Coinbase Card vs Genome
Torn between Coinbase Card and Genome? The comparison below is built from the same test data we use across the rest of the site.
Both issue on Visa; both ask for ID + proof; only Coinbase Card takes crypto top-ups.
Coinbase Card is the more cost-effective option for everyday spending and travel thanks to its free virtual cards, no monthly fee, 0% foreign transaction fees. Genome is the better fit for power users who need ad spend and AI subscriptions.
Where they split
| Field | Coinbase Card | Genome |
|---|---|---|
| Card network | Visa | Visa |
| Card type | Crypto Card | Digital Bank / Neobank |
| KYC | ID + proof | ID + proof |
| Card issuance fee | Free | Virtual card 1 EUR (first 10); 10 EUR from 11th |
| Monthly fee | Free | Free EUR (card monthly fee); non-EEA personal account 20 EUR/mo or 200 EUR/yr |
| Top-up fee | Conversion spread ~2.49% | Non-Genome card top-up 3% (externally initiated 1%) |
| FX fee | No direct fee; spread applies | Non-card currency transactions 2%; EUR/USD/GBP conversion 1% |
| Crypto funding | Yes (160+ cryptocurrencies) | No |
| AI tool support | — | ChatGPT |
| Risk level | Low | Medium |
| Our rating | 8.6 | 9.3 |
| User reviews | 187 | 159 |
| Best for | App Store / Play · Free issuance | Ad spend · AI subscriptions |
A green left edge marks the side that holds the advantage on that row, where the data gives one.
The head to head
- If the monthly outgoings matter, Coinbase Card leaves more in your pocket than Genome.
- If you wear several hats, Genome is the more flexible of the pair.
- Only Coinbase Card takes crypto top-ups in our data — worth knowing before you decide.
- In our scoring, Genome finished ahead of Coinbase Card — not by a mile, but enough to tilt a tiebreak.
- If risk rating weights your choice, Coinbase Card is the calmer of the two.
Two cards, one decision
Both cards clear the same checkouts in our tests, so the call comes down to cost. Coinbase Card is cheaper on issuance (free) and top-ups (a 2.49% top-up), while Genome is worth the premium only for ad-platform billing and AI subscriptions.
Questions people ask
That depends on what you spend on. Coinbase Card scores 8.6/10 against Genome's 9.3/10 in our tests, but the two split on fees, KYC and crypto funding. Read the table above, then match it to the checkouts you actually run.
Coinbase Card works out cheaper: no virtual card issuance fee, free account maintenance, 0% foreign transaction fee. Genome adds about $1.09 per virtual card, a 2% FX fee, a 3% top-up fee.
Coinbase Card asks for ID + proof at signup; Genome asks for ID + proof. If a light sign-up is the priority, the one with the lower KYC label is the faster route.
Both show up in 2 of the same test scenarios, including Temu, Netlify. They overlap on a good share of checkouts, so the choice between them matters most on those pages. Where one is accepted and the other is not usually comes down to the billing country and 3-D Secure handling.
Where both show up
Coinbase Card and Genome both landed in our top picks for 2 checkouts. Grouped by category so you can jump straight to the one you actually pay for:
🛍️ Cross-border Shopping 1
🌐 Cloud & VPS 1
Their BIN ranges
Cards issued in 🇺🇸 US · 🇦🇺 Australia — the country guides group every range we track from there.
What our charge log shows
Every count here is a real charge attempt we placed on that range, renewals included, with the gateway response recorded. Weeks tracked is how long the range has been in the programme: