Ethena PayEthena Pay
87
Side-by-side card comparison
Ethena Pay vs Uphold US: overall score versus use-case fit
Ethena Pay Card has the higher Overall Score by 17 points (87 vs 70). Ethena Pay Card looks stronger for Cashback, Funds control, Lowest fees, and Transfers, while Uphold Card US comes out ahead for Travel.
Information checked Oct 14, 202626 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. Uphold Card US may be the better fit for Travel. 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 Pay87Uphold US70Higher score
CashbackEthena Pay89Uphold US75Higher score
TravelEthena Pay68Uphold US71Higher score
Funds controlEthena Pay86Uphold US44Higher score
Lowest feesEthena Pay87Uphold US56Higher score
TransfersEthena Pay82Uphold US65Higher score
Choose Ethena Pay Card if cashback and funds control matter most
Ethena Pay Card comes out ahead for Cashback, Funds control, Lowest fees, and Transfers 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 Uphold Card US if travel matters most
Uphold Card US comes out ahead for Travel in this comparison. It is worth a closer look if those are the parts of a card you expect to use most.
- Essential has no annual fee
- Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Elite raises spending limits
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 Pay87Uphold US70
Ethena Pay Card has the higher Overall Score by 17 points.
- Entry cost & FX
- Ethena Pay$0 plan · 0–1% FXUphold US$0 plan · 0–1.5% FX
Ethena Pay Card has the lower published FX fee (0–1% vs 0–1.5%).
- Purchase rewards
- Ethena Pay4% base · up to 5%Uphold US2% base · up to 4%
Ethena Pay Card has the higher published base cashback rate (4% vs 2%).
- Funds control
- Ethena PayHybrid custodyUphold USCustodial balance
Ethena Pay Card uses a hybrid custody setup, while Uphold Card US 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 PayUphold USVirtual + Physical · Apple Pay, Google Pay
Uphold Card US lists more card formats and phone-wallet options (4 vs 2).
- Money movement
- Ethena Pay1 stablecoin · Stablecoin transfers; Ethena Pay user transfer; Bank withdrawalUphold US0 stablecoins · US bank withdrawal
Ethena Pay Card lists more stablecoins and ways to send money out (4 vs 2).
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.
- Cashback
- 4%-5%
- Plan cost
- $0
- FX fee
- 0–1%
- ATM fee
- $1 + 0.65% where ATM access is available; separate operator surcharge may apply
- Card formats
- Virtual
- Wallet payments
- Apple Pay
- Receive methods
- 0 crypto · 0 fiat
- Payout methods
- 1 crypto · 0 fiat
- Cashback
- 2%-4%
- Plan cost
- $0
- FX fee
- 0–1.5%
- ATM fee
- Essential: $2.95; Elite: $0
- Card formats
- Virtual, Physical
- Wallet payments
- Apple Pay, Google Pay
- Receive methods
- 0 crypto · 3 fiat
- Payout methods
- 0 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
CardsEthena Pay CardOverall87Uphold Card USOverall70
Ethena Pay CardOverall87Uphold Card USOverall70Scores
6 fields- Overall Score
- Ethena Pay Card87Uphold Card US70
- Cashback score
- Ethena Pay Card89Uphold Card US75
- Travel score
- Ethena Pay Card68Uphold Card US71
- Funds control score
- Ethena Pay Card86Uphold Card US44
- Lowest fees score
- Ethena Pay Card87Uphold Card US56
- Transfers score
- Ethena Pay Card82Uphold Card US65
Strengths & trade-offs
2 fields- Strengths
- Ethena Pay CardStrong Standard cashback bands, No Standard monthly fee or FX markupUphold Card USEssential has no annual fee, Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Trade-offs
- Ethena Pay CardCard access is still application-gated, One-day payment grace adds liquidation riskUphold Card USAsset sales can reduce rewards, Rewards have a disputed time window
Costs
7 fields- Plan cost
- Ethena Pay Card$0Uphold Card US$0
- FX fee
- Ethena Pay Card0–1%Uphold Card US0–1.5%
- Top-up fee
- Ethena Pay CardProvider collateral-funding fee unknown; external network gas is separateUphold Card USACH: no deposit fee; external card: 3.99%
- Card spending fee
- Ethena Pay Card0%Uphold Card USNot disclosed
- ATM fee
- Ethena Pay Card$1 + 0.65% where ATM access is available; separate operator surcharge may applyUphold Card USEssential: $2.95; Elite: $0
- Virtual card
- Ethena Pay CardUSD 0Uphold Card USFree on both plans
- Physical card
