I live in a blocked state. Can I use ether.fi Cash?

No. If you're in Arizona, Washington, Ohio, or another blocked state, ether.fi will reject your application during KYC due to money-transmitter licensing constraints. You may be eligible for alternatives like Crypto.com Card, depending on your location.

Do I pay FX fees on every transaction outside the USA?

Only on non-USD/EUR currencies. If you spend in EUR (Europe), GBP (UK), or USD (USA), you pay 0%. If you spend in CAD, JPY, or other currencies, you pay 1%.

How long does KYC take?

Typically 5–15 minutes. Most users are approved within 24 hours. Peak periods may extend this to 48 hours. There is no cost to apply.

Can I use ether.fi Cash if I travel to a blocked country temporarily?

Your card will not process transactions in countries on the transaction-block list (Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria, Cuba, Venezuela, Myanmar, Ukraine). You can use it in most other countries, but check ether.fi's policy before travel.

Is my ETH safe if I use ether.fi Cash?

Your ETH remains in self-custody—ether.fi does not hold it. The card draws on your staked balance, and you control the private keys. Crypto is volatile; this is a non-custodial product, so your assets are always under your control.

What happens if ether.fi shuts down?

Your ETH is not at risk—it stays in your self-custodial wallet. The card would stop working, but your assets remain under your control. This is the key advantage of non-custodial design.

Does Ether.fi Cash Work in the USA?

Short answer: Yes—in most US states. The ether.fi Cash card (a Visa issued on the Scroll network) is available to eligible residents of most states but blocked in certain jurisdictions due to money-transmitter licensing constraints.

Signal: If you’re in California, Texas, Florida, New York, or most other major states, you can open an account, activate the card, and start earning cashback within 24–48 hours of passing KYC.

Key metric: Blocked states represent fewer than 25% of the US; the card is available in the vast majority of the country, covering the largest economic and crypto-adoption centers.

Why it matters: Before you spend 15 minutes on the application, checking your state eliminates disappointment. The blocked states often have their own crypto-card alternatives (like Crypto.com Card in some of these regions).

Get your DefyCard →

Which US States Are Blocked?

ether.fi Cash does not work in these US states:

Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin.

Why these states? They enforce stricter money-transmitter licensing rules than others. ether.fi has not yet applied for or obtained licenses in these jurisdictions, so the card cannot legally operate there.

Risk: If you move to one of these blocked states after opening an account, your card will stop working for spend and ATM withdrawals. You will not lose funds—they remain in your self-custodial wallet—but you cannot use the card interface.

Watch: The blocked-state list can change if ether.fi expands geographically. Monitor ether.fi’s help center for updates if you’re in a restricted state.

If you’re in a blocked US state, consider alternatives like Crypto.com Card or Bybit Card (where available in your jurisdiction).

Does Ether.fi Cash Work in Canada?

Short answer: Yes. Canada is not on ether.fi’s prohibited list, so Canadian residents can sign up, pass KYC, and use the card for spend and ATM withdrawals.

Key metric: 1% FX fee applies to CAD transactions (same as all non-USD/EUR currencies).

Why it matters: Canadian customers get the full 3% cashback on eligible spend, but pay 1% when converting CAD ↔ USD/EUR at the point of sale. Net cashback on CAD spend: ~2% after FX friction.

Signal: If you live in Canada and hold ETH, ether.fi Cash is worth evaluating—it’s one of the few non-custodial Visa cards available in the Canadian market.

Does Ether.fi Cash Work in Europe?

Europe’s availability is mixed. ether.fi supports most EU and EEA countries, but not all:

Supported European countries (physical card ships to):

Andorra, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guernsey, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jersey, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK.

European countries NOT supported:

Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Netherlands, and countries outside the EEA.

Key metric: EUR transactions carry 0% FX fee—so European users in supported countries get the full up-to-3% cashback without currency drag.

Why it matters: The 0% EUR fee is a huge advantage if you spend primarily in euros. UK users also get 0% on GBP, and all USD transactions are 0%.

Signal: If you’re in Germany, France, Spain, Poland, or the UK, ether.fi Cash is a strong self-custody option.

Risk: If you’re in the Netherlands, Hungary, or Estonia, ether.fi is unavailable—you’ll need to look at alternatives instead.

What Are the Fees in These Regions?

Here’s the full fee schedule for USD, EUR, CAD, and other currencies:

FX fees:

USD: 0% (no markup)
EUR: 0% (no markup)
CAD: 1%
All other currencies: 1%

ATM withdrawals: 2% (charged on the USD equivalent).

Physical card: $40 refundable deposit (Core tier) or free (Pinnacle tier).

Why it matters: If you travel frequently between the US and EU, the 0% fee on both USD and EUR means you can convert seamlessly without hidden costs eating into your cashback.

Get your DefyCard →

How to Activate Ether.fi Cash in Your Country

Step-by-step:

Check eligibility — Visit ether.fi and confirm your country/state is supported.
Start KYC — Enter your phone number; you’ll receive an OTP.
Verify your phone — Enter the code sent to your SMS.
Upload ID — Provide a valid, unexpired government ID (passport, national ID, or driver’s license). Photo must be fully visible and readable.
Liveness check — Take a selfie to confirm you match the ID.
Wait for approval — Most KYC reviews complete within 5–15 minutes, sometimes up to 24 hours.
Activate your card — Once approved, you’ll see a virtual card immediately. Order the physical card (15+ business days standard, 1–3 days if you’re on Pinnacle tier).
Fund and spend — Transfer ETH to your card address, and start earning cashback.

Key metric: KYC is the only gate. If you pass (which is quick for most), you’re live on the card within 24 hours.

Watch: If your KYC is rejected, you can reapply after 30 days with clearer photos or updated information.

What to Watch

Regulatory updates: Blocked US states may lift restrictions if ether.fi applies for licenses.
Country expansion: ether.fi may add or remove countries as its regulatory framework evolves.
Fee changes: FX fees are subject to change; monitor your account dashboard for updates.
KYC timing: During high volume periods (after a major announcement), approval times may extend beyond 24 hours.

Bottom Line

In the USA: ether.fi Cash works in most states. Check the blocked-state list above before signing up.
In Canada: Fully supported. Expect 1% FX on CAD spend.
In Europe: Available in 29+ countries. 0% fee on EUR transactions is the standout feature.
If you fit this profile: You live in an allowed state/country, you hold ETH, and you want to earn cashback without custodial risk—ether.fi Cash is a strong fit.

Start earning up to 3% cashback today → [ether.fi Cash](https://www.ether.fi/@defycard)

Does Ether.fi Cash Work in the USA?

At-a-Glance