PST.NET
A niche virtual-card service for online/media-buying use cases with crypto funding - usable for its purpose, but tier subscriptions, per-card fees and the niche positioning make it a poor general spending card.
The bitcoin flow
Source note: USDT/BTC funding documented; card catalog live (20+ types, 22 BINs, USD/EUR). Complaint pattern (2023 bitcointalk case + web-surfaced reviews): withdrawals restricted to USDT-TRC20 with minimums and multi-day processing.
Review
Overview
PST.NET is an active, crypto-native provider of virtual Visa prepaid cards, primarily aimed at media buyers funding online ad platforms like Google and TikTok. The service accepts on-chain Bitcoin and USDT for funding, with full KYC required via Sumsub. While positioned as a fee-free solution for digital advertising spend, its structure - subscription tiers, per-card fees, and custodial balances - makes it a niche tool rather than a general-purpose spending card.
Fees & Costs
Account top-ups are advertised as fee-free, but loading funds onto a card incurs a fee of at least $1, varying by card type and only visible within the dashboard. Monthly maintenance equals the card’s issuance fee, charged every 30 days after the first free month. Cross-border transactions carry a 1% - 3% FX fee (minimum $0.50 or $1.00 depending on transaction size). Withdrawals to USDT-TRC20 are free but subject to a $10 minimum and manual review up to 14 days. A 30% prohibited-use charge (minimum $5) applies to restricted transactions. No ATM fees are documented, as the service is virtual-only.
KYC & Onboarding
Full KYC is required, executed via Sumsub with automated ID verification, biometric checks, and real-time AML monitoring. The process applies site-wide, with no tiered relaxation currently advertised. Users must submit identity documents and complete biometric verification before accessing services. Ordering is instant post-KYC, but only virtual cards are available - no physical options. The operator’s jurisdiction and legal entity details remain unverified, raising transparency concerns.
Coins & Top-up
You can fund your account directly with on-chain Bitcoin or USDT, with no Lightning Network support. The timing of when Bitcoin is sold upon top-up is not documented. Settlement occurs off-exchange, with funds held in custodial balances. Minimum top-up amounts are not specified, but withdrawals are restricted to USDT-TRC20 with a $10 minimum. A documented complaint pattern notes multi-day processing delays and withdrawal restrictions, despite claims of fee-free and instant funding.
Rewards
The base product offers no cashback. Only the paid PST Private subscription provides rewards: 3% cashback on advertising spend with Google and TikTok, subject to plan caps and a minimum transaction value of $0.10. This cashback is not paid in Bitcoin and is limited to ad-spend activity - general purchases do not qualify. Rewards are not available on Ultima cards, further narrowing eligibility.
Reliability & Red Flags
Operator transparency is weak, with no verified legal entity or jurisdiction. A 2023 Bitcointalk thread documents a $27,500 BTC withdrawal being withheld after full KYC and account deletion, with allegations of a fabricated AML report. Additional Reddit threads label PST.NET a scam, citing blocked cards and demands to top up more to unfreeze. While the service is live and functional for its niche, custodial balances carry counterparty risk, and the complaint pattern suggests operational opacity. Data quality is reported, not verified - proceed with caution.
Verdict
PST.NET serves a narrow use case: crypto-funded virtual cards for digital ad spending. It is not suitable as a general Bitcoin debit card due to custodial risks, opaque fees, and a documented history of user disputes. If you proceed, use only small test loads and avoid large balances.
Pros
- USDT/BTC funding on virtual Visa
- Established in its niche (media buying)
Cons
- Subscription-tier pricing on top of fees
- Niche tool, not a general spending card
- No cashback
- Custodial balances with opaque operator
Facts
| Card type | Prepaid · Visa · Virtual |
|---|---|
| KYC | Full KYC |
| KYC trigger | - |
| Custody | Custodial |
| BTC load | Direct BTC top-up (on-chain) |
| BTC sale timing | Not documented |
| Lightning | no |
| Issuance | - |
| Monthly fee | not documented |
| Top-up fee | not documented |
| FX fee | 1% |
| ATM fee | - |
| Cashback | none |
| Regions | GLOBAL |
| Apple Pay | no / unknown |
| Operator | PST.NET |
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.
