Coinbase launches its cryptocurrency Visa debit card in the United States

Coinbase has announced that US customers can now join the waiting list for its Coinbase Card, a Visa debit card that allows customers to spend cryptocurrency wherever Visa cards are accepted. Coinbase claims it is “the fastest and easiest way to spend your cryptocurrencies around the world”. Previously, the card was only available in Europe.

There are a number of debit cards around the world that allow you to spend cryptocurrency (you will soon be able to do this with Paypal as well). But many platforms require you to load funds onto your card in order to spend them. The Coinbase Card eliminates the middleman, instead withdrawing funds directly from your Coinbase account. Other cards are limited to one or a few currencies; the Coinbase Card supports more than 30, according to the company (and converts everything to US dollars before completing purchases and ATM withdrawals).

There is also an optional rewards program (only available to US customers for now). You can choose to earn 4% in Stellar Lumen or 1% in bitcoin. There are no issuing fees, but Coinbase says that “cryptocurrency conversion fees may apply” (and those can be high).

In the Coinbase app, you will be able to track recent transactions and reward earnings. You can manage the rewards currency there, as well as the currency you are spending with.

If it sounds like something you care about, you can join the wait list via the Coinbase app. It will be a bit of a wait – Coinbase says first customers will be approved “this winter”. As soon as you are approved, you can start spending with a virtual card. You will receive your physical card by post “within two weeks”. Of course, you must have a verified Coinbase account in order to use the card.

Correction 10/28, 1:29 PM ET: This article claimed that the Coinbase Card supports nine cryptocurrencies, as stated in the Coinbase FAQ which was available at press time. After publication, Coinbase contacted us to tell us the information in those FAQs valid only for EU customers: their card supports more than 30 cryptocurrencies for US customers.