Update 2026/06/16 — cards used outside the EEA (including mine, in Taiwan) have been deactivated. Ready emailed to say that, due to changes by their card provider, cards used primarily outside the EEA are affected, and my Ready Card has been deactivated; cards used within the EEA are unaffected and can still be applied for and used. They say accounts and assets remain safe and only the card itself is affected; if you paid a card or shipping fee within the last year, you’ll get an automatic refund within 10 business days. Ready says they’re still working on their card offering and will share updates.
The experience below still applies for EEA users; outside the EEA (including Taiwan) you currently can’t sign up and use it as described.
TL;DR
This card suits anyone who wants to spend crypto as USD without handing their coins to a platform’s custody — a bit more decentralized. Ready (formerly Argent) is one of the few self-custodial Mastercards on the market: your USDC stays in your own wallet and is only charged at the moment you swipe, with no need to load funds into a platform first.
I mainly use it for foreign subscription fees. USD spending deducts USDC 1:1, so it works smoothly as a USD card; I sometimes use it for everyday fun too, and the physical card feels premium.
Downsides: USDC only, and no Apple Pay yet (Line Pay works). Rewards are paid in STRK.
Referral link (if you can apply from the UK / EEA): Ready referral sign-up link. Sign up with my link and spend $50 to get $15 back — like 30% off your purchase. Not available in Taiwan right now; I’ll update if it reopens.
What Ready is, and how it differs from a regular crypto card
The big difference is self-custody. Typical exchange cards (RedotPay, Crypto.com, Bybit) load coins into a platform account; Ready keeps the coins in your own Starknet wallet, where the platform can’t touch them.
Settlement uses a session key that batches a day’s charges on-chain once (Starknet L2, gas near zero), rather than going on-chain on every swipe.
Fees and card tiers
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Card network | Mastercard |
| Custody | Self-custodial (USDC in Starknet wallet) |
| Coins | USDC only (can’t directly spend BTC/ETH) |
| FX fee | Metal 0% / Lite 1% |
| Mobile pay | Line Pay supported; Apple Pay not yet |
Two tiers:
| Tier | Cost | Rewards | ATM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal | ~120 USDC/year | 3% STRK (monthly cap, funded quarterly by the Starknet Foundation, not guaranteed) | ~$800/month free |
| Lite | Free card, pay shipping | Per official terms | 2% per withdrawal |
How I use it
Purely for spending. Foreign subscriptions like YouTube / Netflix go on it — USD deducts USDC 1:1 with no fee; after linking Line Pay, I use it for everyday in-store spending too.
The STRK rewards I swap to USDC immediately and keep spending — I don’t hoard the token. To me this is a USD card, and the rewards are a nice extra.
My take
The positioning is straightforward: if you want self-custody plus a card you can spend as USD, Ready is a good fit, and the physical card is shiny and good-looking.
USDC only and no Apple Pay, but it’s plenty for subscriptions and everyday fun.
FAQ
Can I apply for the Ready Card in Taiwan?
I applied fairly early, when Taiwan was still eligible; the policy seems to have closed since, and the official availability is now mainly UK / EEA, so Taiwan probably can’t apply. I’ll update if it reopens.
Is Ready USDC-only?
Yes — currently USDC only, no direct BTC / ETH spending; you’d have to convert to USDC first.
How does Ready differ from an exchange’s crypto card?
The big difference is self-custody. Exchange cards (RedotPay, Bybit) require loading coins into a platform account first; Ready’s USDC stays in your own Starknet wallet and is only charged at swipe time.
Can Ready link to mobile payment?
Line Pay works; Apple Pay not yet.
Are the STRK rewards worth it?
Rewards are 3% in STRK, but with a monthly cap, funded quarterly by the Starknet Foundation, and not guaranteed long-term. I swap to USDC on receipt and don’t hoard.