- PST.NET REVIEW. IT IS A SCAM!! HOW I LOST $27,000 IN BTC (Scam Accusations)
Documented single case: user accidentally sent $27,500 BTC (intended $120); withdrawal refused/hindered (min $300, USDT-TRC20 only, 14-day processing); after full KYC (Sumsub, US ID, source-of-funds) the account was DELETED with $591 balance + $27,500 pending withdrawal withheld; user says the AML report was fabricated (own chain checks clean) and traces office to a virtual REGUS address with 'roots back to Russia'; company described as legally registered in Canada. 889 reads, 3 pages.
- PST virtual cards service are a scam
r/Scams thread alleging PST virtual cards are a scam.
- Virtual card scam
r/Scams discussion of virtual-card scam patterns in PST context (per search result).
- PSTNET homepage (live 2026-09-19)
Live site: virtual cards for advertising/media buying (Ultima, Google-Ads, TikTok-Ads, Advertisement cards), 20+ card types in USD & EUR, 22 BINs, cards from $7, '0% transaction fee / 0% fee for declined payments / 0% fee for withdrawal from the card / 0% refund fee'. Footer on every page: 'Full eKYC execution - Partnered with industry leading eKYC provider Sumsub ... automated ID and biometric verification' plus real-time AML transaction monitoring. Affiliate program advertised.
- PSTNET Private page (re-fetch)
Re-fetched 2026-09-20 (200): PST Private subscription - '3% cashback for advertising spend on Google and TikTok', 100 free cards monthly, unlimited issuance/spends/deposits, 3D-Secure, free API, private manager; '0% transaction fee / 0% fee for declined payments / 0% fee for withdrawal from the card / 0% refund fee / 0% withdrawal fee'. Cashback remains ad-spend-only.
- PSTNET cards page (re-fetch)
Re-fetched 2026-09-20 (200): card catalog (Ultima 'from $7 card price, 0% withdrawal fee', Google 12 BINs, TikTok 3 BINs, Advertisement 15 BINs, platform-specific cards for Microsoft/LinkedIn/Pinterest/Reddit/Quora/Taboola/Outbrain/Snapchat). No top-up percentages published.
- PSTNET FAQ - official content (JSON API behind pst.net/faq)
First-party Strapi-style FAQ content (200, 37 items in 6 categories; pst.net/faq itself is a JS shell). Key answers: account funding is fee-free; direct card loads carry a card-type-dependent fee of at least $1 (rate dashboard-only); cross-border fee 1%-3% (min $0.50/$1.00); card monthly maintenance equals the issuance fee, first month included; cards from $1; 'Does PSTNET offer physical (plastic) cards? Not at the moment.'; withdrawals USDT-TRC20 min $10, free, manual review up to 14 days; restricted-use charge 30% min $5; PST Private cashback capped per plan, min $0.10/tx, not on Ultima cards.
- PST.NET official blog - oldest posts (Ghost Content API)
Official PST.NET blog (linked from pst.net, public Ghost content key from the site's own bundle): oldest post 'For Teams' published 2022-12-26 - the service was publicly operating by end of 2022.
- pst.net historical snapshots (service start window)
Wayback: on 2021-06-19 pst.net was still a parked/redirect page ('Click here to proceed'); by 2022-12-05 the domain served 'PST.NET - Virtual cards for payments. Crypto-fiat exchange'. Bounds the public service start to mid-2021..late-2022; combined with the official blog's first post (2022-12-26) this points to a ~2022 launch, but NO explicit founding year is published - founded_year intentionally left unset.