MEXC currently offers two distinct Visa cards for crypto users — the MEXC Card and the MEXC Ether.Fi Card — and while both let you spend cryptocurrency in everyday life, they are built onMEXC currently offers two distinct Visa cards for crypto users — the MEXC Card and the MEXC Ether.Fi Card — and while both let you spend cryptocurrency in everyday life, they are built on
MEXC Card vs. MEXC Ether.Fi Card: Which Crypto Visa Card Is Right for You?
MEXC currently offers two distinct Visa cards for crypto users — the MEXC Card and the MEXC Ether.Fi Card — and while both let you spend cryptocurrency in everyday life, they are built on fundamentally different philosophies. One is a straightforward custodial debit card with tiered cashback and a passive yield feature.
The other is a non-custodial credit card designed for DeFi-native users who want to keep their ETH working even while spending.
Understanding which card suits you depends on your asset holdings, how you think about custody, and what you want from a rewards structure.
Key Takeaways
- The MEXC Card is a custodial Visa debit card that settles in USDT; the MEXC Ether.Fi Card is a non-custodial Visa Signature credit card backed by crypto collateral.
- MEXC Card cashback scales up to 10% depending on tier; MEXC Ether.Fi Card cashback is a flat 4% across all membership tiers.
- MEXC Card holders earn 7% APR on their USDT card balance; Ether.Fi Card holders earn restaking yield on their crypto collateral — even while it's used as collateral.
- Both cards charge no annual fee and support Google Pay.
Two Cards, Two Different Approaches
At their core, these two cards answer very different questions. The MEXC Card asks: how can USDT holders earn more from everyday spending? The MEXC Ether.Fi Card asks: how can ETH and weETH holders spend without ever selling their assets? Before comparing individual features, it helps to keep this philosophical difference in mind. Neither card is universally better — they target different user profiles with different needs.
Card Type and Structure
MEXC Card — Custodial Visa Debit Card
The MEXC Card is a Visa debit card. When you make a purchase, USDT is deducted directly from your MEXC account at the point of sale. Because your funds are held in a custodial MEXC wallet, there is no separate self-custody wallet setup required — your existing MEXC balance powers the card. This makes it highly accessible for anyone already active on the exchange.
MEXC Ether.Fi Card — Non-Custodial Visa Signature Credit Card
The MEXC Ether.Fi Card operates on a non-custodial model: your crypto assets remain in your own self-custodial wallet, managed through ether.fi's infrastructure. It functions as a Visa Signature credit card, meaning your crypto acts as collateral rather than being spent directly. You either draw from your vault balance (Direct Pay) or borrow against your crypto (Borrow Mode). In Borrow Mode, your underlying crypto collateral stays in your vault — it is not sold to fund your purchases. This structure requires both an Advanced KYC-verified MEXC account and an ether.fi account.
Cashback Rewards: How the MEXC Card and Ether.Fi Card Compare
MEXC Card Cashback: Up to 10% in USDT
The MEXC Card uses a three-tier cashback system, with rewards paid in USDT:
Tier | Cashback Rate | Monthly Cap |
Standard | 4% | 100 USDT |
Premier | 6% | 300 USDT |
Elite | 10% | 800 USDT |
New users start at the Standard tier, earning 4% cashback from the moment they activate their card. Higher tiers are determined by your M-Score on MEXC — a Premier M-Score of 600–799 unlocks 6% cashback, while an Elite M-Score of 800 and above unlocks 10% cashback.
MEXC Ether.Fi Card Cashback: 4% in Crypto (All Tiers)
The MEXC Ether.Fi Card takes a simpler approach: all membership tiers earn a flat 4% cashback, paid in crypto per ether.fi's Rewards Terms. Higher membership tiers (such as Luxe and Pinnacle) do not increase this rate; instead they offer other perks such as metal card designs, conference access, and additional lifestyle benefits. Cashback is paid in crypto per ether.fi's Rewards Terms.
Which Cashback Structure Wins?
This depends entirely on your trading activity and spending volume. For casual MEXC users or those who primarily hold USDT, the MEXC Card's Standard tier (4%) is competitive with the Ether.Fi Card from day one. For active MEXC users who achieve an Elite M-Score of 800 and above, 10% cashback is well ahead of anything the Ether.Fi Card offers on the rewards dimension alone. On the other hand, the Ether.Fi Card's 4% cashback is unconditional and tier-agnostic — no trading thresholds required, just spend and earn.
