Card, crypto and comparison terms explained without shortcuts

Also seen as direct card balance · via provider account · via connected wallet

The account or wallet through which a money-movement route is available, such as a direct card balance, provider account, or connected wallet. The route’s existence in one scope does not make it available everywhere.

Also seen as entry rate · base rate · default rate · ungated rate · accessible rate

The accessible or entry rate is the lowest currently confirmed purchase-reward rate available under the stated starting conditions. It is not necessarily free of account, plan, residence or eligibility requirements.

Also seen as USD ACH · ACH deposit/payout

Automated Clearing House is a United States electronic bank-payment network. Product support can differ for incoming and outgoing transfers, while timing, limits, reversibility and account-ownership rules remain route-specific.

Also seen as advertised APY · current APY · 7-day mean · 30-day mean · live vault APY

Advertised APY is a provider's promoted or stated rate, while observed APY describes a current or historical measurement from the product or strategy. The two values can use different periods and assumptions.

Also seen as Partner links never affect rankings · commercial neutrality

Affiliate neutrality means commercial relationships, tracked links and potential compensation are kept outside scores, rankings, recommendation eligibility and inclusion in top-card views.

Also seen as annual plan · annual membership fee · issuer annual fee

An annual fee is a recurring charge billed once for each applicable year of card, plan or membership access. The responsible entity and included benefits should be stated explicitly.

Also seen as app required · eligible account · account-gated · provider account required

App/account required means the card depends on a specified application, wallet or provider account and sometimes a particular account status. Country access and completed KYC may still be insufficient without it.

Also seen as eligibility · signup requirements · card access · applicant qualification

Applicant eligibility means whether a particular person meets the provider's rules for applying for or receiving the card, such as age, residence, account status or completed identity checks.

Also seen as Annual Percentage Yield · advertised APY · variable APY · up to APY

Annual Percentage Yield is an annualized expression of a yield rate that can reflect compounding assumptions. It helps compare rates, but an advertised or variable APY is not a promise of future return or principal protection.

Also seen as supported asset and network combinations

A structured pairing of each supported crypto asset with the blockchain networks and directions available for it. The map prevents a ticker from being treated as universally depositable, withdrawable, or spendable across every network.

Also seen as crypto conversion · crypto-to-fiat conversion · card-spend conversion

Asset conversion changes one crypto, stablecoin or fiat-denominated balance into the asset or currency needed for funding or settlement. It can occur before deposit, at purchase authorization or during settlement.

Also seen as asset and network · USDC on Ethereum · USDT on TRON · network-specific asset

An asset-network combination identifies both the token or coin and the blockchain route used to move it. The same ticker on two networks may require different addresses, standards, fees and provider support.

Also seen as ATM withdrawals · cash access

ATM access means the card can be used to request cash from compatible machines. It says nothing by itself about withdrawal fees, operator surcharges, supported formats, currencies or transaction limits.

Also seen as ATM withdrawal fee · fixed fee · percentage fee · ATM overage fee

An ATM fee is the provider or issuer charge for a cash withdrawal. A flat amount, percentage charge or allowance overage can apply alone or together under the card's rules.

Also seen as ATM operator fee · local ATM charge

An ATM operator surcharge is a fee imposed by the owner or operator of the cash machine. It is separate from the card provider's own withdrawal fee and may appear at the terminal.

Also seen as authorized payment · payment authorization

Authorization is the stage when a card transaction is checked and provisionally approved or declined. A balance may be reserved at this point even though final accounting and settlement happen later.

Also seen as credits as USDC/soUSD/EURe · conversion on deposit

An inbound process where the value sent is exchanged or credited as a different asset or currency before reaching the usable balance. The original asset may therefore disappear from the account immediately after receipt.

Also seen as available · likely available · limited · not available · availability unknown

Availability describes whether a card, feature or access route is offered in a stated place and status. cryptocard.guide qualifies the dimension—residence, issuance, delivery, feature or roadmap—rather than treating availability as one blanket yes/no.

Also seen as Eligibility · access score category

Availability & eligibility is the score category for documented geographic access, signup requirements and the clarity of identity or account conditions needed to obtain and use a card.

Also seen as availability evidence band · qualified availability state · access evidence state

Availability states express the strength and direction of current access evidence: available, likely available, limited, unknown or not available. Each state carries a different level of certainty and scope.