KAST vs Krak Card (Kraken): which crypto card wins in 2026?
Head-to-head on the facts that decide your money: fee stacks, KYC levels, top-up coins, limits and cashback - every number sourced in the linked reviews.
Short answer: too close to call - they score 7.1/10 and 6.8/10 in our weighted review. The deciding factor is your priority: KAST for rewards, Krak Card (Kraken) for fees. Facts verified 2026-11-04.
 KAST |  Krak Card (Kraken) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score (0-10) | 7.1 | 6.8 |
| Card | Credit card · Visa · Virtual + physical | Debit card · Mastercard · Virtual + physical |
| KYC | Full KYC | Full KYC |
| KYC trigger | Account onboarding with identity verification and real-time fraud monitoring | Always - the card requires a verified Krak account (full KYC, personal accounts only) |
| Custody | Custodial balance | Custodial balance |
| Direct top-up coins | USDC, USDT | via convert: BTC, ETH, SOL, USDT… |
| Top-up fee | 0% | 0% |
| FX fee | unknown | 0% |
| Monthly fee | none | none |
| ATM fee | 2% | 0% |
| Monthly spend limit | Spend up to whatever is in your wallet - no hidden monthly s… moreSpend up to whatever is in your wallet - no hidden monthly spending caps (Premium cap <= $10,000/mo, Private <= $40,000/mo apply to cashback earn rates, not spending) | - |
| ATM daily limit | $750 per 24h (max 3 withdrawals, $250 each) | - |
| Cashback | 1.5% in USD | 2% in cash (GBP/EUR) or BTC |
| Apple Pay | yes | yes |
| Google Pay | yes | yes |
| Regions | worldwide, USA, Europe (EEA) | UK, Europe (EEA), USA |
| Operator | KAST | Kraken (Krak app) |
Score breakdown
KAST scores higher on limits (+1), rewards (+3), availability (+2) · Krak Card (Kraken) scores higher on fees (+1), reliability (+1) - weighted sub-scores, which include fees the headline numbers above leave out.
why 7.1/10?
why 6.8/10?
KAST at a glance
The most complete stablecoin-spending account on the market: US/EU virtual bank accounts from anywhere, Visa Platinum cards with real 1.5% USD cashback on the free tier, instant cashback and no spending caps. Full KYC and a young operator are the trade-offs; the paid tiers only make sense for heavy spenders.
What works
- Free Standard tier with 1.5% instant USD cashback (Visa Platinum)
- US/EU virtual accounts (ACH, SEPA, wires) from anywhere
- Spending limited only by wallet balance - no monthly spend caps
- Direct SOL/ETH/BTC deposits auto-converted to USDC for spending
- Fireblocks/BitGo custody, $80M Series A, well-established partners
What to watch
- Full KYC fintech, not a bank
- Premium tiers ($1,000/$10,000 per year) priced for high spenders only
- Stablecoin-centric: BTC/ETH/SOL only via conversion to USDC
- Young company (founded 2024)
Krak Card (Kraken) at a glance
The strongest mainstream exchange debit card for UK/EEA/US users on paper: free issuance, no monthly fee, 0% FX on the Mastercard rate, instant tiered cashback up to 2% and a metal card for high-balance users. The catch: cashback only starts above a GBP/EUR 200 average balance, crypto spend carries an undisclosed spread, and per-day limits are not published.
What works
- free virtual, plastic and (with a 50k balance) metal card - no monthly or annual fee
- 0% FX: Mastercard rate passed through without markup (UK/EEA)
- instant cashback up to 2%, tiered and settled daily; paid in fiat or BTC
- spends 600+ app assets via an editable Spend Order; combines assets per transaction
- Apple Pay + Google Pay; virtual card instant, physical free
What to watch
- full KYC required; personal accounts only
- Starter tier (0% cashback) applies below a 200 GBP/EUR 30-day average balance
- variable spread on every crypto conversion, disclosed only per transaction
- spend/ATM limits not published
- US pricing view names a 1% FX fee and the "Visa exchange rate" although the card is Mastercard (copy inconsistency)
FAQ
Which is better for privacy, KAST or Krak Card (Kraken)?
Both are comparable on privacy: KAST requires Full KYC, while Krak Card (Kraken) requires Full KYC. Check the dated KYC facts in each review before applying.
Which is cheaper, KAST or Krak Card (Kraken)?
The published fee data does not line up (one side leaves load or FX unknown) - compare the fee rows in each review, or run both through the true-cost calculator for your spending.
Which pays better cashback, KAST or Krak Card (Kraken)?
Krak Card (Kraken) pays the higher headline cashback (2% vs 1.5%). Caps, tiers and payout token matter as much as the number - check the cashback rows in each review.
Scores and facts: meta-reviews with dated sources - KAST · Krak Card (Kraken). Method: how we verify. More: all crypto cards compared.