Card Basics
How to Register
Stake $BASED to get a promo code
Go to basedfoundation.com/genesis and stake $BASED. Your staked amount determines which card tier you qualify for (HYPE requires 10,000 $BASED, Based Gold requires 100,000 $BASED). Once staked, you will receive a promo code for your card.
The staked amount required for your card tier is locked for 21 days from card redemption. Any excess remains available for unstaking as normal. See the Staking page for full details.
Apply for your card using the promo code
Go through the card checkout flow in the Based app and enter your promo code at the end to complete your application.
KYC approval
Your application is subject to KYC approval. Screening typically completes within 3 days. If additional documents are needed, the team will contact you at compliance@basedapp.io.
Receive your card
Once approved, your virtual card is issued instantly through the Based app. Physical cards (where available) will be shipped separately.
If you encounter issues with KYC, contact support or email compliance@basedapp.io.
Where Can I Use the Card?
You can use your Based Visa card anywhere Visa is accepted, both online and in-store.
Virtual card
Available (issued by default, works for online payments)
Physical card
Available upon request (additional charges may apply)
Google Pay
Available
Apple Pay
Available
ATM withdrawals are not enabled at this time.
Card Tiers
Based offers three card tiers: Based Orange, HYPE, and Based Gold. Cards are obtained through staking $BASED — no signup fees or annual fees.
Based Orange — Virtual only, no physical card. No $BASED lockup required. 2.5% FX markup. No cashback. Good for casual spending. Coming soon.
HYPE — Virtual + physical card. 10,000 $BASED lockup. 1.5% FX markup. 2% cashback. Up to $10/month AI subscription rebates (Claude, ChatGPT). Good for everyday spending. Available now.
Based Gold — Gold mirror finish metal card. 100,000 $BASED lockup. 0% FX markup. 4% cashback. Up to $20/month entertainment rebates (Netflix, Spotify, YouTube). Up to $100/month AI subscription rebates (Claude, ChatGPT). 4 lounge visits/year. Available now.
Total Value Summary
Maximum monthly value from cashback and rebates (at full monthly caps):
Card
Cashback
Entertainment
AI Rebates
Monthly Total
Annual Total
Based Orange
—
—
—
—
—
HYPE
$20
—
$10
$30
$360
Based Gold
$100
$20
$100
$220
$2,640
Based Gold holders also receive 4 airport lounge visits per year.
See the full Card Types page for a detailed comparison.
Country Availability
Based Visa cards are available worldwide except in the following countries:
Restricted countries
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kosovo, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Russian Federation, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, Ukraine, United States of America, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Western Sahara, Yemen, Zimbabwe.
Withdrawals
Direct withdrawals from the Based card are not available at this time. This feature is planned for a future release.
Card Refunds
Based processes refunds as soon as they are received from the merchant. Refunds typically appear in your account within 2 weeks.
If you are expecting a significant refund that has not arrived after a few days, contact support.
FX Adjustments
You may occasionally see small FX adjustments on transactions made in foreign currencies. For example, a purchase in JPY may show a primary charge followed by a small adjustment a few days later.
This happens due to:
Fluctuating exchange rates between the time of purchase and final processing
Processing delays where rates shift before settlement
Visa's currency conversion introducing minor variations
Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) if selected at the merchant terminal
These adjustments are normal and typically small. Monitor your transactions and contact support if anything looks unexpected.
Crypto Conversion Rate (Price Locking)
The conversion rate for non-stablecoins ($SOL, $HYPE, $BASED) is determined at the exact point of spend — not at the end of the day or billing cycle. Based uses a mixture of Chainlink price oracles and the Hyperliquid on-chain price, with the rate locked at the moment you swipe or tap. This is separate from the Visa FX adjustments described above, which apply to foreign-currency fiat conversion.
Disclaimer: All card tiers, rewards, cashback rates, rebates, caps, fees, lockup requirements, eligibility criteria, and other program terms described on this page are provided for informational purposes only and are subject to change at any time without prior notice. Based reserves the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any card tier, benefit, or program at its sole discretion. Card issuance and participation are subject to KYC approval, applicable program terms, and local laws.
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