Issued by Swissquote — Swiss banking license, regulated by Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA)
Swissquote CardReview
A FINMA-regulated, custodial Mastercard debit card with three tiers for spending 52 cryptocurrencies.
The verdict
Best for: European crypto investors needing a multi-currency IBAN with FINMA-regulated Swiss banking.
Skip if: You are a US/Canadian resident or cannot meet the CHF 100,000 minimum for Elite.
- Elite tier has 0% FX but requires CHF 100,000 in assets.
- Earn up to 1% trading credit, but pay a ~1% crypto conversion fee.
- Free Light tier is virtual-only with a CHF 10,000 monthly spending limit.
How it works
- The Swissquote card offers a tiered system with varying features:
- - **Tiers**: Light (virtual), Bright (physical), and Elite (metal).
- - **Multi-Currency**: Linked to a multi-currency IBAN supporting ~29 fiat currencies.
- - **Crypto Spending**: Supports spending from 52 cryptocurrencies with just-in-time conversion.
- - **Mobile Wallets**: Integrates with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and TWINT.
- - **Travel Benefits**: All tiers include travel insurance, luggage cover, medical assistance, and concierge service.
- - **Elite Tier Perks**: The Elite tier adds Priority Pass airport lounge access (3 free visits/year), enhanced insurance, 24/7 concierge, and a 0% FX fee on 13 main currencies up to CHF 5,000/month.
Funding: Crypto (52 cryptocurrencies) · Multi-currency account (~29 fiat currencies) · Swissquote app · Swissquote web platform
Fees
| Banking | SEPA: true · IBAN: true · Multi-currency IBAN supporting approximately 29 currencies. eBill integration for simplified bill payments. |
Custody & risk
- If the issuer disappearsIf Swissquote ceases operations, users may lose access to their funds.
- Counterparty riskCustodial model means users may lose access to funds if Swissquote ceases operations
- Security riskSome users have reported instances of card compromise leading to unauthorized transactions
Swissquote holds all crypto assets and private keys on its platform. When a user makes a payment, the crypto is converted and debited from the platform-held wallet.
Protections
- Level 3 two-factor authentication login
- Unique Mobile Level 3 code delivered to smartphone for each login
- Standard Mastercard security protections
Insurance & coverage: Travel insurance included on all tiers
Limits
The good
- Spend from 52 cryptocurrencies and ~29 fiat currencies.
- Up to 1% trading credit on crypto payments.
- Supports Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.
- Elite tier offers 0% FX on 13 main currencies.
The catches
- Elite tier requires Swiss residency and CHF 100,000 assets.
- Monthly fees up to CHF 39 for the Elite tier.
- Crypto payments incur an additional ~1% trading fee.
- 1% FX fee on weekends, even for Elite tier.
Limitations
- majorCard not available to US or Canadian residents
- majorElite tier is currently reserved for Swiss residents only
- moderateElite tier requires minimum CHF 100,000 in total assets
- moderateHigher tiers require monthly fees (Bright: CHF 6.90/month, Elite: CHF 39/month)
- moderateCrypto payments incur Swissquote's standard crypto trading fee (typically ~1%)
- moderateWeekend/holiday FX fees apply even on Elite tier (1% on 13 main currencies)
- moderateLimited physical card availability compared to account opening eligibility
- minorLight tier has lower spending limits (CHF/EUR/USD 10,000 monthly)
What users say
Mixed feedback - some praise flexibility for Swiss banking services without residency requirements, others report disappointing experiences
Rating breakdown
See our methodology for how we score each axis.