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Ready (formerly Argent) is a self-custody crypto debit card built on Starknet that lets users spend USDC anywhere Mastercard is accepted while retaining full control of their funds in a smart contract wallet.
Overview of Ready Cards
From Argent Wallet to On-Chain Bank
Ready started life as Argent, one of the earliest and most polished smart contract wallets on Ethereum and later Starknet. With over 2 million downloads and zero hacks across 9 years, the team rebranded to Ready in late 2025 and launched the Ready Card, a self-custody Mastercard debit card that connects directly to your on-chain wallet.
The core philosophy is simple: your crypto stays in your wallet until the exact moment you swipe. No pre-funding, no custodial intermediary holding your funds overnight. This is the same architecture as Gnosis Pay but built on Starknet instead of Gnosis Chain, and with Mastercard instead of Visa.
The Ecosystem: Two Tiers
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Ready Lite - Free plastic card with 0.5% cashback in STRK, 1% FX fee, and $200/month free ATM. The entry point for testing self-custody spending at zero cost.
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Ready Metal - Premium 16g metal card for 120 USDC/year. 3% cashback in STRK, 0% FX, $800/month free ATM, and exclusive partner perks (Ramp, Layerswap, Koinly, NordVPN, Airalo).
Both tiers share identical self-custody architecture, spending limits ($10K/day, $30K/month), and Mastercard global acceptance.
Technology: Starknet Smart Contract Wallet
Ready's card architecture is genuinely novel. Your funds live in a Starknet smart contract account that requires two signatures: yours and Ready's co-signer. When you swipe the card, Kulipa (the regulated card issuer) checks your USDC balance in real-time. If sufficient, the co-signer authorizes the settlement. Multiple card transactions are batched into single on-chain settlements using session keys, keeping gas costs near zero.
The key innovation is that Kulipa never holds your funds. Session keys grant Kulipa permission to settle USDC only, and nothing else in your wallet is accessible. This is a meaningful step beyond Bleap's account abstraction approach and closer to Gnosis Pay's Safe integration.
Cashback: STRK Rewards Funded by Starknet Foundation
The cashback program is funded by the Starknet Foundation and reviewed quarterly. Metal users earn 3% on up to $5,000/month in spending (capped at $150 STRK/month). Lite users earn 0.5% with the same $150/month cap. Rewards are distributed by the 15th of each month in STRK tokens.
This means the cashback program has a dependency on the Starknet Foundation's continued funding. Unlike exchange-funded cashback (Crypto.com, Bybit), this could theoretically be reduced or discontinued after a quarterly review.
Trust, Security, and Regulation
- Card issuer: Kulipa (regulated card issuer, handles KYC/AML)
- Network: Mastercard with full fraud protection
- Self-custody: User retains private keys at all times
- Track record: Zero hacks across 9 years of wallet operation (Argent + Ready)
- ID verification: Required, handled by Kulipa (Ready does not store personal data)
- Digital wallets: Google Pay supported, Apple Pay coming soon
Verdict
Ready fills a gap in the European self-custody card market. For users who want to spend USDC without surrendering custody, it is currently one of only three options alongside Gnosis Pay and Bleap. The Metal tier's 3% cashback significantly outperforms both competitors on rewards, while the Lite tier offers a free entry point that neither rival matches. The main limitations are USDC-only funding and UK/EEA exclusivity.
Fees and ROI framework
Metal break-even: $120 annual fee / 3% cashback = $4,000/year ($333/month) to break even. At the $5,000/month cashback cap, Metal earns $150/month in STRK = $1,800/year, yielding a $1,680 net profit. The ROI is extremely favorable if you spend more than $333/month.
Lite vs Metal decision: If you spend under $333/month, Lite is better (free). Above $333/month, Metal pays for itself. Above $1,000/month, Metal significantly outperforms.
Competitor comparison
- vs Gnosis Pay: Both self-custody, but Ready offers 3% cashback (Gnosis has no rewards yet), Mastercard vs Visa, and USDC vs EURe. Gnosis has a personal IBAN for fiat deposits. Ready wins on rewards.
- vs Bleap: Both EEA, both self-custody adjacent, but Ready uses smart contract co-signing while Bleap uses account abstraction. Ready has cashback; Bleap does not. Ready has ATM access; Bleap does not.
- vs Crypto.com Jade: Crypto.com requires $4,000 CRO staked (custodial). Ready requires $120 upfront (self-custodial). Both offer 3% cashback. For sovereignty-conscious users, Ready is the clear winner.
Availability and compliance notes
Currently EEA + UK only. Expansion to LATAM and other regions planned for 2026. KYC required through Kulipa. Google Pay live, Apple Pay in development.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ready Card self-custodial?
Yes. Ready never holds or controls your funds. Your USDC stays in your Starknet smart contract wallet until you make a payment. A co-signer model prevents double-spending while maintaining full user control.
What happened to Argent?
Argent rebranded to Ready in late 2025. The wallet, card, and all features remain the same under the new brand. The X handle @argentHQ is now @ready_co.
Can I spend Bitcoin or Ethereum with the Ready Card?
Not currently. The Ready Card only supports USDC for loading and spending. Additional cryptocurrencies may be added in the future.
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