Card Types
Your crypto shouldn't be locked away on a chain. With a Based Visa card, it becomes spendable instantly, globally, and without friction.
Three card tiers. One goal: make your crypto work in the real world.
Every Based Visa card auto-converts your crypto into local fiat currency the moment you tap to pay. No off-ramps, no manual conversions, no delays. Your on-chain balance is your spending balance.
How to Get a Based Visa Card
The only way to get a Based Visa card is through staking $BASED. There are no signup fees and no way to purchase a card directly.
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. If your $BASED is on BSC or Ethereum, see the bridging guide first.
When you redeem a card, part of your staked balance is locked for 21 days from the time of card redemption:
Based Gold locks 100,000 $BASED
HYPE locks 10,000 $BASED
What this means:
Locked tokens cannot be unstaked during the 21-day lock period
Any staked tokens above the locked amount remain available for unstaking as normal
After the 21-day lock expires, the previously locked tokens become available for unstaking
Once unlocked, they still follow the standard 3-day unstake cooldown after an unstake request is made
All card rewards and benefits (cashback, fee discounts, entertainment rebates, etc.) will cease once unstaking is initiated.
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.
HYPE and Based Gold cards are available now. Based Orange is coming soon.
If you encounter issues with KYC, contact support or email compliance@basedapp.io.
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.
Card Tiers
Based Orange
Orange plastic card, virtual only — no physical card. No $BASED lockup required. 2.5% FX markup. No cashback. Good for casual spending and getting started with the Based ecosystem.
Based Orange is not yet available. Release date TBA.
HYPE
Hype plastic card, virtual + physical. Requires 10,000 $BASED lockup. 1.5% FX markup. 2% cashback. Up to $10/month AI subscription rebates (Claude, ChatGPT). Good for everyday spending.
Based Gold
Gold mirror finish metal card. Requires 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 airport lounge visits per year.
Airport lounge access: Details on how to access your lounge visits will be sent via email after successful card application and issuance.
Existing Card Holders — Activate Rewards
Already have a HYPE or Based Gold card? To activate your card rewards and benefits (cashback, entertainment rebates, lounge access, etc.), complete the staking process to obtain a valid promo code, then contact our card support team via Intercom with:
Your registered email address
Your promo code
The team will help to apply the rewards and benefits to your existing card.
Core Benefits
Every Based Visa card, regardless of tier, comes with:
Instant Crypto Spending
Tap your card and your crypto converts to fiat automatically. No pre-funding, no off-ramp waiting periods. Transactions settle in real time.
Zero Deposit Fees
Deposit USDT, USDC, and other supported stablecoins with no added fees. What you deposit is what you spend.
Multi-Network Deposits
Fund your card from Solana, Arbitrum, Polygon, or Hyperliquid. Use whichever chain your funds are already on.
Global Acceptance
Accepted at over 150 million Visa merchants across 160+ countries. If it takes Visa, it takes your Based card.
Digital Wallet Ready
Add your card to Apple Pay or Google Pay the moment you receive it. Tap to pay from your phone, watch, or tablet.
Competitive FX Rates
Based Orange: 2.5%, HYPE: 1.5%, Based Gold: 0% markup above Visa's exchange rates.
Compare Cards
Card type
Orange plastic
Hype plastic
Gold mirror finish metal
Release date
TBA
Available now
Available now
Virtual card
Yes
Yes
Yes
Physical card
No
Yes
Yes
Shipping
—
$50
Free
Availability
Public
Public
Public
$BASED lockup
—
10,000
100,000
Cashback
—
2%
4%
Monthly cashback cap
—
$20
$100
Entertainment rebates (Netflix/Spotify/YouTube)
None
None
Up to $20/month
AI subscription rebates (Claude/ChatGPT)
None
Up to $10/month
Up to $100/month
Airport lounge
No
No
4 visits/year
Foreign currency markup
2.5%
1.5%
0%
Card tiers no longer have signup fees or annual fees. Qualification is based on $BASED lockup.
Cashback and rebates are paid out in $BASED at the start of each month, covering the previous cycle (e.g., an Apr 1 payout covers spending from Feb 15 – Mar 15).
Foreign currency rates are quoted by Visa. The Based team reserves the right to update card fees from time to time. See the full fees breakdown for details.
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.
Who Is It For?
Crypto traders who want to spend profits without off-ramping through an exchange
Stablecoin holders looking for a direct path from on-chain balance to real-world purchases
Frequent travelers who need a card that works across borders without currency conversion headaches
DeFi users who want their yield to be spendable, not just claimable
Anyone tired of the gap between holding crypto and actually using it
Supported Tokens and Networks
USDT
Solana
USDC
Arbitrum
XSGD
Polygon
Major tokens
Hyperliquid
The Flywheel
Every card issued means more $BASED staked and locked. More locked supply reinforces ecosystem value. And stakers unlock even more perks over time.
You spend. You earn. The ecosystem compounds.
HYPE and Based Gold are just the beginning. More card tiers, more perks, and more reasons to stake are on the way. Stay tuned.
Disclaimer: All card tiers, rewards, cashback rates, rebates, caps, fees, FX markups, lockup requirements, eligibility criteria, promotional offers, 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, reward, 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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