Methodology

How we score every crypto card.

Every rate, fee and figure on this site comes from a documented process, not a gut call. This page explains exactly where the data comes from, how the score is built, and what to do if something looks wrong.

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DATA SOURCING

Where every figure comes from

A comparison is only as good as its source data. Here's the process behind every number on the site.

01
The issuer's own terms

Fee schedules, reward tables and eligibility rules are read from each issuer's published terms — not from press releases or marketing pages, which round up or omit conditions.

02
Direct account testing

Where we can, we hold or trial the card ourselves — a published "up to" rate and the rate you actually reach are often two different numbers.

03
Re-verified weekly

Every card on the site is re-checked on a weekly cycle. If a rate, fee or region changes, we update the figure and date the change on the card page.

04
Reader reports

When a reader flags something that looks off, we re-verify against the issuer directly before changing anything — a report alone doesn't move a number, confirmation does.

THE SCORING MODEL

Four criteria, equally weighted

No single factor decides a ranking. Each pillar counts for a quarter of a card's score.

01
25% OF SCORE
Cost

Annual fee, FX spread, ATM withdrawal cost, top-up fees and any issuance charge — the full cost of holding and using the card, not just the headline annual fee.

02
25% OF SCORE
Conditions

Staking or balance requirements to unlock the advertised rate, spending or withdrawal limits, KYC tier, and which regions the card actually ships to.

03
25% OF SCORE
Rewards

The realistic reward rate a typical spender reaches — not just the ceiling figure — plus which categories qualify, any monthly cap, and what asset the reward is paid in.

04
25% OF SCORE
Reliability

How consistently the issuer has honoured its published terms over time, support responsiveness, and whether reader reports match what the issuer states.

CORRECTIONS
When something's wrong

Rates and fees move, and we don't catch every change the moment it happens. If a figure on the site doesn't match what the issuer is currently offering, tell us the card and what looks off — we re-verify against the issuer directly and, if confirmed, the correction goes live the same week.

Report a correction →
INDEPENDENCE
Commissions don't move the score

Some issuers pay us a referral fee when a reader applies through our link. That relationship has zero input into the scoring model above — a commission-paying card and a commission-free card are scored on the exact same four criteria, and we say so in full in our disclosure.

Read the full disclosure →
LIMITS, STATED PLAINLY

What we don't do

We don't accept payment to change a score, ranking or comparison result.
We don't guarantee you'll be approved for any card — approval is entirely the issuer's decision.
We don't hold, custody or have access to your funds at any point — we compare public terms.
We don't publish a rate we haven't verified against the issuer's own current terms.

Nothing on cryptocards.one is financial, tax or legal advice. Confirm final terms with the issuer before applying — rates and eligibility can vary by region and change without notice.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About how we work

Does an issuer paying you a referral fee affect the ranking?

No. Some issuers pay us when a reader applies through our link. That relationship has no input into the scoring model — cards that pay us nothing are scored and ranked on exactly the same four criteria. We also publish which cards are commission-free.

How often is the data checked?

Every card is re-verified on a weekly cycle against the issuer's own current terms. When something changes, we update the figure and note the date it changed on the card's page.

What happens when I report an error?

We re-verify the specific figure against the issuer directly — we don't change a number on a report alone. If confirmed, the correction goes live the same week.

Why do two sites show different numbers for the same card?

Usually one of three reasons: the rate changed since the other site last checked, the figure is region-specific and only one variant is being shown, or a promotional rate is being quoted as if it were the standing rate. We show the standing rate and note promotions separately where they exist.

Is this financial advice?

No. We compare publicly available card terms so you can make your own decision faster. Nothing on this site is financial, tax or legal advice, and you should confirm final terms with the issuer before applying.

See it applied to a real card

Every card page shows the same figures this methodology explains, dated and sourced.

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