Zero annual fee. 1% cashback on everything. 5% interest on your balance. Here is everything you need to know about Pionex Card.
Your money should work as hard as you do. Spend it, earn on it, and never pay to hold it.
Most crypto cards make big promises. Look closely and you find the 8% cashback requires staking $4,000 worth of a token you do not want. The zero-fee card charges 2% on every international purchase. The physical card costs $50 to issue. The rewards expire. The fine print fills three pages.
Pionex Card is built differently. No staking. No annual fee. No issuance fee. No token to hold. Just a crypto debit card that gives you 1% back in USDT on every eligible purchase and pays 5% APR on whatever balance is sitting in your account. It works in more than 100 countries, supports Apple Pay and Google Pay, and takes about five minutes to set up if you already have a Pionex account.
This article covers how the card actually works, every fee you need to know about, how it compares to the main alternatives, and which regions it is available in.
Have a question not covered here? The Pionex Support Centre has answered more of your possible questions elaborately HERE.
Contents
How Pionex Card Works
Pionex Card connects directly to your Pionex account. You hold USDT, you spend USDT. There is no conversion to a bank account, no waiting for fiat to settle, and no currency mismatch to manage. When you pay at a merchant, your USDT balance covers it.
You can use the card anywhere Visa or Mastercard is accepted, which covers the vast majority of online and in-store merchants globally. Add it to Apple Pay or Google Pay and your phone becomes your wallet.
Two versions are available:
- Pionex Visa Card: 1% foreign exchange fee on non-USD purchases, fully offset by the 1% cashback. Spending limits of $10,000 per transaction, $10,000 per day, and $50,000 per month.
- Pionex Mastercard: 2% foreign exchange fee on non-USD purchases, partially offset by 1% cashback. Higher limits of $20,000 per transaction, $20,000 per day, and $100,000 per month.
For most users, the Visa card is the better pick. The 1% cashback wipes out the 1% FX fee entirely, making international spending effectively free on that front. The Mastercard’s higher limits are useful if you are spending at volume.
| One thing to know before you start: Your Pionex Card account is separate from your main exchange account. You transfer USDT into the card account before spending. Funds in the card account cannot run trading bots. Think of it as your spending wallet, separate from your trading wallet. |
What It Costs (And What It Does Not)
Card Fees
- Virtual card application: Free
- Physical card application: Free (currently by invitation only)
- Physical card delivery: Free
- Card replacement: Free
- Card renewal: Free, automatic on expiration
- Annual fee: Free
- Account inactivity fee: Free
- Card cancellation: Free, including theft or damage replacements
- Deposit fee: Free
Transaction Fees
- USD/USDT purchases: No fee. The exchange rate between USD and USDT is fixed at 1:1.
- Non-USD purchases (Visa): 1% FX fee. Offset by 1% cashback on eligible transactions.
- Non-USD purchases (Mastercard): 2% FX fee. 1% cashback applies.
- Crypto conversions: 1% fee.
- ATM withdrawals: 2% fee, applied by the Visa network. Cashback does not apply to ATM withdrawals.
Small Transaction Fees
For any transaction of 1 USD or less:
- First 1 small transaction per person per month: Free
- Additional small transactions: 0.2 USDT each
- Transactions above 1 USD: not subject to this fee
Failed Payment Fees
Most failed payments are free. A few specific cases have a fee:
- Authorization timeout or system maintenance failures: Free, always
- Failures at unsupported merchants: 0.5 USDT per transaction (first failure per merchant is free)
- Other failures: first 1 per person per month is free, then 0.5 USDT each
Common reasons a payment might fail: wrong card details, unsupported merchant, insufficient balance, frozen card.
Spending Limits
Visa Card (updated April 2026):
- Per transaction: 10,000 USD
- Daily: 10,000 USD
- Monthly: 50,000 USD
- ATM daily: 3,000 USD
- ATM monthly: 7,000 USD
- ATM withdrawal count: Unlimited
Mastercard:
- Per transaction: 20,000 USD
- Daily: 20,000 USD
- Monthly: 100,000 USD
Need higher limits? Contact Pionex Support and they can review an increase for your account. ATM limits currently cannot be adjusted.
Dispute Fees
- Appeal Application Fee: 50 USDT per case. This applies whether you win or lose the appeal.
- Visa Arbitration Fee: 600 USDT per case, charged only if arbitration is lost. If you win, 600 USDT is unfrozen in your main account.
| Before you raise a dispute : Always contact Pionex Support first and try to resolve the issue directly with the merchant. The 50 USDT appeal fee is non-refundable. Only escalate to Visa Arbitration when the amount at stake clearly justifies the risk of the 600 USDT fee. |
The Two Features That Makes The Pionex Card Stand Out
a) 1% Cashback With No Cap
Every eligible purchase earns 1% back in USDT, credited directly to your card account. Not points. Not vouchers. Not rewards that expire in 90 days. Real USDT, every time.
There is no monthly cap. If you spend $10,000 in a month, you get $100 back. If you spend $50,000, you get $500 back. The rate does not change based on your tier or how much of a native token you hold.
