What is a Payment Card?
The Payment Card is a crypto card you can use to pay anywhere Mastercard is accepted. It also works with Apple Pay and Google Pay.
The card currency is USD, but you can pay in any currency — conversion from USD is handled automatically.
Available card types:
Card type | Plus | Premium |
Best for | Everyday spending: groceries, dining, retail, and online purchases | High-volume and large transactions that require higher limits |
Issuance fee | $19 | $25 |
Per-transaction limit | $1,000 | $10,000 |
Daily limit | $3,000 | $50,000 |
Monthly limit | $10,000 | $400,000 |
You can have up to 2 active cards at the same time.
How does the Payment Card work?
You top up your card manually from your internal USDT wallet.
The transferred crypto is converted to USD at the bank's exchange rate and stored on your card balance.
Each transaction is charged in USD from your card balance. Conversion from USD to the purchase currency is handled automatically.
Card issuance and top-up deposits typically take 3–5 minutes.
How to get and activate a Payment Card?
Go to the "Payment Card" section and click "Get a Payment Card."
Select your card type — Plus or Premium.
Top up your card.
Minimum first top-up amount: $20.
Top-up fee: 1.5%.
$15 of your top-up will be held as a security reserve in case of card closure.
This hold is released automatically once your total card spending exceeds $2,500. The remaining balance is available for payments and transfers right away.
After topping up the card, complete identity verification in the window that opens if you have not done it previously. This step is mandatory.
After successful identity verification and top-up, the Payment Card is automatically activated and ready for use.
If your identity verification isn’t approved, try again with a different document. If document processing takes longer than 30 minutes, contact support via in-app chat, on the website, or by email at [email protected]
How to add your Payment Card to Apple Pay or Google Pay
Open the app:
Google Wallet: Download it from Google Play and open it.
Apple Wallet: Open Wallet on your iPhone, or open the Watch app on Apple Watch.
Add the card:
Tap "Add Card" → choose "Payment Card / Credit or Debit Card."
❗️For Apple Wallet, depending on your selected App Store region, you may need to scroll to the very bottom of the list of banks and select “Add a Different Card.”
Enter the details manually or scan them with the camera. Check the cardholder name, expiration date, and CVV.
Select a verification method — make sure to choose email.
Complete verification:
Enter the verification code you received by email and wait for the "Card added" confirmation.
❗️When adding a card, you may see a message asking you to complete additional verification by calling the bank. There’s no need to call — just contact our support team via in-app chat, on the website, or by email at [email protected], and we’ll help you complete the process.
How to pay:
Google Wallet: Unlock your phone, hold it near the terminal, and wait for confirmation.
Apple Pay: Double-press the side button (on iPhone/Watch), authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode, then hold the device near the terminal.
Fees (Plus & Premium)
Operation | Fee |
Card issuance | $19 (Plus) / $25 (Premium) |
Monthly maintenance | $5 |
Top-up | 1.5% of the amount |
Purchase | 1.5% + $0.50 per transaction |
Declined transaction | $1.50 |
Refund | $0.50 |
Reversal | $2.00 |
Card closure | $15, or free if total card spending is ≥ $2,500 |
Chargeback | $35 |
How the purchase fee works: each transaction is charged at 1.5% of the purchase amount plus a flat $0.50 fee.
Are there limits on using the Payment Card?
Card type | Per transaction | Daily | Monthly |
Plus | $1,000 | $3,000 | $10,000 |
Premium | $10,000 | $50,000 | $400,000 |
If you regularly reach your Plus limits, consider upgrading to Premium.
Card availability
Our Payment Card works in all countries where the Mastercard payment system is accepted. List of countries where Mastercard is accepted
There are additional restrictions, payments are not available in the following countries: Afghanistan, Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Russia, Myanmar, Somalia, Ukraine, Yemen, China.
Where the Payment Card is supported?
❗️We cannot provide a precise and exhaustive list of services that support payments with our card.
However, below is a list of the most popular services where users have successfully made purchases using our card.
