KAST
The most complete stablecoin-spending account on the market: US/EU virtual bank accounts from anywhere, Visa Platinum cards with real 1.5% USD cashback on the free tier, instant cashback and no spending caps. Full KYC and a young operator are the trade-offs; the paid tiers only make sense for heavy spenders.
The bitcoin flow
Source note: Stablecoin deposits (USDC/USDT) are converted to USD 1:1 with 0% spread and 0% deposit fee; non-stablecoin crypto deposits (BTC/ETH/SOL etc.) auto-convert to stablecoins at 2-5% depending on token; USD bank deposits: ACH $2 flat, FedWire $15 flat; European payment-link deposits 0.6% processing + 0.3% FX (min $100)
Review
Overview
KAST is an active crypto-friendly neobank offering Visa debit cards (physical and virtual) to users globally, with full KYC required. It operates as a financial technology company, not a bank, partnering with licensed institutions for custody and payments. Bitcoin reaches the card through automatic conversion to stablecoins, but the exact timing of the sale is not documented.
Fees & Costs
KAST charges no monthly or top-up fees on its free Standard tier, and virtual or physical card issuance is free (two cards included). A 2% FX fee applies to non-USD card transactions, and ATM withdrawals incur a $3 flat fee plus 2% of the amount (with an additional 2% FX fee for non-USD withdrawals). Stablecoin deposits (USDC/USDT) are free, but non-stablecoin crypto deposits (BTC, ETH, SOL) are subject to a 2 - 5% conversion fee. ACH deposits cost $2, FedWire $15, and European payment-link deposits carry a 0.6% processing plus 0.3% FX fee (minimum $100). Inactivity fees are not documented.
KYC & Onboarding
KAST requires full KYC during account onboarding, including identity verification, biometric login, and multi-factor authentication, with real-time fraud monitoring. The process is mandatory to access any tier. Cards can be ordered immediately after verification, and physical cards are available on all tiers, including the free Standard plan. KAST emphasizes security but operates as a fintech, not a bank, with services delivered through regulated partners.
Coins & Top-up
Bitcoin cannot be loaded directly; it must be deposited and will auto-convert to USDC at a 2 - 5% fee. The exact timing of when BTC is sold is not documented. Lightning Network funding is not supported. USDC and USDT are accepted natively with 0% deposit fees and 1:1 conversion to USD. ETH and SOL are also supported but undergo the same auto-conversion process as BTC. Minimum top-up amounts are not documented, and settlement occurs via partner institutions with Fireblocks and BitGo handling custody.
Rewards
KAST offers 1.5% cashback in USD on all eligible purchases for its free Standard tier, credited instantly at transaction authorization. Premium ($1,000/year) and Private ($10,000/year) tiers offer 2% and 3% USD cashback, respectively, with additional KAST Points. Cashback is uncapped on the Standard tier, while Premium and Private tiers cap earnings at $50,000 and $200,000 per month, respectively. Rewards are paid in spendable USD, avoiding direct exposure to cryptocurrency volatility.
Reliability & Red Flags
KAST, founded in 2024, is a well-funded fintech with $80 million in Series A funding and partnerships with Solana and Pudgy Penguins. It uses institutional custody via Fireblocks and BitGo and has no documented incidents. However, it is not a bank and relies on third-party partners for regulated services. A Reddit user noted a transparency regression - KAST no longer publishes a public country list, though it claims to serve 170+ countries. Data quality is verified, but its youth and full-KYC model carry inherent counterparty and operational risks.
Verdict
KAST is a strong option for users seeking a free, globally accessible Visa debit card with real 1.5% USD cashback and no spending caps, especially those already using stablecoins. The lack of direct BTC top-ups and full KYC are trade-offs. The paid tiers are only cost-effective for very high spenders. Proceed with awareness of its non-bank status and young operational history.