A small number of merchant categories are excluded, including eToro, TikTok, and Wise. The full exclusion list is in the Pionex app under the Cashback Programme Guidelines.
b) 5% APR on Your Card Balance
This is the feature that sets Pionex Card apart from every other crypto card we are aware of.
Whatever USDT is sitting in your card account earns 5% annual interest. It accrues continuously. There is no lock-up, no staking requirement, and no minimum balance beyond the 100 USDT needed to apply. You can transfer funds out whenever you want.
If you keep $1,000 in your card account as a spending buffer, that $1,000 is earning $50 a year just by being there. If you keep $5,000, it is earning $250 a year.
The rate is subject to change, so check the current figure in the app before making plans based on it. But as a feature that no equivalent card currently offers at this tier, it is genuinely significant.
The Real Cost of Spending: A Practical Example
Here is what it actually costs to spend $500 at an international merchant using your Pionex Visa Card.
- Transaction amount: $500 USD equivalent
- 1% FX fee applied at checkout: $5.00 USDT reserved
- 1% cashback credited after purchase: $5.00 USDT returned
- Net FX cost: $0
- 5% APR on $1,000 card balance buffer: approximately $0.14 per day, $4.11 per month
Compare that to a card charging 1.5% FX with no cashback. On $500 that is $7.50 gone. On $5,000 a month that is $75. On $50,000 a month that is $750. The numbers add up quickly for anyone spending regularly.
| Keep a buffer: Maintain 3-5% more than your expected spend amount in your card account. At the point of purchase, Pionex reserves the FX fee plus any applicable small transaction fees before confirming the transaction. Running too close to zero can cause declines even when your balance looks sufficient. |
How to Get Pionex Card
Getting the card takes a few minutes if your account is already verified.
- Open the Pionex app and tap Wallet, then select the Card tab
- Tap Apply Now and choose Visa or Mastercard
- The system checks your eligibility automatically. You need KYC Level 2 complete and at least 100 USDT in your account
- Enter your cardholder details
- Review and tap Confirm Submission
Your virtual card is issued immediately. Add it to Apple Pay or Google Pay for in-store use, or use the card details for online purchases right away.
See step-by-step instructions: How to Apply for Pionex Card.
Where Pionex Card Works
Pionex Card is available in more than 100 countries. It is particularly popular across Southeast Asia and Europe, with strong user bases in Malaysia, Singapore, Germany, Spain, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and Poland.
Southeast Asia
This is Pionex’s home market and where the card sees the heaviest use. Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines are all supported. If you are based here and holding USDT from trading activity, Pionex Card gives you a direct, low-friction path to using it in daily life.
Europe
Germany, Spain, Poland, Belarus, and the United Kingdom are among the supported European markets, along with others across the continent. The card’s zero-effective-FX-fee model on Visa is particularly valuable here for users who travel across currencies regularly.
Middle East and Beyond
Pionex Card covers select countries in the Middle East and other regions globally.
Where It Is Not Available
The Pionex Card is currently not available in:
- United States
- China and Hong Kong
- France, Austria, Japan
- Sanctioned regions including Iran, North Korea, Crimea, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Venezuela, Yemen, Afghanistan, DR Congo, and Zimbabwe
For the full current list, see List of Unsupported Countries.
How Pionex Card Compares To Others
There are four crypto debit cards that come up most often in the same conversation as Pionex Card: RedotPay, Bybit Card, and KAST. Here is how they stack up on the features that actually matter day to day.
| Feature | Pionex Visa Card | RedotPay | Bybit Card | KAST Card |
| Annual Fee | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Issuance Fee | Free | $25-$50 (physical) | Free | Free |
| FX Fee | 1% (offset by 1% cashback) | 0% standard tier | 0.5%-7% by region | Approx. 1% |
| Cashback | 1% USDT, no cap | None | Up to 10%* (VIP only) | 6% seasonal |
| Interest on Balance | 5% APR, no lock-up | None | None | None |
| Physical Card | By invitation (free) | Yes ($25-$50) | Yes (free) | Yes (free) |
| Apple / Google Pay | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ATM Fee | 2% | Fee applies | Fee applies | Fee applies |
| Dispute / Appeal Fee | 50 USDT + 600 USDT if arbitration lost | $50 chargeback | Varies | Varies |
| Staking Required | No | No | No | No |
| Min. to Apply | 100 USDT + KYC L2 | KYC only | Bybit account | Account required |
| Daily Spend Limit | 10,000 USD | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Monthly Spend Limit | 50,000 USD | Varies | Varies | Varies |
* Bybit Card’s 10% cashback is for Supreme VIP users only. Standard account holders are capped at $10 per month, which works out to roughly 1-2% depending on spend volume.
Pionex Card vs RedotPay
RedotPay is probably the most direct competitor. It has zero FX fees at the standard tier, which sounds great until you notice there is no cashback and no interest on your balance. You are not paying the FX fee, but you are also not earning anything back.
