings instead of selling
Self-custody compatibility - your keys, your coins, card just handles fiat
No forced liquidation without warning - clear LTV ratios and margin call process
Multi-chain support so you are not locked into one ecosystem
Top 10 Cards for HODLers
1. KAST Pengu Luxe Card
Pudgy Penguins Luxe: 12% Cashback - KAST's Highest Rate
2. KAST Pengu Premium Card
Pudgy Penguins Premium: 8% Cashback on Every Swipe
3. COCA Visa Card
DeFi Banking for the Masses: 8% Back + Yield Earning
4. Tria Premium Card
Ultimate Web3 Luxury: 6% Cashback + Zero ATM Fees
5. ether.fi Core Card
Zero Barriers: 3% Back on Every Purchase, No Stake Required
6. ether.fi Luxe Card
Purple Metal Prestige: Lounge Access + 65% Hotel Discounts
7. Ready Metal Card
Premium Self-Custody: 3% Back on Every Swipe, Zero FX
8. RedotPay Solana Card
Solana Goes IRL: 3% Cashback + Apple Pay at 130M+ Merchants
9. Xplace Platinum Club Card
The Platinum Club: 2% Cashback + Private Concierge + 1,400+ Lounges
10. MetaMask Metal Card
Premium Metal: 3% Cashback + Self-Custody + Mastercard Rails
What $1,500/Month Looks Like
$180
/month in cashback (based on KAST Pengu Luxe Card at 12%)
Two HODLer spending scenarios:
Scenario 1: Conservative HODLer ($1,500/month via stablecoins)
Separate stablecoin spending balance. Investment stack untouched.
| Card | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | Tax Events | Custody |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional bank card | $0 | $0 | 0 (fiat) | Bank holds |
| Gnosis Pay (DAI) | $0 | $0 | Near-zero gain | Self-custody |
| MetaMask (USDC) | $0 | $0 | Near-zero gain | Self-custody |
| Spending BTC directly | $0 | $0 | 12+ gains/month | Depends |
The stablecoin approach costs the same as a bank card ($0 in fees on most options) but keeps your investment stack intact. Spending BTC directly would generate 12+ taxable disposal events per month at $1,500 spending - each one requiring cost basis tracking.
Scenario 2: Leveraged HODLer ($3,000/month via credit line)
Using Nexo or Avici credit line. BTC collateral stays locked, fiat is borrowed.
| Metric | Conservative (25% LTV) | Moderate (40% LTV) | Aggressive (50% LTV) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required collateral for $3K/mo | $144,000 | $90,000 | $72,000 |
| Annual credit used | $36,000 | $36,000 | $36,000 |
| BTC crash buffer | 75% drop | 60% drop | 50% drop |
| Survived 2022 crash (-65%)? | Yes | No | No |
Only the 25% LTV approach would have survived the 2022 bear market crash of approx. 65%. This is why conservative leverage matters - the 50% LTV that looks efficient in a bull market becomes a liquidation event in a downturn.
Multi-Card Strategy for HODLers
Strategy 1: The Stablecoin Sidecar
The simplest approach for HODLers. Maintain two completely separate pools:
Pool A: Your investment stack. BTC, ETH, SOL, or whatever you are holding long-term. This never touches the card. It stays in cold storage, a hardware wallet, or a self-custody wallet under your control.
Pool B: Your spending balance. USDC or USDT loaded onto a crypto card. This is your "checking account" equivalent. You top it up periodically by buying stablecoins (not by selling your investment holdings), and you spend it through the card.
The best cards for this approach:
Gnosis Pay - Your DAI or EURe sits in your own Gnosis Safe wallet. The card settles on-chain on Gnosis Chain. Full self-custody, full transparency, 0% FX. No cashback, but zero counterparty risk beyond Gnosis Chain itself. For HODLers who prioritize custody above all else.
MetaMask Card - Spend USDC from your MetaMask wallet on Linea. Sub-cent gas fees, Mastercard network, Apple Pay compatible. Earn points toward future rewards. The card you already have the wallet for.
Ledger CL - Hardware wallet security meets card spending. Your USDC stays on a Ledger device until the moment of purchase. Every transaction requires a physical signature on the Ledger. The most secure stablecoin spending option available, with the trade-off of needing your Ledger device accessible for each purchase.
RedotPay - Works in 150+ countries, $10 one-time fee, USDC top-up. Custodial (RedotPay holds the funds), but the global coverage makes it the best option for HODLers who travel or live outside the US/EU.
Strategy 2: Crypto-Backed Credit
Instead of spending stablecoins, you borrow fiat against your BTC/ETH collateral and spend the borrowed amount. Your crypto stays locked as collateral but never gets sold.
