Exa Card

The Exa Card is a free virtual Visa Signature credit card from Exa Labs that lets eligible users spend against crypto collateral without necessarily selling it first. Exa combines a self-custodial wallet with credit powered by Exactly Protocol.

Users can choose between paying immediately from assets in the Exa wallet or splitting a purchase into fixed-rate installments. When installments are selected, Exa borrows the required amount through Exactly Protocol and settles the merchant payment in fiat.

The card is virtual-only and is designed for online payments or mobile-wallet use. Exa markets it as an on-chain credit product rather than a conventional bank-issued unsecured credit card.

The Exa Card has two spending modes. In Pay Now mode, the purchase is deducted directly from assets available in the Exa wallet. In installment mode, Exa borrows the amount required from Exactly Protocol's fixed-rate lending markets and settles the merchant payment.

Users choose their preferred mode in the app before spending. If installments are selected, the interest rate is fixed at the time of the transaction and the user chooses the number of installments in advance.

Because the card is backed by assets held in the Exa ecosystem, spending power depends on the user's available funds or collateral rather than a traditional external credit score.

Exa is built around a self-custodial wallet model. Exa Labs states that its app uses account abstraction and passkeys to let users control assets without relying on a conventional custodial exchange account.

When the card is used in Pay Now mode, supported assets can be spent directly from the user's Exa wallet. In installment mode, crypto is used as collateral for borrowing through Exactly Protocol rather than being sold first.

The card transaction itself still relies on Visa and third-party issuing infrastructure, so the payment network is not self-custodial even though the underlying wallet and lending mechanics are on-chain.

No traditional credit check is required under Exa's current product model. The card's borrowing capacity is based mainly on the crypto assets and collateral available inside the Exa ecosystem rather than an external consumer credit score.

Exa calculates credit dynamically using factors such as eligible collateral, outstanding loans and recent card activity. Adding more eligible collateral can increase available borrowing power, while existing debt reduces it.

Applicants still need to complete KYC and satisfy card-issuance eligibility. No credit check therefore does not mean no onboarding or compliance review.

The Exa Card currently has no annual card fee. Exa also states that the card itself comes free with the Exa wallet.

Purchases made in currencies other than USD currently include a 1.5% foreign-exchange fee in the conversion rate. If the user chooses installment financing, the borrowing cost is reflected in the fixed interest rate quoted for that transaction, and Exa may include an origination fee within that financing cost.

The total cost therefore depends heavily on whether a purchase is paid immediately or financed. Users should review the simulated installment rate before confirming a financed purchase.

Exa publishes a general card purchase limit of $10,000 per week before an automated source-of-funds verification process can be triggered. Higher limits can be available after additional documentation is submitted.

The practical card limit is also constrained by the user's available spending or credit capacity. In Pay Now mode, that depends on supported assets available for spending. In installment mode, the limit depends on eligible collateral, loan-to-value rules and existing liabilities.

Exa can also apply dynamic account or card limits for compliance and risk reasons, so users planning a large purchase should check the current figure in the app first.

Exa's card and lending model supports selected crypto assets held in the Exa ecosystem. Exa's public documentation has specifically referenced assets such as USDC, ETH and wrapped Bitcoin when describing card spending and collateral.

The exact set of eligible assets can change according to the assets supported by Exa and Exactly Protocol. Not every token visible in a wallet should be assumed to qualify for credit or direct card spending.

Users should check the current card and collateral screens before transferring an asset specifically to increase card capacity. Loan-to-value ratios can also differ by asset.

Yes. Installment financing is one of the Exa Card's main features. Users can choose to split qualifying purchases into multiple fixed-rate installments instead of paying the full amount immediately.

Exa's current product page advertises up to nine fixed-rate installments. The rate is set when the transaction is made, so the user can see the financing cost before committing.

The installment amount is borrowed through Exactly Protocol and backed by eligible crypto collateral. This introduces liquidation and collateral-management risks that do not exist when the card is used in Pay Now mode.

Yes. Exa provides official setup instructions for Apple Pay and Google Wallet, allowing users to spend the virtual card at compatible contactless merchants.

This is important because Exa currently does not offer a physical card. For in-person purchases, the card is therefore primarily used through a supported phone or wearable.

Wallet availability still depends on the user's country, device and Apple or Google account configuration. Adding the card to a mobile wallet does not change the underlying Pay Now or installment settings selected in Exa.

No. Exa's current Help Centre states that the Exa Card is virtual-only and that physical cards are not available at the moment.

Users can access card details from the Exa app for online purchases and add the card to Apple Pay or Google Wallet for compatible in-store contactless payments.

The absence of a physical card means conventional chip-and-PIN use and ATM withdrawals are not part of the current standard Exa Card experience. Users who need a plastic card or cash access should factor that limitation into comparisons.

Exa currently supports card issuance across a broad but specific list of countries, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Singapore, South Africa, the UAE and Uruguay, among others. It also supports selected US states.

Exa separately lists jurisdictions where card issuance is unavailable, including India, Mainland China, Russia, Turkey and Venezuela. Spending is also blocked in selected sanctioned countries.

The supported-country list has changed over time, so users should rely on Exa's current availability page rather than older claims such as '180+ countries.' Availability of Visa merchant acceptance is broader than card-issuance eligibility.

The Exa Card is issued by third-party financial institutions under Visa licence rather than by Exa Labs itself. Exa's current card terms identify Third National as the issuer for the programme covered by those terms.

Exa Labs provides the app and integration with Exactly Protocol, while the issuer is responsible for the regulated card layer. This division matters when reviewing card disputes, payment-network rules and legal protections.

Exa also notes that issuer arrangements can vary by programme or jurisdiction, so the issuer shown in the user's current card terms should be treated as authoritative.

Yes. Exa currently markets the card as a Visa Signature product and highlights benefits such as airport-lounge access, Visa Digital Concierge, travel services, rental-car-related benefits and merchant discounts.

The exact benefit package depends on the Visa Signature programme attached to the issued card and can vary by country. Lounge access, for example, should not automatically be interpreted as unlimited complimentary visits.

Exa also promotes selected partner offers, such as discounts on Airalo eSIMs. Users should check the current Visa benefit portal and Exa app before valuing a specific travel perk.

Download the Exa app or use the web version, create an account and complete the required KYC process. Exa says the validation process for card issuance typically takes only a few minutes.

After verification, add funds or eligible collateral to the Exa account and request the virtual card from the Card section. The card can then be used online or added to Apple Pay or Google Wallet.

Before financing purchases, review the Pay Mode settings and simulate the installment rate. Users should also confirm that their country or US state is currently eligible for issuance.

The Exa Card is most compelling for users who want to borrow against crypto instead of selling it. It combines a free Visa Signature virtual card, no traditional credit check, self-custodial wallet architecture and the ability to choose between Pay Now and fixed-rate installments.

The main trade-offs are the absence of a physical card, a 1.5% non-USD FX fee and the additional risk that comes with collateralised borrowing. A financed purchase can expose the user to interest costs and changing collateral value.

For users who already hold supported crypto and understand DeFi borrowing, Exa can be distinctive. Users who simply want low-cost debit spending may prefer a simpler card.