Pionex Visa’s 1% FX fee is offset by 1% cashback on eligible purchases, so you end up at the same net zero on FX cost, plus you are collecting 5% APR on your balance. RedotPay charges $25-$50 for a physical card. Pionex physical cards are free, though currently by invitation only.
RedotPay does have a broader physical card rollout and in some regions stronger merchant acceptance. If a physical card is essential to you right now and you cannot wait for an invitation, that matters. For everyone else, Pionex wins on total return.
Pionex Card vs Bybit Card
Bybit Card’s headline number is 10% cashback. The reality for most users is a $10 per month cap, which is less impressive when your monthly spend is in the thousands. FX fees on Bybit Card range from 0.5% in the EEA to 7% in parts of South America, and the meaningful cashback rates require VIP status that most users do not have.
Pionex Card offers a simpler, more predictable deal. 1% back on everything, no cap, no tier requirements.
Pionex Card vs KAST
KAST Card runs seasonal reward programmes that change each quarter, currently offering 6% in their Season 5 scheme. Seasonal programmes introduce uncertainty. Rates change, seasons end, and converting MOVE tokens to real spending value adds steps. Pionex Card’s USDT cashback is immediate and straightforward.
KAST does not offer savings interest on the card balance. Pionex does. That is a meaningful difference if you carry any balance between spending periods.
How the Pionex Card Fees Have Changed Overtime
Pionex publishes every fee change publicly. Here is the full history since launch:
- September 2025: First version of the fee schedule published.
- October 2025: Small Payment Fee introduced at 0.2 USDT per transaction under $1 USD, with the first 5 per month free.
- October 2025: Failed Payment Fee introduced at 0.5 USDT per failed transaction, with the first 5 per month free.
- February 3, 2026: Mastercard transaction fee rate increased from 1% to 2%. Small Payment free quota reduced from 5 to 1 per month.
- February 6, 2026: Failed Payment free quota reduced from 5 to 1 per month. Unsupported merchant failures now charged at 0.5 USDT, with the first failure per merchant remaining free.
- April 17, 2026: Visa Card spending and ATM limits updated to current levels.
Yes, some fees have tightened since launch. The small transaction and failed payment free quotas dropped from 5 to 1 per month, and the Mastercard FX fee doubled. That is worth knowing. At the same time, the core value proposition has stayed intact: no annual fee, 1% cashback with no cap, and 5% APR on your balance. Those have not changed.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Pionex Card
My balance shows 100 USDT but my $99 purchase was declined. Why?
At checkout, Pionex reserves the transaction amount plus the applicable FX fee and any small transaction fee upfront. A $99 purchase in a non-USD currency would require approximately 99 x 1.01 + 0.2 = 100.19 USDT. Keep a 3-5% buffer in your card account to avoid this.
A transaction failed but money left my account. What happens?
This is a pre-authorisation hold from the merchant. If the payment ultimately failed, the amount will be refunded within 15 business days. You can try the transaction again once the refund clears.
Why did my card get declined at a particular merchant?
Some merchants do not accept crypto-based payment methods due to their own risk policies. Check your Recent Transactions in the app (More, then Card, then your card type). If no transaction record appears, the merchant rejected the card before any charge was attempted.
Is the 5% APR locked in?
The rate is subject to change. Check the current figure in the Pionex app. The rate has been stable, but it is not guaranteed permanently at 5%.
When can I get a physical card?
Physical cards are currently available by invitation. There is no waiting list to sign up for publicly. When invitations open up, Pionex announces it through official channels. Your virtual card works everywhere in the meantime, including on Apple Pay and Google Pay.
What if I need to dispute a transaction?
Contact Pionex Support first. If that does not resolve it and you need to raise a formal appeal, the fee is 50 USDT per case regardless of outcome. If it escalates to Visa Arbitration and you lose, the fee is 600 USDT. Win the arbitration and 600 USDT is returned to your main account. Do the maths before escalating.
Does the cashback apply to every purchase?
It applies to most eligible purchases. ATM withdrawals are excluded, as are a small number of specific merchants including eToro, TikTok, and Wise. Check the Cashback Programme Guidelines in the app for the current exclusion list.
The Bottom Line
Crypto cards have a habit of looking better in the headline than they do in the small print. Pionex Card is one of the few that holds up when you actually read through everything.
No annual fee. No staking requirement. 1% cashback in real USDT with no cap. 5% APR on whatever you keep in the account. The Visa card’s FX fee nets to zero once cashback is applied. The fee schedule is public and the changelog is there for anyone to read.
If you are already using Pionex to trade, adding the card is a straightforward decision. If you are new to Pionex and looking for a crypto card that does not penalise you for not holding a specific token or maintaining VIP status, this is worth a serious look.
“Every dollar you spend should earn something. Every dollar you hold should too. That is the idea behind Pionex Card.”
Ready to apply? Start HERE: Have questions? The Pionex Support Centre is open around the clock.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency involves risk. Fee rates, limits, and product terms may change. Always verify current information directly with Pionex before making any decisions. Pionex reserves the right to amend fees and limits at any time.