- Ethena Pay CardNot disclosedUphold Card USEssential: $4.99 plastic; Elite: metal included in $99.99 annual plan
Plans
2 fields- Available plans
- Ethena Pay Card3 plans: Standard, Pro, VIPUphold Card US2 plans: Essential, Elite
- Top cashback plan
- Ethena Pay CardVIP: 5%Uphold Card USElite: 3%
Everyday use
8 fields- Network
- Ethena Pay CardVisaUphold Card USVisa
- Card formats
- Ethena Pay CardVirtualUphold Card USVirtual, Physical
- ATM withdrawals
- Ethena Pay CardNot disclosedUphold Card USAvailable
- Mobile wallets
- Ethena Pay CardApple PayUphold Card USApple Pay, Google Pay
- Apps
- Ethena Pay CardiOS, WebUphold Card USiOS, Android
- Daily spending limit
- Ethena Pay CardDynamic, based on collateral market valueUphold Card USEssential: $2,500/day; Elite: $25,000/day
- Monthly spending limit
- Ethena Pay CardDynamic, based on collateral market valueUphold Card USEssential: $10,000/month; Elite: $100,000/month
- ATM limit
- Ethena Pay CardNot availableUphold Card USEssential: $500/day, $2,000/month; Elite: $2,000/day, $10,000/month
Funding & transfers
5 fields- Networks
- Ethena Pay CardEthereum, Polygon, Optimism, ArbitrumUphold Card USNot disclosed
- Crypto deposits
- Ethena Pay CardNot disclosedUphold Card USNot disclosed
- Fiat deposits
- Ethena Pay CardNot disclosedUphold Card USLinked US bank account, USD bank transfer, External card deposit
- Transfers
- Ethena Pay CardStablecoin transfers; Ethena Pay user transfer; Bank withdrawalUphold Card USUS bank withdrawal
- Payout currencies
- Ethena Pay CardNot disclosedUphold Card USUSD
Rewards
3 fields- Base cashback
- Ethena Pay Card4%Uphold Card US2%
- Max cashback
- Ethena Pay Card5%Uphold Card US4%
- Reward currency
- Ethena Pay CardAVAXUphold Card USXRP
Earn
5 fields- Advertised APY
- Ethena Pay CardUp to 6% APYUphold Card USNot offered
- How it works
- Ethena Pay CardEarn on spending balanceUphold Card USNot offered
- Separate deposit
- Ethena Pay CardNoUphold Card USNot offered
- Use balance for spending
- Ethena Pay CardYesUphold Card USNot offered
- Lock-up
- Ethena Pay CardNoUphold Card USNot offered
Trust & availability
6 fields- Custody
- Ethena Pay CardHybrid custodyUphold Card USCustodial
- Control until payment
- Ethena Pay CardYou keep controlUphold Card USProvider controls funds
- Card issuer
- Ethena Pay CardThird NationalUphold Card USCross River Bank
- Card processing
- Ethena Pay CardSignify Holdings, Inc. d/b/a RainUphold Card USNot disclosed
- Custody / key management
- Ethena Pay CardNot disclosedUphold Card USUphold HQ Inc.
- Identity verification
- Ethena Pay CardSumsubUphold Card USNot disclosed
Sources
2 fields- Official sources
- Ethena Pay Card13Uphold Card US13
- Last reviewed
- Ethena Pay CardOct 6, 2026Uphold Card USOct 14, 2026
04 · The trade-off
Ethena Pay Card is the stronger all-round choice
Ethena Pay Card finishes ahead with an Overall Score of 87 versus 70 for Uphold Card US. Ethena Pay Card has the lower published FX fee (0–1% vs 0–1.5%). Ethena Pay Card has the higher published base cashback rate (4% vs 2%).
Uphold Card US still comes out ahead for Travel, 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 Uphold Card US uses a custodial balance setup. Neither approach is always better, so choose the level of control you are comfortable with.
Ethena Pay Card lists more stablecoins and ways to send money out (4 vs 2). 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 Uphold Card US reviews first.
Continue with
Ethena Pay Card
Continue with
Uphold Card US
05 · Common questions
Ethena Pay vs Uphold US FAQ
Is Ethena Pay or Uphold US better overall?
Ethena Pay Card has the higher Overall Score (87 vs 70). 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 Uphold US?
Ethena Pay Card has the lower published FX fee (0–1% vs 0–1.5%). 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 Uphold US?
Ethena Pay Card has the higher published base cashback rate (4% vs 2%). 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 Uphold US differ on custody?
Ethena Pay Card uses a hybrid custody setup, while Uphold Card US 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 Uphold US comparison?
The latest information check for these two cards was October 14, 2026, using 26 official sources in total. Each full card review lists its own check date, sources and anything the provider has not clearly disclosed.