The short answerWirex has been running longer than almost any competitor and offers genuine multi-currency functionality alongside crypto spending. When its card issuer lost its licence in June 2023, EEA users were left without a working card until the programme moved to a new issuer — precisely the programme risk this category is scored on.
Best forA long-established multi-currency crypto card
True all-in costweight 25%
7.0avg 7.3
Issuer stabilityweight 20%
6.0avg 6.6
Coverageweight 20%
7.5avg 6.8
Rewards valueweight 15%
6.5avg 6.5
Custody & termsweight 10%
6.0avg 6.7
Supportweight 10%
5.5avg 6.4
this service category average across 15Score = Σ mark × weight. Usable, but there are better options for most people. Methodology.
| Criterion | Mark | What we found | Source | Checked |
|---|
| True all-in cost | 7.0 | not sourced yet | not sourced yet | — |
| Issuer stability | 6.0 | not sourced yet | not sourced yet | — |
| Coverage | 7.5 | not sourced yet | not sourced yet | — |
| Rewards value | 6.5 | not sourced yet | not sourced yet | — |
| Custody & terms | 6.0 | not sourced yet | not sourced yet | — |
| Support | 5.5 | not sourced yet | not sourced yet | — |
What we liked, and what fell short
Liked- Operating since 2014 with multi-currency accounts
- Free tier with reasonable base cashback
- Wide asset support for spending
Fell short- Lost EEA issuing capability in 2023 before restoring service
- Support quality is a persistent complaint
Why the marks landed where they did
Wirex launched in 2014 and has outlasted most crypto card programmes, offering multi-currency accounts, crypto spending and a free tier that works. Its history also contains the clearest example of why issuer stability matters.
The 2023 disruption
In June 2023 the Bank of Lithuania revoked the electronic money licence of UAB PayrNet, the issuer behind Wirex's EEA cards, for anti-money-laundering failures. Wirex customers in the region found their cards stopped working with little notice, though account balances and IBAN services were unaffected, and the programme was moved to Transact Payments Malta. Nobody lost funds, and people who relied on the card for daily spending discovered how quickly that reliance can be interrupted by a partner's regulator.
What it offers
Multi-currency accounts holding fiat and crypto, spending in a range of currencies, and a cashback programme tied to holding WXT tokens. The free tier is usable; premium tiers carry monthly fees for higher limits and better rates.
Support
Consistently the weakest part of the product according to user reports — slow responses and difficulty escalating problems, which compounds badly when a card fails abroad.
Who should use it
Users specifically wanting multi-currency accounts alongside crypto spending, who keep an alternative card available. For pure crypto spending, better-supported alternatives exist.
FAQ
What happened to Wirex in 2023?+
The Bank of Lithuania revoked the licence of its card issuer UAB PayrNet in June 2023, leaving EEA users without working cards until Wirex moved the programme to Transact Payments Malta. No funds were lost.
Does Wirex charge monthly fees?+
The base tier is free; premium tiers carry monthly fees for higher limits and improved rates.
How is Wirex support?+
Consistently criticised — slow responses and limited escalation, which is a significant weakness for a payments product.
What makes Wirex different?+
Multi-currency accounts holding both fiat and crypto, which is broader functionality than most crypto cards offer.