Pros
- Free Standard tier with 1.5% instant USD cashback (Visa Platinum)
- US/EU virtual accounts (ACH, SEPA, wires) from anywhere
- Spending limited only by wallet balance - no monthly spend caps
- Direct SOL/ETH/BTC deposits auto-converted to USDC for spending
- Fireblocks/BitGo custody, $80M Series A, well-established partners
Cons
- Full KYC fintech, not a bank
- Premium tiers ($1,000/$10,000 per year) priced for high spenders only
- Stablecoin-centric: BTC/ETH/SOL only via conversion to USDC
- Young company (founded 2024)
Facts
| Card type | Debit · Visa · Physical + virtual |
|---|---|
| KYC | Full KYC |
| KYC trigger | Account onboarding with identity verification and real-time fraud monitoring |
| Custody | Custodial |
| BTC load | BTC via in-app conversion |
| BTC sale timing | Not documented |
| Lightning | no |
| Issuance | 2 free cards (virtual or physical) on Standard; 1 free premium card on Private; plated gold card included in Private |
| Monthly fee | none |
| Top-up fee | 0% |
| FX fee | 2% |
| ATM fee | 2% |
| Cashback | 1.5% in USD (cap: Standard unlimited; Premium earn cap $50,000/mo; Private earn cap $200,000/mo) |
| Regions | GLOBAL, US, EEA |
| Apple Pay | yes |
| Operator | KAST |
Score breakdown
FAQ
Is KYC required?
What fees does it charge?
How does bitcoin get onto the card and when is it sold?
Does it pay cashback in bitcoin?
Which regions does it serve?
Is it safe or legit?
Is the card physical or virtual?
Sources
Every claim traces to a source we fetched and dated. Community sources are individual threads, not paid reviews.
- EUR deposits into KAST now have 0% SEPA fees and no FX fee (!!!)
Brand-sub announcement post: EUR deposits via SEPA at 0% fee with no FX markup (received via user email), plus a $50 cashback campaign (min $2,000 SEPA deposit + $1,000 card spend). Documents live EEA banking rails.
- PSA: KAST Physical Card
Egyptian user report (Arabic): ordering the physical KAST card triggered a DHL customs-clearance invoice >2,000 EGP; KAST support refunded the charge. Real-world data point on physical-card shipping to MENA.
- Checked which crypto cards actually accept Indian residents, since RedotPay doesn't
Hands-on availability test with an Indian profile: 'KAST no longer publishes a country list anywhere, so it's out until an actual Indian holder says otherwise.' Notes a transparency regression - the 170+ countries claim is no longer backed by a public country list.
- KAST homepage - tiers and product (re-fetch)
Live homepage (fetched earlier in this research window, 200): Standard free (1.5% USD cashback, Visa Platinum, 2 free cards), Premium $1,000/yr, Private $10,000/yr. Confirms current tier naming that the older help-center snapshot predates.
- KAST Announces $80M Series A
Official announcement: $80M Series A co-led by QED Investors and Left Lane Capital, with Peak XV Partners, HSG and DST Global Partners participating. KAST reports >1 million users, ~$5B annualized transaction volume, and revenue doubled since end of September 2025. Funds go to product expansion, licensing/compliance and hiring.
- What Are the Fees and Conditions for KAST Cards and Accounts?
Official KAST help-center fee article (live page 403 from this IP, retrieved via Wayback snapshot 2026-01-12, article marked updated 2025-12-29). Documents: USD card spend 0%, non-USD card spend 2% FX fee; ATM withdrawal $3 flat + 2% (non-USD adds 2% FX), limits $250/withdrawal, 3 withdrawals or $750 per 24h; stablecoin deposits 0% fee converted 1:1 with 0% spread; non-stablecoin crypto deposits auto-convert at 2-5% per token; USD ACH $2, FedWire $15; EU payment-link deposits 0.6% + 0.3% FX; declined-transaction fee $0.50; small non-USD txn fee $0.10 under $25.