Yes, you can buy a virtual Visa card with Monero. Deposit XMR into your HideTap wallet, make a card, and add money to it. The whole thing takes about 20 minutes, most of it waiting for Monero to confirm. Then you can pay online like with any other Visa card.
Key takeaways
- You can turn Monero into a US dollar virtual Visa card in about 20 minutes.
- The card works for online payments, supports 3D Secure and uses an alias name.
- Each payment can be up to $5,000. There is no daily or monthly limit.
- A card costs $12.50 to make and $10 a month. Adding money costs 9.5% + $3.
Why pay with Monero?
- Private by design. Monero keeps who sent a payment, who got it and how much private on its network.
- No bank in the middle. You fill the card with crypto, so your bank never sees what you buy.
- The store sees a normal card. It gets a Visa payment with the card's alias name, not your real name.
What you get
- A US dollar Visa card for paying online.
- 3D Secure, so it works when a store asks for a security code.
- An alias name on the card instead of your real name.
- Up to $5,000 per payment, with no daily or monthly limit.
- Full control. The card only has what you put on it. You can take money back to your wallet at any time while the card is active.
The card is virtual only. There is no plastic card and no ATM cash.
Step by step: buy a virtual card with Monero
- Make an account. Sign up and open your dashboard.
- Deposit Monero. Choose Deposit, then pick Monero (XMR). The invoice shows an address and the exact amount to send. Send that amount from your Monero wallet before the invoice runs out.
- Wait for confirmations. Monero needs 10 network confirmations. This usually takes about 20 minutes. Then the money shows in your wallet.
- Make a card. Go to Cards and make a Shield 3DS Card.
- Put money on the card. Choose how much to add. You see the fees before you confirm.
- Use the card. Copy the card number, expiry date and CVV from your card page and pay online.
- Enter the security code if asked. Some payments ask for a one-time code (this is called 3D Secure). Go to your card page. You will find the 3DS password and the latest one-time code there. Type the code in before it expires.
What it costs
| What | Cost |
|---|---|
| Deposit Monero | Shown on the invoice before you pay |
| Make a new card | $12.50, once |
| Monthly card fee | $10 per card, taken from your wallet |
| Add money to a card | 9.5% + $3 each time |
| Payments under 30 EUR | $0.87 per payment |
| Declined payment | $0.87 |
| Take money off a card | $1 or 1% |
| Limit per payment | Up to $5,000 |
| Daily or monthly limit | No limit |
Example: say you pay $20 for a subscription. You add $25 to the card. The top-up fee is 9.5% of $25 ($2.38) plus $3, so $5.38. The payment is under 30 EUR, so there is also a $0.87 payment fee. You always see the exact fees before you confirm anything.
Where you can use it
The card works with many online services. Each guide below shows the exact steps:
- AI tools: pay for ChatGPT, Claude and Midjourney with Monero
- Servers: pay for a VPS with Monero
- Domains: buy a domain with Monero
- Streaming: pay for Netflix with Monero
- Creators: pay for OnlyFans with Monero
- Ads: pay for Facebook, Google and TikTok ads with Monero
- Games: buy games with Monero
Want to know how prepaid cards work? Read about the Monero prepaid card.
The store and the card issuer still check each payment, so a few payments may be declined.
How to keep it working
- Deposit early. Monero takes about 20 minutes to confirm. Don't wait until the day a payment is due.
- Keep a little extra on the card. A few dollars more than you plan to spend is enough.
- Keep money in your wallet for the monthly card fee. If your wallet can't pay the $10 when it's due, the card is closed for good. Any money left on it goes back to your wallet.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Monero deposit take?
Usually about 20 minutes. Monero needs 10 network confirmations before the money shows in your wallet.
What if I send the wrong amount of Monero?
Always send the exact amount the invoice shows. If you send too little, the deposit may not finish. Contact support with your transaction ID and we will help.
Can I buy a Visa card with Monero?
Yes. Deposit XMR into your HideTap wallet, then make a Shield 3DS Card. It is a US dollar Visa card for online payments.
Is it a physical card?
No. It is a virtual card for online payments. There is no plastic card and no ATM cash.
Can I get my money back off the card?
Yes. While the card is active, you can move money from the card back to your wallet. This costs $1 or 1%.
Does the store see my name?
The store sees the alias name on the card, not your real name.
Get started
Make a HideTap account, deposit Monero and make your first card. You can be paying online in about 20 minutes.
