Side-by-side card comparison

Ethena Pay vs Kolo: overall score versus use-case fit

Ethena Pay Card has the higher Overall Score by 13 points (86 vs 73). Ethena Pay Card looks stronger for Cashback, Funds control, and Lowest fees, while Kolo Card comes out ahead for Travel and Transfers.

Information checked Sep 1, 202640 official sources reviewed

01 · Overall score versus use-case fit

Ethena Pay Card is the better all-round starting point

Ethena Pay Card has the higher Overall Score in this comparison. Kolo Card may be the better fit for Travel and Transfers. A score cannot tell you whether a provider will accept your application or whether every feature will be available where you live, so check the latest provider terms before signing up.

OverallEthena Pay86Kolo73Higher score
CashbackEthena Pay89Kolo54Higher score
TravelEthena Pay64Kolo70Higher score
Funds controlEthena Pay86Kolo56Higher score
Lowest feesEthena Pay87Kolo83Higher score
TransfersEthena Pay82Kolo92Higher score

Choose Ethena Pay Card if cashback and funds control matter most

Ethena Pay Card comes out ahead for Cashback, Funds control, and Lowest fees in this comparison. It is worth a closer look if those are the parts of a card you expect to use most.

  • Strong Standard cashback bands
  • No Standard monthly fee or FX markup
  • Collateral stays in linked wallets

Choose Kolo Card if travel and transfers matter most

Kolo Card comes out ahead for Travel and Transfers in this comparison. It is worth a closer look if those are the parts of a card you expect to use most.

  • Free virtual Visa Platinum
  • 2% BTC cashback for 30 days
  • Several withdrawal routes

Where each card has the edge

The overall leader does not win every use case, so the reason you want the card matters here.

Overall Score
Ethena Pay86
Kolo73

Ethena Pay Card has the higher Overall Score by 13 points.

Entry cost & FX
Ethena Pay$0 plan · 0% Ethena Pay markup; Visa rate applies FX
Kolo$0 plan · 1% FX

Ethena Pay Card has the lower published FX fee (0% Ethena Pay markup; Visa rate applies vs 1%).

Purchase rewards
Ethena Pay4% base · up to 5%
Kolo1% base · up to 2%

Ethena Pay Card has the higher published base cashback rate (4% vs 1%).

Funds control
Ethena PayHybrid custody
KoloCustodial balance

Ethena Pay Card uses a hybrid custody setup, while Kolo Card uses a custodial balance setup. Neither approach is always better, so choose the level of control you are comfortable with.

Everyday access
Ethena PayVirtual · Apple Pay
KoloVirtual · Apple Pay, Google Pay

Kolo Card lists more card formats and phone-wallet options (3 vs 2).

Money movement
Ethena Pay1 stablecoin · Stablecoin transfers; Ethena Pay user transfer; Bank withdrawal
Kolo5 stablecoins · Stablecoin transfers; Kolo user transfers, Transfers between your Kolo wallets; Withdraw to an eligible card, EUR SEPA withdrawal

Kolo Card lists more stablecoins and ways to send money out (10 vs 4).

02 · Read the shortlist

A closer look at the split decision

Start with the strengths that drive each use-case result, then test them against costs and access.

2 cards compared
Cashback
4%-5%
Plan cost
$0
FX fee
0% Ethena Pay markup; Visa rate applies
ATM fee
Not available
Card formats
Virtual
Wallet payments
Apple Pay
Receive methods
0 crypto · 0 fiat
Payout methods
1 crypto · 0 fiat
Cashback
1%-2%
Plan cost
$0
FX fee
1%
ATM fee
$1 + 0.65%
Card formats
Virtual
Wallet payments
Apple Pay, Google Pay
Receive methods
20 crypto · 0 fiat
Payout methods
20 crypto · 1 fiat

03 · Compare the details

See how the trade-offs line up

Comparable figures receive a marker; missing or unverified details stay visible instead of becoming an assumed advantage.

Best known Not disclosed
Cards
Ethena Pay CardOverall86
Kolo CardOverall73
01

Scores

6 fields
Overall Score
Ethena Pay Card
86
Kolo Card
73
Cashback score
Ethena Pay Card
89
Kolo Card
54
Travel score
Ethena Pay Card
64
Kolo Card
70
Funds control score
Ethena Pay Card
86
Kolo Card
56
Lowest fees score
Ethena Pay Card
87
Kolo Card
83
Transfers score
Ethena Pay Card
82
Kolo Card
92
02

Strengths & trade-offs

2 fields
Strengths
Ethena Pay Card
Strong Standard cashback bands, No Standard monthly fee or FX markup
Kolo Card
Free virtual Visa Platinum, 2% BTC cashback for 30 days
Trade-offs
Ethena Pay Card
Card access is still application-gated, One-day payment grace adds liquidation risk
Kolo Card
Conversion and FX fees can stack, Card spending uses a custodial wallet
03

Costs

7 fields
Plan cost
Ethena Pay Card
$0
Kolo Card
$0
FX fee
Ethena Pay Card
0% Ethena Pay markup; Visa rate applies
Kolo Card
1%
Top-up fee
Ethena Pay Card
Provider collateral-funding fee unknown; external network gas is separate
Kolo Card
0%
Card spending fee
Ethena Pay Card
0%
Kolo Card
Not disclosed
ATM fee
Ethena Pay Card
Not available
Kolo Card
$1 + 0.65%
Virtual card
Ethena Pay Card
USD 0
Kolo Card
Free
Physical card
Ethena Pay Card
Not disclosed
Kolo Card
Planned for Q3 2026; not currently available
04