Nexo is the most established option. Deposit BTC or ETH as collateral, receive a credit line at approx. 50% LTV (loan-to-value). Spend that credit line through the Nexo card. Interest rates vary by tier and collateral type. The advantage: no taxable disposal of your investment holdings. The risk: if BTC drops below the required LTV, Nexo liquidates your collateral.
Avici offers crypto-backed credit through a different model. Secured credit card issued by Rain, collateralized against your crypto holdings. Available in 48 countries (not Europe or UK). Visa network, no annual fee, and the loan escrow uses a ZeroDev smart wallet so you retain some custody of the collateral.
The LTV Risk Calculator
Understanding loan-to-value ratios is critical for crypto-backed credit:
| Your BTC Collateral | LTV 50% Credit Line | Liquidation Price (BTC at $90K) | Safety Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 (0.11 BTC) | $5,000 spending | BTC drops to approx. $45K | 50% crash buffer |
| $20,000 (0.22 BTC) | $10,000 spending | BTC drops to approx. $45K | 50% crash buffer |
| $50,000 (0.56 BTC) | $25,000 spending | BTC drops to approx. $45K | 50% crash buffer |
The safer approach: only borrow 25-30% of your collateral value instead of the maximum 50%. This gives you a 70-75% crash buffer before liquidation - enough to survive even severe bear markets without losing your stack.
Which Approach is Right for You?
Choose stablecoins if:
- You want zero liquidation risk
- You have income to periodically buy USDC for spending
- You prefer simplicity over leverage
- Your investment stack is under $50,000
Choose crypto-backed credit if:
- You are asset-rich but cash-poor (large BTC position, limited fiat income)
- You understand and can manage liquidation risk
- You want to maintain 100% of your crypto position during a bull market
- You have additional collateral available to deposit during drawdowns
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Spending BTC Directly for "Convenience"
Every BTC purchase at a coffee shop is a taxable disposal. If you bought BTC at $20,000 and it is now $90,000, each $5 coffee triggers a capital gain based on the difference. Across 300+ transactions per year, the tax tracking burden alone is worth avoiding. Use stablecoins for spending. Always.
2. Over-Leveraging Your Credit Line
Borrowing 50% of your BTC collateral value feels safe when BTC is climbing. It is not. The 2022 crash took BTC from $69K to $15K - a 78% drawdown. At 50% LTV, you get liquidated at a 50% drop. At 40% LTV, you get liquidated at 60%. Only 25% LTV (or less) survives a severe bear market. Borrow less than you can.
3. Keeping Your Investment Stack on an Exchange
If you are using an exchange-linked card, there is a temptation to keep your entire BTC position on the exchange for easy access. Do not. Exchange failures (FTX, Celsius, BlockFi) have destroyed billions in customer assets. Keep your investment stack in cold storage or self-custody. Only the spending balance (stablecoins) should be accessible to the card.
4. Ignoring Interest Rates on Credit Lines
Crypto-backed credit is not free money. Nexo charges variable interest depending on your tier and collateral type. Even at 0% for the introductory period, rates can increase. Calculate the annual interest cost and compare it to the tax cost of simply selling crypto. In some cases, paying capital gains tax on a small sale is cheaper than carrying a credit line for a year.
5. Not Setting Price Alerts for Liquidation
If you use a crypto-backed credit line, set price alerts at 20%, 30%, and 40% below your collateral's current value. When BTC drops, you need time to deposit additional collateral before the automatic liquidation triggers. Most platforms give you a margin call window - but if you are not watching, your BTC gets sold at the worst possible time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I spend money without selling my crypto?
Two approaches. First: hold stablecoins (USDC/USDT) separately from your investment stack and spend those through any crypto card. Second: use a crypto-backed credit card like Nexo or Avici that lets you borrow against your BTC/ETH at 0% interest (up to a limit) - you spend borrowed fiat while your crypto stays as collateral.
Is spending stablecoins a taxable event?
Technically yes in most jurisdictions - but the gain is near zero. USDC bought at $1.00 and spent at $1.00 generates no capital gain. This is fundamentally different from spending BTC bought at $30,000 when it is worth $90,000, which triggers a $60,000 capital gain per BTC. Stablecoins are the tax-efficient spending method for HODLers.
What is the risk of a crypto-backed credit line?
Liquidation. If you borrow against BTC and BTC drops below the required loan-to-value ratio, the lender sells your collateral to cover the loan. Nexo typically offers 50% LTV - meaning a 50%+ BTC crash could trigger liquidation. Mitigation: borrow conservatively (use only 25-30% of your collateral value), set price alerts, and keep extra collateral ready to deposit.
Should I use a self-custody card or exchange card as a HODLer?
Self-custody. The entire HODLer philosophy is about controlling your own keys. Cards like MetaMask, Gnosis Pay, and Ledger CL let you spend from your own wallet without depositing to an exchange. The trade-off is slightly less convenience - but your investment stack never leaves your custody.
