How to withdraw cash at an ATM with a crypto card

How a withdrawal works

Behind one press of the keypad, three things happen.

1. The card finds the money. Your balance is already in the card’s currency, or the card converts your crypto first. With a conversion, the same spread applies as for a payment in a shop.
2. The machine asks the card network. The card network checks that the card is active, the PIN is right and the amount is within your limits.
3. The cash comes out. The amount, plus any fees, is taken from your balance.

If the card cannot reach your balance, for example because it has not been topped up or the conversion fails, the withdrawal is declined.

The costs, one by one

Do not look for a single figure. A cash withdrawal can carry up to four separate costs, and they add together.

• The card’s own ATM fee. Charged by the issuer, often as a flat amount or a percentage. If the issuer lists it, it is on the card page. If it does not, we show it as not verified, never as zero.
• A free allowance, where one exists. Some issuers include free withdrawals or a free amount each month. Others do not. We only mention an allowance when the issuer lists one, and what happens above it is part of the fee table.
• The ATM operator’s own fee. The machine’s owner may add a charge on top, and it can differ from one machine to the next. Your card does not control it, and the screen should show it before you confirm.
• FX costs abroad. If the cash is in a different currency from your card, the conversion carries an FX fee or a markup in the rate.

Decline the machine’s own conversion

Abroad, an ATM may offer to charge you in your home currency. This is dynamic currency conversion, and it is usually a worse deal than letting your card do the conversion. The machine sets its own rate, and your card may still add its own fees afterwards.

Choose to be charged in the local currency. Our guide on FX fees and markups abroad shows how the costs add up.

Limits to know

Withdrawals are usually capped, and the caps are separate from your spending limit. Look for these:

• A limit per withdrawal, a daily limit and a monthly limit.
• A limit that depends on your verification level. Lighter checks often come with lower cash limits or none at all. Our guide on KYC for crypto cards explains the levels.
• A limit set by the ATM operator, which can be lower than your card allows.

If a limit is not published on the issuer’s pages, treat it as unknown and ask before you rely on it.

Virtual-only cards cannot be used at an ATM

An ATM needs a physical card. A virtual card exists only as card details and in a phone wallet, so you cannot insert it into a machine. Some ATMs accept a contactless payment from a phone, but that depends on the machine and on the card, and you should not count on it.

If you need cash, choose a card that comes in a physical version. Some cards are virtual-only in certain regions, so check the card type for your own country.

Before you travel

1. Check that the card has a physical version, and that it has arrived before you leave.
2. Read the ATM section of the card page. Look at the fee, the allowance if there is one, and the limits.
3. Make sure your balance is ready. Top up in advance, and remember that a top-up on a slow network can take a while to arrive.
4. Set and remember your PIN. Some cards only show it in the app.
5. Turn on notifications, so you see a decline straight away.
6. Carry a second way to pay. Machines fail and cards get blocked, so do not rely on one card for cash.

Rules differ by country and change over time. Confirm the current fees and limits with the issuer before you travel.

Find a card for cash

• Cards for ATM withdrawals
• Cards for travel

To see the cards open in your country, use the Card Finder.