Figo vs Genome
Two virtual cards people weigh up side by side. We put Figo and Genome on the same rows so the difference is easy to see.
Figo issues on Visa (US BIN) and Genome on Visa; both ask for ID + proof; only Figo takes crypto top-ups.
Genome is the more cost-effective option for everyday spending and travel thanks to its no monthly fee. Figo is the better fit for power users who need crypto funding.
Where they split
| Field | Figo | Genome |
|---|---|---|
| Card network | Visa (US BIN) | Visa |
| Card type | Crypto Card | Digital Bank / Neobank |
| KYC | ID + proof | ID + proof |
| Card issuance fee | $2 (limited-time 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 | — | Non-Genome card top-up 3% (externally initiated 1%) |
| FX fee | 2% + $0.6 intl | Non-card currency transactions 2%; EUR/USD/GBP conversion 1% |
| Crypto funding | Yes (USDC/USDT/PYUSD) | No |
| AI tool support | — | ChatGPT |
| Risk level | Medium | Medium |
| Our rating | 8.2 | 9.3 |
| User reviews | 851 | 159 |
| Best for | Ad spend · Streaming | Ad spend · AI subscriptions |
A green left edge marks the side that holds the advantage on that row, where the data gives one.
What sets them apart
- Tight on fees? Genome is the cheaper card to hold day to day.
- Multi-task users get more from Genome — it clears more of the checkouts we run through our test suite.
- Figo can sit on a crypto balance; Genome cannot, so the call depends on how you fund it.
- In our scoring, Genome finished ahead of Figo — not by a mile, but enough to tilt a tiebreak.
The short version of the matchup
Genome is the cheaper card to hold: about $1.09 to create and a 3% top-up, against about $2 and no top-up fee at Figo. Figo earns its keep only if you need crypto funding.
Questions people ask
That depends on what you spend on. Figo scores 8.2/10 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.
Genome works out cheaper: free account maintenance. Figo adds about $2 per virtual card, a 2% FX fee.
Figo 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 4 of the same test scenarios, including Twitch, Snapchat Ads, Taboola. 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
Figo and Genome both landed in our top picks for 4 checkouts. Grouped by category so you can jump straight to the one you actually pay for:
📈 Ad Platforms 3
📺 Streaming & Entertainment 1
Their BIN ranges
Cards issued in 🇦🇺 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: