Lava Card
Lava · Visa
Lava Card is a secured Visa card tied to Lava's self-custody Bitcoin app, a US company founded in 2022 and backed by Founders Fund and Khosla Ventures. The card is non-custodial: users keep control of their Bitcoin and spend from a balance they fund themselves (via stablecoins, bank transfer, direct deposit, or the Bitcoin-collateralized BLOC line of credit). Every purchase earns cashback paid in Bitcoin (3% in the US, 1% internationally, up to 5% at partner merchants such as Amazon, Apple and Netflix). Accepted at over 150 million merchants in 150+ countries, with no annual fee, no issuance fee, and no markup on Visa's official exchange rate.
The number that matters
The banner cashback isn't what you pocket.
After FX markup, fees and withdrawals, on an average profile of €1,000/mo (20% abroad).
Data & conditions
§ Amounts in USD/GBP are shown in the service's native currency.
| Network | Visa |
|---|---|
| Fund custody | Self-custody (funds in your control) |
| Issuance fee | Free |
| Annual fee | Free |
| ATM withdrawal | 2% |
| FX markup | 0% |
| Cashback | 5% in BTC · Nessuno |
| Chains | Bitcoin, Lightning, Solana |
| On-chain settlement | No |
| Contactless | Yes |
| KYC | Full |
| Privacy | 4/10 |
| Supported countries | US, EEA, UK, APAC, LATAM · 150+ countries |
| Funding / solidity | Lava e una societa statunitense attiva nel lending e nei servizi Bitcoin. A novembre 2025 ha annunciato una raccolta da 200 milioni di dollari combinando capitale di rischio e capitale di debito per la sua piattaforma di prestiti garantiti in Bitcoin. |
| Estimated net annual cost | €0/year |
| Segment | B2C |
| Funding / solidity | Lava is a US company operating in Bitcoin lending and services. In November 2025 it announced a $200 million raise combining venture and debt capital for its Bitcoin-collateralized lending platform. |
Strengths
- Cashback paid in Bitcoin (up to 5% at partner merchants, 3% in the US on every purchase)
- No annual fee, no issuance fee and no markup on Visa's exchange rate
- Self-custody model: the user retains control of their Bitcoin
- Self-custody: funds stay in your wallet — the platform cannot touch them.
Weaknesses
- Secured card: the balance must be pre-funded, it is not a traditional credit card
- International cashback drops to 1% outside the United States
- ATM withdrawals carry a 2% fee (with a $1 minimum)
- Full KYC required: verified identity, zero pseudonymity.
Verdict
Non-custodial secured card issued via US partners: users retain control of their Bitcoin, but there is no FDIC-style deposit guarantee or protection fund. Full KYC is required and the balance must be pre-funded (stablecoins, bank transfer or the BLOC line).
Self-custody model with Bitcoin cashback: a strong point for those seeking sovereignty over their funds. Note, however, the mandatory full KYC and the 2025 controversy over the change of custody model.
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 the Lava Card custodial?
No. Lava is a self-custody app: users keep control of their Bitcoin via on-chain contracts, and the card spends from a balance the user funds themselves.
Which currency is the cashback paid in?
Cashback is paid in Bitcoin: 3% in the US and 1% internationally on every purchase, and up to 5% at partner merchants such as Amazon, Apple and Netflix.
Sources
- Official service page Fees · Cashback · Payment network · Fx markup · +4 Data verified on Jun 23, 2026
- bitcoinmagazine.com Payment network · Cashback · Custodial · Secured · +2 Data verified on Jun 23, 2026
- todey.xyz Atm fee · Kyc · Blockchain · Cashback Data verified on Jun 22, 2026