Yield and Passive Income
MEXC Card — 7% APR on USDT Balance
One of the MEXC Card's standout features is its 7% APR on the USDT balance held in your card account. Interest is calculated hourly and distributed the following day. The minimum qualifying balance is 100 USDT, with a maximum interest-earning cap of 100,000 USDT. This yield is calculated independently of cashback — earning cashback does not reduce your yield. For users who habitually keep a USDT float in their card account, this adds a meaningful passive income layer on top of cashback.
To activate yield earnings, cardholders must manually subscribe to the MEXC Card exclusive savings product via the MEXC platform.
MEXC Ether.Fi Card — Restaking Yield via Borrow Mode
The MEXC Ether.Fi Card offers a different kind of yield: restaking returns on your crypto collateral through ether.fi's vault infrastructure. When your ETH or weETH is deposited as collateral — even while actively borrowed against in Borrow Mode — it continues to earn restaking yield. This means your capital is not sitting idle; it simultaneously secures your credit line and generates on-chain returns. The specific yield rate varies with restaking market conditions rather than being a fixed percentage.
Fees Compared
Annual Fee
Both the MEXC Card and the MEXC Ether.Fi Card charges no annual fee.
Cross-Border Transaction Fee
This is where the two cards diverge meaningfully for international users. The MEXC Card and MEXC Ether.Fi Card charge 1% on non-USD cross-border transactions.
Physical Card Fee
The MEXC Card virtual card is free to issue. A physical card is available at a one-time fee of $25, currently on a VIP invite-only basis post-launch. The MEXC Ether.Fi Card physical card is not available for now, virtual card access is immediate upon activation.
Spending Modes
MEXC Card — Direct USDT Deduction
The MEXC Card works like a standard debit card: USDT in your MEXC account is converted to the local currency at the prevailing market rate (Google rate) at the point of sale. There are no complex spending mode choices to configure. What you see in your balance is what you spend.
MEXC Ether.Fi Card — Direct Pay vs. Borrow Mode
The MEXC Ether.Fi Card offers two distinct spending modes:
- Direct Pay: Funds are drawn from your ether.fi vault balance to settle purchases directly.
- Borrow Mode: You borrow against your crypto collateral without selling it. Your crypto collateral stays in your vault, continues earning restaking yield, and backs your credit line. Purchases are settled from borrowed funds.
Borrow Mode is particularly powerful for ETH bulls who are reluctant to sell. Instead of liquidating positions to cover daily expenses, they access liquidity against appreciating assets while maintaining full market exposure.
KYC and Application Requirements
Both cards require Advanced KYC on MEXC, which involves ID verification, face recognition, and proof of address from one of MEXC's eligible countries (including Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan). No income proof or asset audits are required.
The MEXC Ether.Fi Card additionally requires a linked ether.fi account, as the card's non-custodial infrastructure runs on ether.fi's platform. Users who only have a MEXC account will need to complete the ether.fi onboarding step before applying for the co-branded card.
Applications for both cards can be started at: https://www.mexc.com/buy-crypto/mexc-card
Who Should Choose the MEXC Card?
The MEXC Card is the better fit if you:
- Already hold USDT or are comfortable with USDT as your primary crypto — the card settles natively in USDT, so no conversion friction from ETH or other assets.
- Are an active MEXC user ― your overall platform activity contributes to your M-Score, making the Premier (6%) or Elite (10%) cashback rate achievable as your engagement grows.
- Want a simple, predictable debit card experience — no vault setup, no Borrow Mode decisions, just spend from your MEXC balance.
- Prioritize a transparent passive yield — the 7% APR on USDT balance is clearly stated and calculated independently of your cashback rewards.
- Are new to crypto cards — the Standard tier's zero-threshold 4% cashback is available from day one with no complex requirements.
Who Should Choose the MEXC Ether.Fi Card?
The MEXC Ether.Fi Card is the better fit if you:
- Hold ETH, weETH, or other DeFi-native assets and want to spend without liquidating your position.
- Prioritize non-custodial asset control — your crypto never leaves your self-custodial wallet.
