The appeal of using crypto for daily transactions has spiked recently, and for good reason. Crypto payments usually offer lower transaction fees compared to traditional payment methods, plus they’re secure, and can be completed within seconds.
That said, if you’re looking to learn how to spend crypto and Bitcoin for buying a cup of coffee, shopping, dining out, booking flights, paying for subscriptions and more, consider this article as your ultimate guide.
4 Ways to Spend Bitcoin and Crypto for Daily Transactions
Innovation is quick in the blockchain industry, so there are a lot of different ways to spend Bitcoin and crypto nowadays. However, the most convenient and reliable ones as of writing are as follows:
1. Crypto Debit Cards
A crypto and Bitcoin debit card allows you to spend your crypto holdings just as easily as you would spend money using a conventional bank card. For instance, with the Ka. Debit Card, you can do this by converting crypto into euro (EUR), and simply tapping your card in physical stores or entering your card details for online transactions.
Crypto debit cards are also cheap and easy to top up, especially if you’re using a beginner-friendly crypto wallet like Ka.app.
2. Crypto Wallet Transfers
If you don’t have a crypto debit card yet, another convenient way to spend crypto is by doing a wallet transfer. You can do this by getting the wallet address of the merchant or the recipient, and then sending crypto payments from your crypto wallet.
On Ka.app, crypto transfers take just a few seconds from any supported country. It’s also free when transferring funds to other Ka.app users.
3. Crypto Payment Gateways
Some merchants have partnered with crypto payment gateways or have integrated them into their payment systems to facilitate crypto transactions. The process usually involves you choosing the crypto option at checkout, at which point the gateway provides a payment/wallet address (often in the form of a QR code) that corresponds to the transaction amount converted into crypto based on current exchange rates.
The merchant can choose to keep a portion of or all the payments in cryptocurrency or directly convert them into traditional currency, depending on their preference and the gateway’s features.
4. Gift Cards
Crypto gift cards allow you to spend crypto without the need for merchants to directly accept them as a payment method. You can buy these gift cards from platforms that convert crypto into gift card credits, which are accepted by merchants.
Typically, when you purchase a gift card, your coins/tokens would be converted into a traditional currency and would be credited to your gift card. Then, you can use the gift card credits at any online or physical store that accepts them.
How to Spend Crypto & Bitcoin Using the Ka. Debit Card
We’ve already given a brief overview of how you can spend crypto and Bitcoin using the Ka. Debit Card, but for a more thorough explanation, here’s your step-by-step guide:
1. Order the Card
- Sign up/log in on Ka.app.
- Activate the Cash feature.
- Go to the Cash feature, and click/tap ‘Order Card.’
- Agree to the Terms & Conditions.
- Enter your delivery address, and confirm your order.
- Wait for your card to arrive within 5-10 business days.
2. Activate the Card
- Log in on Ka.app.
- Tap/click ‘Activate Card.’
- Set your card’s PIN code.
- Enter the 3-digit CVC from your card.
- And you’re done! Your card has been activated.
3. Top Up Your Card
There are different ways to add funds to your Ka. Debit Card:
- Transfer EUR into the app from your bank account to your crypto IBAN.
- Convert your existing crypto to EUR.
- Or deposit crypto from an external wallet, then convert crypto to EUR.
4.1 Use the Card for Online Payments
- Go to your preferred merchant’s website.
- Add items to your cart.
- Select Visa as your payment option at checkout.
- Enter your card details.
- Confirm your transaction.
4.2 Use the Card for In-Store Transactions
- Go to the physical store.
- Order/grab items as you wish.
- Go to the payment counter.
- Insert or tap your card at their POS terminal.
Note: As of writing, the Ka. Debit Card is only available for European Economic Area (EEA) users.
The Bottom Line
Spending crypto is easy nowadays, especially with the increased availability of crypto debit cards, crypto payment gateways, crypto gift cards, and crypto wallets like Ka.app offering free crypto transfers to other platform users.
While each method has its own advantages, selecting which one to use ultimately boils down to several factors, such as your chosen merchant, the fees, security, and the available cryptocurrencies, amongst many others.
For more information, please read the how to buy things with Bitcoin article.
FAQ
Where can I spend crypto?
Numerous online and physical stores accept crypto payments. Please contact the specific merchant directly to verify acceptance.
Are there fees associated with spending cryptocurrency?
It depends. Some platforms charge service fees for crypto payments, while some others don’t. If you’ll use Ka.app for a crypto transfer, for instance, the transaction is free if you’re sending to a fellow Ka.app user.
How fast are crypto transactions?
Crypto transaction speeds can vary depending on the platform and crypto you’re using. On Ka.app, doing a crypto transfer usually takes just a few seconds.
Is spending cryptocurrency safe?
Yes, spending crypto can be very safe if you take the right precautions. Transactions are secured by blockchain technology, which provides robust security against fraud. However, it’s crucial to ensure your wallet is secure, use strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication (2FA), and only transact with reputable and secure platforms.