Online marketplaces: AliExpress, Amazon, eBay, Taobao, Temu, Joom, iHerb, Shein
Insurance: Genki World
Digital tools & software: AppStore, Figma, GitHub, JetBrains, Unity, Envato, Italki, OpenRouter, Tilda
Esim: EsimPlus, Airalo, Nomad
Travel & accommodation: Booking.com, Airbnb, http://Trip.com
Fashion, beauty & retail: Zara, Uniqlo, H&M, Massimo Dutti, Calvin Klein, Oysho, Hollister, Harvey Nichols, Sephora, New Yorker, Lidl, Circle K, 7-Eleven
Food & restaurants: KFC, McDonalds, Burger King, Joe & The Juice, Joe the Juice, Eataly, Eataly Miami, Haagen-Dazs, Paris Baguette, Dodo Pizza
Users around the world use our card. Payments with our card have already been successfully made in Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, the UAE, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Germany, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Serbia, Georgia, the United States, Argentina, Mexico, the Maldives, and Hong Kong.
My payment is declined. Why?
If a payment doesn't go through, first check that your card balance has sufficient funds. If the balance is fine, do not retry the same transaction multiple times — this may trigger temporary restrictions on your card.
The card is designed for everyday purchases: groceries, cafés and restaurants, retail stores, online shopping, movie tickets, and payments via Apple Pay / Google Pay.
The following categories are not supported:
Gas stations and fuel terminals
Taxi and ride-hailing services (Uber, Bolt, Grab, etc.)
AI service subscriptions
Money transfers
Crypto exchanges and quasi-cash transactions
Gambling, lotteries, and betting
Brokerage and investment services
Cash withdrawals and ATMs
Dating services, massage parlors
Bail bond payments
Entertainment services other than cinemas and theaters
⚠️ Important — do not retry failed payments
Three consecutive declined attempts may result in your card being suspended, frozen, or closed by the issuer. Each declined transaction incurs a $1.50 fee
If a payment doesn't go through, contact support for details via in-app chat, on the website, or by email at [email protected].
Why is my Payment card blocked?
If you see a message that your card is blocked, it means that the card is temporarily restricted. In this case:
you cannot make payments
you cannot top up the card
card details are not available
The most common reasons for blocking are:
a high number of declined payments in a row
suspicious activity
attempts to make payments in unsupported categories (for example, subscriptions or certain services)
If your card has been blocked, contact support via chat in the app, on the website, or by email at [email protected].
How to avoid declines
A declined payment is when a transaction does not go through.
This may happen if:
the service or its category is not supported (for example, subscriptions or certain services)
there are regional restrictions
the payment is declined by the merchant
there are too many repeated attempts
To reduce the risk of card blocking:
do not repeat the same payment multiple times in a row
if a payment is not going through, contact support team to clarify the reason
keep in mind that some services and regions may not be supported
try making the payment through a different service
Frequent declined payments may lead to temporary card blocking.
Frequently asked questions about the Payment Card
👇 Click the arrow to expand the answer
How do I top up my Payment Card?
How do I top up my Payment Card?
Go to the "Payment Card section," open your card menu, and click "Top up."
What types of Payment Cards are available?
What types of Payment Cards are available?
Currently, we only offer virtual cards — Plus and Premium.
What happens when my Payment Card expires?
What happens when my Payment Card expires?
The card is valid for 2 years. Once it expires, you'll need to open a new card with a new card number.
What fees apply?
What fees apply?
Fee details for Plus and Premium cards are available at the top of this article.
How does currency conversion from USD to the payment currency work?
How does currency conversion from USD to the payment currency work?
Currency conversion is processed at the payment network's exchange rate on the settlement date, which may differ from the transaction date. For purchases made in a currency other than USD, a 3% conversion fee may apply — this fee is set by the issuing bank and may vary based on its policies and market conditions.
Is identity verification required?
Is identity verification required?
Yes, identity verification is required to get a Payment Card and make transactions. The process only takes a few minutes — you'll need a valid government-issued ID.
