Pay for an eSIM with crypto: buy direct or use a virtual card
There are two ways. Some eSIM shops, such as Bitrefill, take crypto right at checkout. Others, such as Airalo and Holafly, take cards and wallets, not crypto: for them you top up a virtual ExCards Visa or Mastercard with any crypto and pay with the card. Direct is simpler for one plan; the card works in any shop.
Crypto at checkout or a card: how the two paths differ
If the shop you want takes crypto and has a plan for your trip, you don't need a card at all. A card makes sense when the plan you want is sold by a shop that only takes cards, or when you also want to pay for the rest of the trip.
| Crypto at the eSIM shop's checkout | ExCards card topped up with crypto | |
|---|---|---|
| Which shops | Only shops that accept crypto, with their own choice of plans | Any shop that takes Visa or Mastercard, including Airalo and Holafly |
| What you need | A crypto wallet | A card: light passport check, issued within 10 minutes after verification |
| Extra costs | The network fee of your crypto transfer | The card price, paid once at issuance, and the top-up fee of the card, plus the network fee of the top-up |
| Plans that renew every month | Each purchase is a new crypto payment | The shop charges the saved card on each renewal while there is money on it |
| Rest of the trip | Only the eSIM | The same card pays hotels, rides and other bookings |
Neither path is better for everyone. For a single short trip with a plan you like at a crypto-friendly shop, paying directly is fewer steps. For repeat trips, monthly plans or a specific shop, the card is more flexible.
What the eSIM shops' help pages say
We read the official pages of these shops on 18.10.2026. We have not bought eSIMs for this page, so below is what the shops state, not our experience.
- Airalo takes cards and wallets. Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, UnionPay and JCB), PayPal, Apple Pay (not in every country), Google Pay, Alipay in the app, and Airalo's own Airmoney. Crypto is not on the list. Source: What payment methods do you accept?, checked 18.10.2026.
- Holafly takes cards, PayPal and Google Pay. Its buying guide shows PayPal and Google Pay for express checkout and a card form. Source: How to purchase the Holafly eSIM for the USA, checked 18.10.2026.
- Holafly monthly plans renew from the saved card. The subscription renews every 30 days with the payment method you set up; if a payment isn't processed within 5 days of the billing date the service is suspended, and after 30 days the eSIM is deactivated. Source: Holafly Subscription Service Terms, checked 18.10.2026.
- Bitrefill sells eSIMs for crypto. It takes crypto, cards and wallets, shows the eSIM code on screen and by email, and says an eSIM can be installed only once and its validity starts when it connects to a compatible network. Its Global plan is data only, without calls or SMS. Source: Bitrefill eSIMs and eSIM Global, checked 18.10.2026.
Plans, prices and coverage differ from shop to shop and change often, so compare them on the shop's own page before paying.
Which ExCards card fits an eSIM and the trip
All three cards pay online, pass 3D Secure and work with Apple Pay and Google Pay. The difference is the fee on each payment and whether the card pays at shop terminals.
| Visa Universe | Visa E-commerce | Mastercard Business | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card price (one-time, at issuance) | 29 USDT | 35 USDT | 50 USDT |
| Top-up fee | 2% | 3.5% | 3.5% |
| Fee per payment (authorization) | $0.50 flat | Free from $1, plus $0.03 per 3D Secure check | $0.50 flat, 3D Secure included |
| Online payments and 3D Secure | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Payments at shop terminals | No | Yes | Yes |
| Limit per payment | $1,000,000 | $20,000 | $250,000 |
An eSIM and other online travel bookings: Visa E-commerce. An eSIM purchase above $1 costs only the 3D Secure check, and the card also pays at terminals during the trip.
Big bookings paid online in advance: Visa Universe has the lowest top-up fee, 2%, but it does not pay at shop terminals, so take it for online payments only.
A work trip on company money: Mastercard Business, with higher limits and payments at terminals.
More about using the card abroad is on the crypto card abroad page.
How to pay for an eSIM with the card, step by step
- Issue the card. Sign up at app.excards.io, pass the light passport check and choose a card. The card price is paid once, at issuance. The virtual card is ready within 10 minutes after verification.
- Top up with any crypto. This is a separate step after the card is issued: send USDT, BTC, ETH or another supported coin to your deposit address. The first top-up is at least 10 USDT, and the top-up fee of your card is taken from each top-up. For a monthly plan keep a little more than one renewal on the card.
- Buy the plan. Check that your phone supports eSIM, pick the plan for your destination in the shop's app or website and pay with the card, giving the billing address you actually live at. Do this before the trip, while you have a stable connection to install the eSIM.
- Confirm and install. If a 3D Secure window opens, complete it right away. Then install the eSIM from the QR code or the app, following the shop's guide.
Common problems and what to do
| What you see | Likely reason | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Card declined at checkout | Balance below the price, or on Visa Universe and Mastercard Business the extra $0.50 per payment | Top up with a margin and try once more |
| Payment stuck, then declined | The 3D Secure check was not finished or timed out | Retry and complete the confirmation without closing the window |
| Monthly plan suspended | The renewal failed because the card balance was too low | Top up the card soon: Holafly suspends after 5 days and deactivates after 30 |
| The shop refuses the card whatever you do | The shop's checks did not accept this card | Stop retrying, try another of the three cards, buy from a shop that takes crypto, or write to @excards_bot |
| The card doesn't work at a shop terminal abroad | Visa Universe does not pay at terminals | Use Visa E-commerce or Mastercard Business for in-person payments |
Do not press "pay" over and over. On Visa E-commerce a $0.80 surcharge applies if more than 10% of the card's payments are declined. If the shop charges in a currency other than USD, the card issuer converts at its rate, which can include a markup of up to 2%. Where cards are available at all is on the geo restrictions page, and the payment calculator shows what a payment costs on each card.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy an eSIM with crypto?
Yes, in two ways. Some shops, such as Bitrefill, take crypto at checkout. Shops that only take cards, such as Airalo and Holafly, can be paid with an ExCards card that you top up with crypto. Whether a particular card payment goes through is decided by the shop's checks and card processing.
Is it cheaper to pay for an eSIM directly with crypto?
Directly you pay the plan price and the network fee of the transfer. With the card you also pay the card price once and the top-up fee of the card. If you only need one eSIM from a shop that takes crypto, paying directly usually costs less; the card pays off when you use it for more than that.
Can I pay Airalo or Holafly from a crypto wallet?
Their payment pages list cards, PayPal and wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, not crypto. So you top up a card with crypto from your wallet and pay the shop with the card.
Does an eSIM bought with crypto come with a phone number?
It depends on the plan. Bitrefill's Global plan, for example, is data only, without calls or SMS. Check the plan description in the shop before buying.
Which ExCards card is best for travel?
For an eSIM and other online bookings Visa E-commerce usually fits: payments from $1 carry no authorization fee, and the card also pays at shop terminals. Visa Universe has the lowest top-up fee but does not pay at terminals.
Is identity verification needed to get the card?
Yes. KYC is required for every ExCards card: a light passport check by the card issuer partner plus sanctions screening. The virtual card is issued within 10 minutes after verification is approved.
Get a card for your next trip
A virtual Visa or Mastercard topped up with any crypto: light KYC for every card, issued within 10 minutes after verification, no monthly fee.
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