Coinbase Card Review: Fees, Limits and How It Works, From the Cardholder Agreement
Coinbase Card review from its CFPB-filed cardholder agreement: prepaid Visa issued by Pathward, $0 card fees, daily limits and how crypto becomes dollars.
This Coinbase Card review is a factual walkthrough of the card’s terms as set out in its cardholder agreement, which is filed in the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) prepaid agreements database with an effective date of September 2022. Under that agreement, the Coinbase Card is a prepaid Visa card issued by Pathward, National Association, that draws US dollars from your linked Coinbase account when you pay. Terms may have changed since September 2022, so treat every figure below as the position at that date and check Coinbase’s current terms before you apply.
We rely only on the filed agreement and the CFPB database entry. There are no ratings here, just what the document says about fees, limits, funding, conversion and who can hold the card.
Who Issues the Card
The card is not issued by Coinbase itself. The agreement names three parties:
- Issuer: Pathward, National Association, a federally chartered bank and FDIC member, which issues the card under a licence from Visa U.S.A.
- Program manager: Marqeta, Inc., which handles certain card services on Pathward’s behalf.
- Coinbase: Coinbase Inc., which runs the linked Coinbase account the agreement calls the Coinbase Wallet. That account has its own separate terms.
The CFPB database lists the product as a general purpose reloadable (GPR) prepaid card with Marqeta as program manager, and showed its status as active when we checked in October 2026. The same entry shows an earlier agreement dated April 2022.
How the Card Works
Under the agreement, purchases and ATM withdrawals are funded from your Coinbase account at the moment you make them.
- You make a purchase. By starting the transaction, you authorise Pathward and Coinbase to move the needed amount in US dollars from your Coinbase account to the card, plus any card fees.
- Your spending currency is converted. The fee schedule says funds in your chosen spending currency are turned into US dollars at the trading rate then current on Coinbase’s own trading platform.
- The payment goes through, or is declined. If your Coinbase account does not hold enough to cover the purchase and fees, the transaction is declined and nothing is loaded.
ATM withdrawals follow the same pattern. Refunds and chargebacks credited to the card are moved straight back to your Coinbase account, according to the agreement. Our guide to the crypto card exchange rate explains how this kind of conversion compares with other cards.
Fees in the Agreement
The agreement’s full fee schedule, which it calls the Long Form, lists the following card fees in the version on file with the CFPB as of October 2026 (effective September 2022):
| Fee | Amount | Notes in the agreement |
|---|---|---|
| Card purchase | $0 | |
| Monthly fee | $0 | |
| Funding from Coinbase account | $0 | |
| Card transactions | $0 | |
| Currency conversion from Coinbase account | $0 | Converted at Coinbase’s trading platform rate |
| ATM withdrawal | $0 | ATM operator and Coinbase may charge separately |
| ATM balance inquiry | $0 | ATM operator may charge |
| International transactions | $0 | |
| International ATM withdrawal | $0 | ATM operator may charge, even with no withdrawal |
| Customer service | $0 |
Two points sit outside that table. First, the agreement says Coinbase’s own currency conversion fees may apply to transfers to and from your Coinbase account under the Coinbase User Agreement, which reduces the balance available to spend. Second, ATM operators can add their own charges. A $0 card fee therefore does not mean every payment costs nothing. Our crypto card fees guide lists the charges to check on any card.
Limits
The agreement on file with the CFPB as of October 2026 (effective September 2022) sets these limits. It adds that third parties may impose further limits.
| Limit | Amount |
|---|---|
| Maximum card balance | $9,999.99 |
| Reloads | $5,000 per 24 hours; 2 per 24 hours, 4 per 7 days, 10 per 30 days |
| Cash withdrawals (ATM or over the counter) | No more than $1,000 per 24 hours |
| Number of cash withdrawals | Three from each, no more than six per day |
| Point-of-sale purchases | $2,500 signature, $2,500 PIN, $2,500 total per 24 hours |
The $2,500 daily cap applies to all point-of-sale purchases, signature and PIN combined.
Other Ways Money Reaches the Card
Besides pulling from your Coinbase account at the moment of purchase, the agreement allows direct deposits by ACH, such as payroll or federal benefits paid to the main cardholder. These deposits are swept to your Coinbase account as soon as Pathward receives them. If a deposit later has to be returned, you agree that the amount can be taken back from your Coinbase account.
All transfers between the card and the Coinbase account are in US dollars, whatever currency the account holds. The card has no overdraft or credit feature, and you earn no interest on the card balance.
Who Can Get It
To use and activate the card under the agreement, you must:
- be at least 18 years old;
- be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States;
- give accurate personal information and accept the agreement.
As part of identity checks, you are asked for your name, street address and date of birth, and may be asked for a driver’s licence or other documents. The card is for personal, family or household use, not for business. If your address changes to one outside the US, the card may be cancelled.
A virtual card is available through the Coinbase app once you have activated the physical card.
Protections and Disputes
- Lost or stolen card. Under the agreement, your loss is capped at $50 if you report within 2 business days of learning of it, and can reach $500 if you report later and the issuer shows it could have stopped the misuse.
- Visa Zero Liability. The agreement says this Visa policy may add protection for US-issued Visa cards, with exclusions such as ATM transactions.
- Deposit insurance. The Long Form says card funds held at or moved to Pathward are FDIC-insured up to $250,000 if Pathward fails and specific requirements are met. The note refers to card funds at Pathward.
- Errors. You can report errors up to 60 days after the relevant history is available, and the issuer generally has 10 business days to investigate, or up to 45 days with a provisional credit.
- Arbitration. The agreement contains a binding arbitration clause and a jury trial waiver. You can opt out of arbitration by written notice within 60 days of buying the card.
Pros and Cons as Stated in the Agreement
| Factual pluses | Factual limits |
|---|---|
| $0 listed card fees, including monthly, transaction and international fees | Coinbase conversion fees may apply under separate terms |
| Spending draws from your Coinbase account at the moment of purchase | Only for US citizens or permanent residents aged 18 or over |
| Virtual card available in the app after activation | $2,500 daily purchase limit and $1,000 daily cash limit |
| Card funds at Pathward eligible for FDIC insurance, if requirements are met | Binding arbitration unless you opt out within 60 days |
You can compare these terms with other cards on our crypto cards list. Because this review is based on an agreement effective September 2022, confirm the current version with Coinbase before you apply.
Questions and Answers
Who issues the Coinbase Card? Pathward, National Association, under a Visa licence, with Marqeta as program manager, according to the September 2022 agreement.
Does the Coinbase Card charge a foreign transaction fee? The September 2022 fee schedule lists $0 for international transactions, though Coinbase conversion fees may apply separately.
Can I use the Coinbase Card outside the United States? You can make international transactions, but the card is only for US citizens or permanent residents.
This article is for information only and is not financial advice.