How many active Payment Cards can I have at the same time?
How many active Payment Cards can I have at the same time?
You can have up to 2 active cards at the same time.
How can I view my Payment Card details?
How can I view my Payment Card details?
Go to the "Payment Card" section and click "Show" next to the eye icon.
Can I set spending limits?
Can I set spending limits?
At the moment, this feature isn’t available.
Is there an annual or monthly fee for the Payment Card?
Is there an annual or monthly fee for the Payment Card?
Yes, the monthly maintenance fee is $5.
How can I view my transaction history?
How can I view my transaction history?
You can find all transaction details in the "Payment Card" section, then see the "Transaction history" area.
What happens if my EMCD account is blocked?
What happens if my EMCD account is blocked?
The Payment Card will remain active, but all operations will be unavailable until the account is unblocked.
What should I do if I lose access to my Payment Card? What should I do if I notice transactions I didn’t authorize?
What should I do if I lose access to my Payment Card? What should I do if I notice transactions I didn’t authorize?
Freeze your Payment Card via your EMCD account or by contacting support (you can reach us through the app, on the emcd.io website, or by email at [email protected]).
Be sure to report the loss of access or any suspicious transactions to support so we can initiate the Payment Card reissue process.
How can I close my Payment Card?
How can I close my Payment Card?
Contact support and request to close your Payment Card.
The closure fee is $15, waived if your total card spending is ≥ $2,500. Your remaining USD balance will be converted to USDT and credited to your main EMCD account.
The card may be closed by the issuing bank unilaterally if:
The card balance is 20 USD or less;
There have been no transactions on the card for more than 30 consecutive days.
Can I withdraw cash from ATMs?
Can I withdraw cash from ATMs?
No, the Payment Card does not currently support cash withdrawals.
Can I make fiat transfers from the Payment Card?
Can I make fiat transfers from the Payment Card?
No, fiat transfers are not available for the Payment Card.
Can I withdraw USDT from the Payment Card back to my EMCD account?
Can I withdraw USDT from the Payment Card back to my EMCD account?
There is no withdrawal option — your balance is only refunded when the card is closed.
3D Secure
3D Secure
Our card operates in a 3D Secure–free format. With most merchants, transactions are processed automatically without additional confirmation.
If a merchant requires mandatory 3D Secure authentication, the payment will not go through, as 3D Secure and code-based verification are not supported. In this case, we recommend choosing an alternative payment method.
Is a PIN code required to pay with the Payment Card?
Is a PIN code required to pay with the Payment Card?
A PIN code is not required for online payments or when paying via Apple Pay or Google Pay.
In some cases, certain in-store terminals may incorrectly request a PIN code. If this happens, you can try entering 1234. If the payment still does not go through, please do not retry the transaction on the same terminal and use an alternative payment method to avoid a temporary card block.
Can I top up the Payment Card using a card number?
Can I top up the Payment Card using a card number?
No, it is not possible to top up the card using a card number.
Why is my card blocked/Why is my payment not going through?
Why is my card blocked/Why is my payment not going through?
If your payment is not going through or your card appears to be blocked, it does not necessarily mean there is an issue with your Payment Card. Below are the most common reasons:
1. Insufficient funds
Make sure your card balance is sufficient, taking into account fees and possible currency conversion.
2. Unsupported merchant
Some services or merchant categories may not be supported by the card issuer. In such cases, the payment will be declined.
3. 3D Secure request
Our cards operate without SMS code verification. If a merchant requires mandatory 3D Secure authentication, the payment may be declined.
4. Multiple consecutive attempts
Several unsuccessful attempts to pay for the same purchase may result in a temporary card block.
5. Country or currency restrictions
Some merchants do not accept cards issued by banks from certain regions or only support local currencies.
If none of the above applies, please contact support team. We will check the transaction and help you resolve the issue.
Will I get my $15 back once I spend over $2,500?
Will I get my $15 back once I spend over $2,500?
Yes — once your total spending exceeds $2,500, the $15 hold is automatically released back to your card balance.