Plans

2 fields
Available plans
Ethena Pay Card
3 plans: Standard, Pro, VIP
Kolo Card
Not disclosed
Top cashback plan
Ethena Pay Card
VIP: 5%
Kolo Card
Not disclosed
05

Everyday use

8 fields
Network
Ethena Pay Card
Visa
Kolo Card
Visa
Card formats
Ethena Pay Card
Virtual
Kolo Card
Virtual
ATM withdrawals
Ethena Pay Card
Not available
Kolo Card
Available
Mobile wallets
Ethena Pay Card
Apple Pay
Kolo Card
Apple Pay, Google Pay
Apps
Ethena Pay Card
iOS, Web
Kolo Card
iOS, Android
Daily spending limit
Ethena Pay Card
Dynamic, based on collateral market value
Kolo Card
$9,000/day
Monthly spending limit
Ethena Pay Card
Dynamic, based on collateral market value
Kolo Card
$9,000/month
ATM limit
Ethena Pay Card
Not available
Kolo Card
$500/withdrawal; 3 withdrawals/24h
06

Funding & transfers

5 fields
Networks
Ethena Pay Card
Ethereum, Polygon, Optimism, Arbitrum
Kolo Card
Not disclosed
Crypto deposits
Ethena Pay Card
Not disclosed
Kolo Card
Stablecoins: USDT, USDC, DAI, EURC, EURI; Other crypto: BTC, ETH, SOL, BNB, LTC +10
Fiat deposits
Ethena Pay Card
Not disclosed
Kolo Card
Not disclosed
Transfers
Ethena Pay Card
Stablecoin transfers; Ethena Pay user transfer; Bank withdrawal
Kolo Card
Stablecoin transfers; Kolo user transfers, Transfers between your Kolo wallets; Withdraw to an eligible card, EUR SEPA withdrawal
Payout currencies
Ethena Pay Card
Not disclosed
Kolo Card
EUR
07

Rewards

3 fields
Base cashback
Ethena Pay Card
4%
Kolo Card
1%
Max cashback
Ethena Pay Card
5%
Kolo Card
2%
Reward currency
Ethena Pay Card
AVAX
Kolo Card
BTC cashback
08

Earn

5 fields
Advertised APY
Ethena Pay Card
Up to 6% APY
Kolo Card
Not offered
How it works
Ethena Pay Card
Earn on spending balance
Kolo Card
Not offered
Separate deposit
Ethena Pay Card
No
Kolo Card
Not offered
Use balance for spending
Ethena Pay Card
Yes
Kolo Card
Not offered
Lock-up
Ethena Pay Card
No
Kolo Card
Not offered
09

Trust & availability

6 fields
Custody
Ethena Pay Card
Hybrid custody
Kolo Card
Custodial
Control until payment
Ethena Pay Card
You keep control
Kolo Card
Provider controls funds
Card issuer
Ethena Pay Card
Third National
Kolo Card
Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, Wirex Limited
Card processing
Ethena Pay Card
Signify Holdings, Inc. d/b/a Rain
Kolo Card
Not disclosed
Identity verification
Ethena Pay Card
Sumsub
Kolo Card
SumSub
Programme operator
Ethena Pay Card
Not disclosed
Kolo Card
Hardline Holding Limited
10

Sources

2 fields
Official sources
Ethena Pay Card
12
Kolo Card
28
Last reviewed
Ethena Pay Card
Sep 1, 2026
Kolo Card
Aug 28, 2026

04 · The trade-off

Ethena Pay Card is the stronger all-round choice

Ethena Pay Card finishes ahead with an Overall Score of 86 versus 73 for Kolo Card. Ethena Pay Card has the lower published FX fee (0% Ethena Pay markup; Visa rate applies vs 1%). Ethena Pay Card has the higher published base cashback rate (4% vs 1%).

Kolo Card still comes out ahead for Travel and Transfers, which may matter more than the overall result if that is how you plan to use the card. Ethena Pay Card uses a hybrid custody setup, while Kolo Card uses a custodial balance setup. Neither approach is always better, so choose the level of control you are comfortable with.

Kolo Card lists more stablecoins and ways to send money out (10 vs 4). Before applying, confirm availability in your country and recheck the provider's current fees and reward conditions.

If one card now looks like the better fit, you can check the latest application terms on the provider site or read our full Ethena Pay Card and Kolo Card reviews first.

05 · Common questions

Ethena Pay vs Kolo FAQ

Is Ethena Pay or Kolo better overall?

Ethena Pay Card has the higher Overall Score (86 vs 73). That does not make it better for everyone: your preferred fees, rewards, way of holding funds and country availability can change the practical choice.

Which has lower fees, Ethena Pay or Kolo?

Ethena Pay Card has the lower published FX fee (0% Ethena Pay markup; Visa rate applies vs 1%). Compare plan, FX, card-spend, top-up and ATM charges separately because one fee does not represent the full cost.

Which has better cashback, Ethena Pay or Kolo?

Ethena Pay Card has the higher published base cashback rate (4% vs 1%). Maximum rates may depend on tiers, caps, categories or other conditions, so the entry rate and reward asset matter too.

How do Ethena Pay and Kolo differ on custody?

Ethena Pay Card uses a hybrid custody setup, while Kolo Card uses a custodial balance setup. Neither approach is always better, so choose the level of control you are comfortable with.

How current is this Ethena Pay vs Kolo comparison?

The latest information check for these two cards was September 1, 2026, using 40 official sources in total. Each full card review lists its own check date, sources and anything the provider has not clearly disclosed.

06 · Try another angle

Compare either card with a nearby alternative, or build a different pair in the comparison workspace.

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