Wavecard
Wave Space Exploration UAB · Visa
Wavecard (wavecard®) is the Visa debit card from Wave Space Exploration UAB, a Lithuanian company with offices in Berlin and Vilnius, launched in February 2025 as Europe's first self-custodial bitcoin card. It keeps bitcoin in the user's own Lightning wallet until the last possible moment, converting at the point of sale; it supports on-chain and Lightning via Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC). It is available only to EEA residents aged 18+. The virtual card has a one-time 2.99 EUR opening fee (29.99 EUR for the physical card) and no annual fee. The provider charges a 1% conversion fee plus a roughly 0.5% liquidity spread baked into the BTC price. The provider states a 0% FX markup between fiat currencies; the 1.5% figure shown here reflects the summary input value and should be read as an overall currency-cost estimate to verify case by case. There is no standard cashback (only temporary referral promotions).
Data & conditions
| Account fee | Free |
|---|---|
| Multi-currency | EUR |
| Network | Visa |
| ATM withdrawal | 3% |
| Free ATM limit | Prelievo ATM: 3% + 2 EUR, limite giornaliero 350 EUR, mensile 3.000 EUR |
| Fund custody | Self-custody (funds in your control) |
| KYC | Full |
| Supported countries | EEA · 30+ countries |
| Regulator | Lietuvos bankas (Bank of Lithuania) |
| Segment | B2C |
| Funding / solidity | Wave Space Exploration UAB is a Lithuanian company (registration number 306727148) based in Vilnius with offices in Berlin, issuer of Wavecard, launched in February 2025 as Europe's first self-custodial bitcoin card. |
| MiCA / License status | EEA e-money / VASP infrastructure Wave Space Exploration UAB (reg. 306727148) operates across the EEA via e-money/VASP infrastructure under the supervision of the Bank of Lithuania. |
Strengths
- Self-custodial: bitcoin stays in the user's own Lightning wallet via Nostr Wallet Connect until payment
- Low opening cost (2.99 EUR virtual card) and no annual fee
- Accepted anywhere on the Visa network, with Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Garmin/Fitbit Pay
- Self-custody: funds stay in your wallet — the platform cannot touch them.
Weaknesses
- Available only to EEA residents
- No structural cashback, only temporary referral promotions
- High ATM costs (3% + 2 EUR) and 1% conversion fee plus ~0.5% spread
- Full KYC required: verified identity, zero pseudonymity.
- Subject to regulation (Wave Space Exploration UAB (reg. 306727148) operates across the EEA via e-money/VASP infrastructure under the supervision of the Bank of Lithuania.): reporting to authorities and freezes on order.
Verdict
Card issued via EEA e-money/VASP infrastructure under a Lithuanian licence (Bank of Lithuania); full KYC. Self-custodial model: bitcoin funds stay in the user's own Lightning wallet and are not held by the issuer, reducing counterparty risk on the crypto balance but shifting custody responsibility onto the user.
Among the most sovereign cards on the market: bitcoin stays in the user's own Lightning wallet via Nostr Wallet Connect and is converted only at the point of sale, without entrusting the crypto balance to a third-party custodian. Full mandatory KYC and reliance on the Visa network remain.
Promp's editorial rating based on real fees and net annual cost. Promp reviews third-party products independently.
"Sovereignty" rating: score computed on privacy/anonymity (30%), fund control (20%), censorship resistance (20%), trustless/auditability (20%) and costs (10%). Same data, different weights.
FAQ
Is Wavecard custodial or self-custodial?
It is self-custodial: bitcoin stays in the user's own Lightning wallet connected via Nostr Wallet Connect and is converted only at the moment of payment.
How much does Wavecard cost to set up and what fees apply?
The virtual card has a one-time 2.99 EUR opening fee (29.99 EUR for the physical card) and no annual fee. You pay a 1% conversion fee plus a roughly 0.5% liquidity spread, and 3% + 2 EUR for ATM withdrawals.
Sources
- Official service page Payment network · Card issuance fee · Custodial · Regioni · +10 Data verified on Jun 23, 2026
- todey.xyz Card issuance fee · FX markup · ATM limits · Kyc · +1 Data verified on Jun 22, 2026