Updated October 17, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Kraken vs Wirex Card
Kraken
Higher score in this comparison
Wirex Card
Kraken vs Wirex Card: the differences
| Compare | KrakenReviewVisitVisit | Wirex CardReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | €0 | $0 |
| Cashback rate | 2% | 0.5% to 8%Higher |
| Card network | Mastercard | Visa |
| Currencies | 600 | from 150 |
| Free ATM withdrawals | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Custody | Not confirmed | Self custody |
Same on both: Currency conversion fee (0%), Card type (Debit).
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Key differences
- Kraken scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.1.
- Founded is lower at Kraken: 2011 vs 2014.
- Wirex Card is licensed in 2 more countries.
- Cashback rate is higher at Wirex Card: 0.5% to 8% vs 2%.
- Support channels: only Wirex Card offers Email, Community.
- Features: only Wirex Card offers Self custody.
Our verdict on each
Kraken
Kraken pairs a crypto wallet with a debit card that charges €0 a month and 0% for currency conversion, which suits people already holding digital assets and spending across currencies. Overall the card scores 7.3, with the offer side ahead of the cost side.
Wirex Card
Wirex Card suits business users and frequent travellers abroad who want crypto spending on a multi-currency card, with a currency conversion fee of 0% and a monthly fee of $0. Self-custody, from 150 currencies and cashback of 0.5% to 8% add pull, though free ATM withdrawals are $0.
Score breakdown
| Area | Kraken | Wirex Card |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.4The monthly fee is €0 and the currency conversion fee is 0%, both at the bottom of the site spread. | 9.4Holds rank 1 on monthly fee and 1 on currency conversion, with fees of $0 a month and 0%. |
| Offer | 9.4HigherCashback of 2%, a virtual card, crypto, multi currency and travel and balances in 600 currencies give the offer its edge. | 9.2 |
| Trust | 8.9Higher | 8.7 |
How they place
| Ranking | Kraken | Wirex Card |
|---|---|---|
| Debit cards | 22 of 1336 | 30 of 1336 |
| Travel cards | 14 of 443 | 19 of 443 |
| No foreign transaction fee cards | 6 of 111 | 7 of 111 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Kraken | Wirex Card |
|---|---|---|
| El Salvador | Not confirmed | |
| Ireland | Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) MiCA CASP 9845003D98SCC2851458 IE_CBI PSD_EMI IE_CBI!C453020 | Not confirmed |
| Malta | Not confirmed | |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | Financial Conduct Authority FRN 902025 |
A third option
PUMB has cashback rate at 20%, against 2% for Kraken and 0.5% to 8% for Wirex Card.
PUMB reviewWhere these facts come from
Kraken
- krak.app: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- coingecko.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- support.kraken.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Wirex Card
- wirexapp.com: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Kraken | Wirex Card |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Multi currency, Travel, Virtual card | Multi currency, Crypto, Virtual card, Self custody, TravelCovers more |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Legal entity | Payward Europe Solutions Limited | Wirex Limited |
| Headquarters | Ireland | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2011Lower | 2014 |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Kraken | Wirex Card | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | 0%below the median | 1% |
| Free ATM withdrawals | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Cashback rate | 2%at the median | 0.5% to 8%highest quarter | 2% |
| Currencies | 600highest quarter | from 150highest quarter | 8 |
Median across 387 listed cards.
Pros and cons
Kraken
Pros
- The monthly fee is €0 and the currency conversion fee is 0%, so travel spending adds no conversion cost.
- Cashback of 2% rewards ordinary card spend.
- Balances span 600 currencies and crypto, multi currency and travel covers crypto, multi-currency, travel and a virtual card.
Cons
- Support runs on chat and help centre, with no phone number in the list.
- It is a debit card, so spending stops at the balance held and no credit record is built.
Wirex Card
Pros
- Currency conversion costs 0% on a debit card, so spending in another currency adds no extra cost.
- The monthly fee is $0 and the account supports from 150 currencies on the visa network.
- Self-custody and a virtual card are both listed features, alongside crypto spending and travel use.
Cons
- Free ATM withdrawals are $0, so cash machine visits cost extra; the card ranks 41 of 115 on that measure.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, so there is no phone line for urgent problems.
- Cashback of 0.5% to 8% moves with the tier reached, so the headline rate is not guaranteed.
Who each suits
Kraken
Who it suits
- People who already hold crypto and want a card that spends it.
- Readers paid in several currencies who convert at a 0% conversion fee.
- Travellers who want crypto, multi currency and travel covered by one card.
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise, for a multi-currency account rather than a crypto wallet: its monthly fee is £0.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, if the aim is building a credit record with a secured card rather than spending digital assets.
- Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card), for a secured Visa credit card with a $0 monthly fee.
Wirex Card
Who it suits
- Businesses and freelancers paying in several currencies each month.
- Readers who want to spend crypto while keeping custody of their own funds.
- Travellers who want a virtual card for online bookings and a physical debit card for daily spending.
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise, whose monthly fee is £0, for anyone who wants a multi-currency account that keeps no crypto balance.
- Starling Personal Account Debit Card, with £0 a month, for straightforward current account banking rather than crypto spending.
- Bitpanda, whose monthly fee is €0, for readers who want a crypto card and not the business focus listed for Wirex.
Current offers
Wirex Card
Current offer
Discount code
50% subscription rebates on Wirex One card: 50% back in USD on eligible subscriptions (Uber One, ChatGPT Plus, Claude Pro, Perplexity Pro, Whoop, Bloomberg, Financial Times)
Pay for eligible subscriptions using the Wirex One card; rebate capped at the standard plan price for each service; tiers unlock more subscriptions
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Up to 8% cashback on every purchase: 0.5% to 8% back in USD depending on membership tier
Every eligible purchase earns between 0.5% and 8% back in USD depending on tier; credited to Rewards Balance on transaction clearance
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Wirex Exclusive Rewards Portal: Up to 16% cashback shopping online with 100+ partner retailers
Via the cashback portal at cashback.wirexapp.com
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
Kraken
What does the Kraken card cost each month and abroad?+
The monthly fee is €0 and the currency conversion fee is 0%. Because the card type is debit, there is no revolving balance to pay interest on. It holds position 1 of 419 on monthly fee and position 1 of 259 on currency conversion.
Who regulates Kraken, and where is the entity based?+
The card runs through Payward Europe Solutions Limited, based in Ireland and listed with the Central Bank of Ireland under MiCA CASP 9845003D98SCC2851458 for crypto services, plus an electronic money licence recorded as PSD_EMI IE_CBI!C453020. The exchange itself was founded in 2011.
Wirex Card
What does it cost to hold a Wirex Card?+
The monthly fee is $0 and the currency conversion fee is 0%, so holding the card and converting money both cost nothing. Cash machine withdrawals are the exception and are billed separately, so allow for a charge each time if you rely on cash in hand.
Will I pay a foreign transaction fee abroad?+
The currency conversion fee is 0%, so there is no charge for converting on the card. The account supports from 150 currencies, which lets you hold and spend in the currency of the place you are in instead of paying a conversion cost on every purchase.