Do Crypto Cards Require KYC? What Identity Checks to Expect Before You Get One
Do crypto cards require KYC? The cards in our sources ask who you are before you can use them. Here is why, what they ask for and what happens if a check fails.
For the cards covered here, yes: each one asks who you are before you can use it. KYC stands for “know your customer”, and it means the card provider checks who you are before it lets you use the card fully. Coinbase’s cardholder agreement and NORA CARD both require identity verification, while MetaMask’s card page says you fill in your details and, once approved, can activate the Virtual Card instantly; the Metal card, if you preorder it, ships to your verified address.
This guide explains why the check exists, what you are asked for, and what happens if your identity cannot be confirmed.
Why Crypto Cards Check Your Identity
Coinbase’s card, for example, is issued by Pathward, National Association, a federally chartered bank. If you are new to how these cards are put together, our guide on what a crypto card is covers the basics.
Coinbase’s US cardholder agreement, filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) with an effective date of September 2022, gives a clear example. It says the USA PATRIOT Act requires financial institutions, and the third parties working with them, to collect, check and keep records of identifying details for every person who opens a card. The agreement presents this as part of the effort against terrorist funding and money laundering.
In the US, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) also describes ongoing duties for covered financial institutions such as banks. Its customer due diligence rule asks them to understand why a customer relationship exists, to watch accounts so they can spot and report suspicious transactions, and to keep customer information up to date based on risk. So KYC is not always a one-time step. A provider may come back and ask for more later.
In the UK, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) supervises cryptoasset businesses for anti-money laundering purposes. According to the FCA, firms that exchange crypto for money, or that hold private keys on behalf of customers, must register with it under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 before offering those services in the UK. The FCA’s guidance for firms applying to register expects written procedures for identifying and verifying customers.
What the Documents Ask For
Here is what each source asks for.
| What is asked | Source |
|---|---|
| Name, street address and date of birth | Coinbase cardholder agreement (effective September 2022) |
| A copy of a driver’s licence or other documents, possibly at any time | Coinbase cardholder agreement |
| Age and residence conditions | Coinbase: at least 18, and a US citizen or permanent resident |
| Your details during in-app sign-up, then approval | MetaMask Card: fill in your details in the Card tab; the Metal card ships to your verified address |
| Identity verification before applying | NORA CARD (our summary page) |
MetaMask’s page says you can sign up straight away if you live in a supported country or territory, and that the Virtual Card can be activated instantly once you are approved. NORA CARD, as summarised on our NORA CARD page, asks you to create an account and pass KYC before you apply and pay the $100 issuance fee (as of October 2026), and its official site lists KYC/AML checks among its security and compliance measures.
Coinbase’s agreement says it may ask, at any time, for a copy of your driver’s license or for other documents.
Does a Self-Custody Card Skip KYC?
Not on its own. A self-custody (non-custodial) card lets you keep control of your crypto until you pay, and MetaMask describes its card this way: you keep self-custody of your funds right up to the moment of payment. But the card itself is still a payment card, and MetaMask’s sign-up still involves entering your details and being approved.
So the question of who holds your crypto is separate from the question of whether the card provider knows who you are. Our guide to custodial vs non-custodial crypto cards explains the custody side in more detail.
What Happens If the Check Fails
The CFPB explains what can happen when a prepaid card provider cannot verify you. Coinbase Card and NORA CARD are prepaid cards.
- You may not be able to register the card. If the provider cannot confirm you are who you say you are, registration may not go through.
- You may only spend what is already on it. The CFPB says the provider will either let you use up the amount loaded at purchase, which it calls the “initial load”, or cancel the card and send you a check for the balance.
- Reloading may be blocked. Without registration, you cannot keep adding money once that first amount is gone.
- Features may be limited. The CFPB gives examples such as not being able to use the card online or at an ATM.
- A record of fraud can lead to a refusal. The CFPB notes that registration may also be refused if the provider finds a record linking you to certain fraudulent activities.
Why Passing KYC Also Protects You
Identity checks are not only about the provider’s obligations. The CFPB says that under federal rules on prepaid cards, an unregistered card comes with fewer consumer protections when it is stolen, used by someone else, or hit by an error such as a wrong amount being taken. Once you register, the provider has to offer protections for errors, loss and theft. The CFPB adds that if a card offers deposit insurance, you generally need to register to become eligible for it.
In other words, registering is also what brings the error, loss and theft protections the CFPB describes.
Registration Is Not an Endorsement
Passing a provider’s checks, or seeing that a provider is registered with a regulator, is not the same as a guarantee. The FCA states that its registration of cryptoasset firms under the money laundering rules is a legal requirement, not a recommendation or endorsement. It also warns that being registered for these purposes does not mean customers can turn to the Financial Ombudsman Service, or claim from the compensation scheme known as the FSCS. Check what protections actually apply to the card you are considering.
Tips Before You Start the Check
- Confirm the card is offered where you live. Coinbase requires US citizenship or permanent residence, MetaMask lists supported countries, and NORA CARD restricts some countries by card type.
- Have your documents ready. Coinbase’s agreement, for example, mentions a driver’s licence or other documents.
- Read the cardholder agreement for the verification section, so you know what the provider may ask for later.
- Expect limits to depend on your status. NORA CARD’s official site, for example, notes that its fees and limits can vary with your verification status.
You can compare how cards describe their sign-up steps on our crypto cards list.
Questions and Answers
Can I get a crypto card without ID? Not one you can keep reloading. The issuers we checked ask for identifying details, and the CFPB says an unregistered prepaid card cannot be reloaded after the initial load is spent.
Does KYC happen only once? Not always. Coinbase’s agreement says it may ask for documents at any time, and FinCEN’s rule expects banks to keep customer information up to date.
Does a non-custodial card avoid identity checks? Not in the case of MetaMask’s card: sign-up still involves entering your details and approval.
Disclosure: ScoreWire has a commercial relationship with NORA CARD.
This article is for information only and is not financial advice.
