Exactly Protocol / ExaExa
67
Side-by-side card comparison
Exa vs Lava: overall score versus use-case fit
Exa Card has the higher Overall Score by 5 points (67 vs 62). Exa Card looks stronger for Travel, Funds control, Lowest fees, and Transfers, while Lava Card comes out ahead for Cashback.
Information checked Oct 6, 202659 official sources reviewed
01 · Overall score versus use-case fit
Exa Card is the better all-round starting point
Exa Card has the higher Overall Score in this comparison. Lava Card may be the better fit for Cashback. 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.
OverallExa67Lava62Higher score
CashbackExa19Lava36Higher score
TravelExa62Lava46Higher score
Funds controlExa88Lava56Higher score
Lowest feesExa68Lava59Higher score
TransfersExa97Lava80Higher score
Choose Exa Card if travel and funds control matter most
Exa Card comes out ahead for Travel, 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.
- Deposited assets can earn yield
- Spend balance or borrow USDC
- Self-custody on Exactly Protocol
Choose Lava Card if cashback matters most
Lava Card comes out ahead for Cashback in this comparison. It is worth a closer look if those are the parts of a card you expect to use most.
- No provider card FX fee
- BTC rewards at selected partners
- Stablecoin and bank funding
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
- Exa67Lava62
Exa Card has the higher Overall Score by 5 points.
- Entry cost & FX
- Exa$0 plan · 1.5% FXLava$0 plan · 0% provider FX fee FX
Lava Card has the lower published FX fee (0% provider FX fee vs 1.5%).
- Purchase rewards
- Exa0% cashbackLavaUp to 5%
The providers have not published enough matching base cashback information to name a winner. Check the maximum rates, reward assets, caps and conditions below.
- Funds control
- ExaSelf-controlled walletLavaHybrid custody
Exa Card uses a self-controlled wallet setup, while Lava Card uses a hybrid custody setup. Neither approach is always better, so choose the level of control you are comfortable with.
- Everyday access
- ExaVirtual · Apple Pay, Google PayLavaCard format not disclosed · Apple Pay, Google Pay
Exa Card lists more card formats and phone-wallet options (3 vs 2).
- Money movement
- Exa1 stablecoin · Stablecoin transfers; USD ACH bank payout, USD domestic wire payout, EUR SEPA bank payoutLava3 stablecoins · Stablecoin transfers; Lava account bank withdrawal
Both cards list the same number of stablecoins and ways to send money out.
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.
67
- Cashback
- 0%
- Plan cost
- $0
- FX fee
- 1.5%
- ATM fee
- $1 + 0.65%
- Card formats
- Virtual
- Wallet payments
- Apple Pay, Google Pay
- Receive methods
- 5 crypto · 4 fiat
- Payout methods
- 1 crypto · 2 fiat
- Cashback
- Up to 5%
- Plan cost
- $0
- FX fee
- 0% provider FX fee
- ATM fee
- 2%; min $1
- Card formats
- Not disclosed
- Wallet payments
- Apple Pay, Google Pay
- Receive methods
- 3 crypto · 1 fiat
- Payout methods
- 1 crypto · 2 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
CardsExa CardOverall67Lava CardOverall62
Exa CardOverall67Lava CardOverall62Scores
6 fields- Overall Score
- Exa Card67Lava Card62
- Cashback score
- Exa Card19Lava Card36
- Travel score
- Exa Card62Lava Card46
- Funds control score
- Exa Card88Lava Card56
- Lowest fees score
- Exa Card68Lava Card59
- Transfers score
- Exa Card97Lava Card80
Strengths & trade-offs
2 fields- Strengths
- Exa CardDeposited assets can earn yield, Spend balance or borrow USDCLava CardNo provider card FX fee, BTC rewards at selected partners
- Trade-offs
- Exa CardHeavy Exactly Protocol dependency, Pay Later needs DeFi literacyLava CardCard access remains unclear, USD settlement is custodial
Costs
7 fields- Plan cost
- Exa Card$0Lava Card$0
- FX fee
- Exa Card1.5%Lava Card0% provider FX fee
- Top-up fee
- Exa Card1%Lava CardNo added Lava funding markup. Banks and payment providers may charge; the FAQ lists 1.25% same-day ACH and $25 domestic wire. Regular ACH, SEPA and SPEI are listed as free where eligible. The fee recipient is not specified
- Card spending fee
- Exa CardNot disclosedLava CardNot disclosed
- ATM fee
- Exa Card$1 + 0.65%Lava Card2%; min $1
- Virtual card
- Exa CardFree with Exa WalletLava CardNot disclosed
- Physical card
- Exa CardNot availableLava CardNot disclosed
Plans
2 fields- Available plans
- Exa CardNot disclosedLava CardNot disclosed
- Top cashback plan
- Exa CardNot disclosedLava CardNot disclosed
Everyday use
8 fields- Network
- Exa CardVisaLava CardVisa
- Card formats
- Exa CardVirtualLava CardNot disclosed
- ATM withdrawals
- Exa CardAvailableLava CardNot disclosed
- Mobile wallets
- Exa CardApple Pay, Google PayLava CardApple Pay, Google Pay
- Apps
- Exa CardiOS, Android, WebLava CardiOS, Android, Web
- Daily spending limit
- Exa CardDynamic / collateral-based; exact Exa App limit shown in appLava CardAccount-specific and collateral-dependent; universal daily amount not disclosed.