- Travel frequently or spend heavily in non-USD currencies — the 1% FX fee is significantly the same as MEXC Card's.
- Are already in the ether.fi ecosystem or comfortable setting up a self-custodial wallet environment.
- Want Visa Signature benefits — The co-branded card carries Visa Signature status.
- Prefer a flat, unconditional cashback rate with no trading activity requirements.
MEXC Card vs. Ether.Fi Card: Side-by-Side Comparison
Feature | MEXC Card | MEXC Ether.Fi Card |
Card Type | Visa Debit | Visa Signature Credit |
Custody Model | Custodial (MEXC account) | Non-custodial (self-custody wallet) |
Settlement Currency | USDT | Crypto collateral / vault |
Cashback Rate | 4% / 6% / 10% (tiered) | 4% flat (all tiers) |
Cashback Currency | USDT | Crypto |
Max Cashback | 10% (Elite tier) | 4% |
Passive Yield | 7% APR on USDT balance | Restaking yield on collateral |
Annual Fee | $0 | $0 |
Cross-Border Fee | 1% | 1% |
Virtual Card Fee | Free | Free (immediate on activation) |
Physical Card Fee | $25 (VIP invite) | Not available for now |
Merchant Coverage | 100M+ Visa merchant locations worldwide | 100M+ locations worldwide |
Google Pay | Yes | Yes |
KYC Required | MEXC Advanced KYC | MEXC Advanced KYC + ether.fi account |
Best For | USDT holders, MEXC traders | ETH/weETH holders, DeFi users |
FAQ
Q: Is the MEXC Card a credit card or a debit card?
A: The MEXC Card is a Visa debit card. Purchases are deducted directly from your USDT balance in your MEXC account. The MEXC Ether.Fi Card, by contrast, is a Visa Signature credit card that allows you to borrow against your crypto collateral.
Q: Can I hold both the MEXC Card and the MEXC Ether.Fi Card?
A: There is no stated restriction preventing you from holding both, as they serve different functions. However, each requires separate applications and, in the Ether.Fi Card's case, a separate ether.fi account setup.
Q: Does the MEXC Ether.Fi Card's 4% cashback increase if I reach a higher membership tier?
A: No. The cashback rate remains at 4% across all membership tiers (3% ether.fi base + 1% MEXC co-branded bonus). Higher tiers offer other benefits such as metal card designs and conference access, but do not increase the cashback percentage.
Q: Do I need to lock up my USDT to earn the 7% APR on the MEXC Card?
A: To activate yield earnings, cardholders must manually subscribe to the MEXC Card exclusive savings product within the MEXC platform. The minimum qualifying balance is 100 USDT, and the interest-earning cap is 100,000 USDT. You can continue spending normally — yield and cashback are calculated independently.
Q: What happens to my ETH collateral if the market drops while I'm using the MEXC Ether.Fi Card in Borrow Mode?
A: As with all collateralized lending products, a significant drop in collateral value could trigger a margin call or liquidation event depending on your loan-to-value ratio. Users considering Borrow Mode should familiarize themselves with ether.fi's liquidation thresholds and manage their collateral ratios accordingly. This risk does not apply to the MEXC Card, which operates on direct USDT deduction.
Conclusion
The MEXC Card and the MEXC Ether.Fi Card each fill a genuine gap in the crypto spending landscape, but for very different users. If you're an active MEXC trader with USDT holdings looking for tiered cashback that can reach 10%, plus a steady 7% yield on your card balance, the MEXC Card is purpose-built for you.
If you're an ETH or weETH holder who wants to maintain full exposure to your assets — earning restaking yield while spending — without ever selling, the MEXC Ether.Fi Card's non-custodial Borrow Mode is a compelling alternative that also carries a lower cross-border fee.
Both cards carry no annual fee and support Google Pay, making either a low-friction entry point into crypto-powered spending.
Ready to apply? Explore both cards and get started at https://www.mexc.com/buy-crypto/mexc-card.
Note: Card benefits including cashback rates and APR are subject to change based on platform policy. Always refer to the official MEXC Card page for the latest terms and conditions.
Market Opportunity
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This article is provided by MEXC for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency markets involve significant risk. Please conduct independent research or consult a qualified professional before making any investment decisions. The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of MEXC or its affiliates.
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