Coinbase launches cryptocurrency debit card

(Image credit: Coinbase) (Image credit: Coinbase)

Cryptocurrency fans will now be able to spend their haul in a wider number of locations than ever before thanks to a new launch from Coinbase.

The trading website has announced the launch of a new Visa debit card that will allow users to spend their Bitcoin, Ethereum and more.

Payments can be completed with any merchant that accepts Visa, meaning there will be a whole load of real-life and online stores able to benefit from this new spending power.

Crypto payments

Users will need to download a companion mobile app called Coinbase Card, which will allow them to view and manage their finances via a mobile device.

As mentioned above, the likes of Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin are among the cryptocurrencies supported - any the card will automatically take its balance directly from a user's Coinbase account.

The card will support cash point withdrawals as well as contactless payments - but as with other transactions, users will be charged a fee for this.

There's a 2.49 percent fee charged for each transaction using the card - made up of 1.49 in conversion fees and one percent transaction fee. However there are no maintenance fees and no additional cost for ATM withdrawals - but you will need to withdraw less than £200 per month.

Using the card in other European countries will incur a 2.69 percent fee, and outside of Europe will see a 5.49 percent charge. Coinbase says it is planning to roll out the card to other European countries soon, but there are no plans for a US launch just yet.

The card itself is available now, but costs £4.95 to order - although the first thousand customers will get it for free.

Mike Moore
Deputy Editor, TechRadar Pro

Mike Moore is Deputy Editor at TechRadar Pro. He has worked as a B2B and B2C tech journalist for nearly a decade, including at one of the UK's leading national newspapers and fellow Future title ITProPortal, and when he's not keeping track of all the latest enterprise and workplace trends, can most likely be found watching, following or taking part in some kind of sport.