- Monthly spending limit
- Exa CardDynamic / collateral-based; exact Exa App limit shown in appLava CardAccount-specific; universal monthly amount not disclosed.
- ATM limit
- Exa Card$250/withdrawal; $1000/dayLava CardAccess is conditional; withdrawal limits not disclosed.
Funding & transfers
5 fields- Networks
- Exa CardOptimismLava CardSolana, Ethereum, Arbitrum, Avalanche, Base, Celo +4
- Crypto deposits
- Exa CardStablecoins: USDC; Other crypto: ETH, OP, WBTC, wstETHLava CardStablecoins: USDC, USDT, PYUSD
- Fiat deposits
- Exa CardUSD ACH deposit, USD wire deposit, EUR SEPA deposit, Local currency depositLava CardLava account bank funding
- Transfers
- Exa CardStablecoin transfers; USD ACH bank payout, USD domestic wire payout, EUR SEPA bank payoutLava CardStablecoin transfers; Lava account bank withdrawal
- Payout currencies
- Exa CardUSD, EURLava CardUSD, EUR
Rewards
3 fields- Base cashback
- Exa Card0%Lava CardNot disclosed
- Max cashback
- Exa Card0%Lava Card5%
- Reward currency
- Exa CardNo cashbackLava CardBTC
Earn
5 fields- Advertised APY
- Exa CardUp to 0.99776% APYLava CardUp to 6.5% APY
- How it works
- Exa CardEarn on spending balance, Borrow against collateralLava CardOptional earn vault
- Separate deposit
- Exa CardNoLava CardYes
- Use balance for spending
- Exa CardYesLava CardNo
- Lock-up
- Exa CardNoLava CardNo
Trust & availability
6 fields- Custody
- Exa CardSelf-custodyLava CardHybrid custody
- Control until payment
- Exa CardYou keep controlLava CardProvider controls funds
- Card issuer
- Exa CardThird National Bank, Third NationalLava CardThird National
- Card processing
- Exa CardExa Labs SASLava CardNot disclosed
- Deposits & withdrawals
- Exa CardBridge, MantecaLava CardNot disclosed
- Programme operator
- Exa CardExa Labs SASLava CardNot disclosed
Sources
2 fields- Official sources
- Exa Card31Lava Card28
- Last reviewed
- Exa CardSep 6, 2026Lava CardOct 6, 2026
04 · The trade-off
Exa Card is the stronger all-round choice
Exa Card finishes ahead with an Overall Score of 67 versus 62 for Lava Card. Lava Card has the lower published FX fee (0% provider FX fee vs 1.5%). The providers have not published enough matching base cashback information to name a winner. Check the maximum rates, reward assets, caps and conditions below.
Lava Card still comes out ahead for Cashback, which may matter more than the overall result if that is how you plan to use the card. Exa Card uses a self-controlled wallet setup, while Lava Card uses a hybrid custody setup. Neither approach is always better, so choose the level of control you are comfortable with.
Both cards list the same number of stablecoins and ways to send money out. 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 Exa Card and Lava Card reviews first.
Continue with
Exa Card
Continue with
Lava Card
05 · Common questions
Exa vs Lava FAQ
Is Exa or Lava better overall?
Exa Card has the higher Overall Score (67 vs 62). 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, Exa or Lava?
Lava Card has the lower published FX fee (0% provider FX fee vs 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, Exa or Lava?
The providers have not published enough matching base cashback information to name a winner. Check the maximum rates, reward assets, caps and conditions below. Maximum rates may depend on tiers, caps, categories or other conditions, so the entry rate and reward asset matter too.
How do Exa and Lava differ on custody?
Exa Card uses a self-controlled wallet setup, while Lava Card uses a hybrid custody setup. Neither approach is always better, so choose the level of control you are comfortable with.
How current is this Exa vs Lava comparison?
The latest information check for these two cards was October 6, 2026, using 59 official sources in total. Each full card review lists its own check date, sources and anything the provider has not clearly disclosed.