1inch Card

The 1inch Card is one of the boldest propositions in the crypto card space right now: a 200% cashback rate in cryptocurrency, zero annual fees, and no staking requirement whatsoever. On paper, it sounds almost too good to be true — and as with most things in DeFi, the devil is firmly in the details. In this independent review, we break down exactly what you're signing up for, who this card suits, and where the red flags are.

Presentation of the 1inch Card

The 1inch Card is issued by Monavate Ltd, a UK-based electronic money institution authorised to issue payment cards across Europe. The card runs on the Visa network, meaning it is accepted at tens of millions of merchants worldwide, both online and in-store.

The 1inch brand itself is well known in the DeFi ecosystem as the operator of one of the largest decentralised exchange (DEX) aggregators, routing trades across multiple protocols to secure the best available rates. The 1inch Card is a natural extension of this DeFi-native identity — designed to bring on-chain spending rewards to everyday purchases, without forcing users to lock up tokens or navigate complex staking mechanics.

The card is available to residents of France and the broader European Union, making it accessible to a significant portion of the crypto-active population in Europe. It is a hybrid custody product, meaning users retain meaningful control over their assets compared to fully custodial alternatives.

Cashback and Rewards

The headline figure here is extraordinary: up to 200% cashback in cryptocurrency. This is, without question, the highest advertised cashback rate of any crypto card currently listed on our comparator. To put it in context, most leading crypto cards offer between 1% and 8% cashback — so 200% demands serious scrutiny.

It is critical to understand that a cashback rate of 200% does not mean you earn twice your spending back on every purchase. In practice, these ultra-high rates typically apply to specific promotional periods, particular merchant categories, or limited reward pools. The actual mechanics — which tokens are distributed, how the cashback is calculated, and what caps apply — are essential reading before you commit.

Given the DeFi-native nature of the card, rewards are likely distributed in 1INCH tokens or other DeFi-aligned cryptocurrencies, though users should verify the current reward structure directly with the issuer, as tokenomics and reward programmes in DeFi can change rapidly. The key positive here is that no staking is required to access rewards, which removes a significant barrier compared to cards from Crypto.com or Nexo that demand large token lockups.

Fees and Conditions

On the fee side, the 1inch Card is genuinely competitive:

• Annual fee: €0 — the card is completely free to hold.
• No staking requirement — you do not need to lock up any tokens to get started or to maintain your account.
• No hidden platform fees advertised at the point of sign-up, consistent with the no_fees feature flag.

However, as with any crypto card, users should be vigilant about foreign transaction fees, ATM withdrawal limits, currency conversion spreads, and any fees applied when converting crypto to fiat for spending. These costs can erode the value of cashback rewards significantly if you use the card heavily abroad or for cash withdrawals. Always read the full Monavate cardholder agreement and the 1inch Card terms before applying.

The hybrid custody model is worth noting here: while it offers more user control than a fully custodial card, it also places more responsibility on the user to manage their wallet security. If you lose access to your wallet credentials, recovery options may be limited.

Who Is This Card For?

The 1inch Card is built for a specific type of user. It will resonate most strongly with:

• Active DeFi users who are already comfortable with the 1inch ecosystem and want to earn on-chain rewards from everyday spending.
• Crypto holders who dislike staking requirements — if you've been put off by Crypto.com's CRO lock-up model or Nexo's mandatory token holdings, the zero-staking approach here is genuinely attractive.
• EU residents looking for a free-to-use crypto Visa card without annual fees eating into their returns.
• DeFi-curious beginners who want a gateway card with no upfront commitment — though the trust score warrants caution.

It is less suitable for users who prioritise established institutions, high trust scores, or extensive customer support infrastructure. If you want a rock-solid, fully regulated card from a household name, look elsewhere.

Advantages

• Zero annual fee — no cost to simply holding the card.
• No staking requirement — rewards are accessible without locking up capital.
• Up to 200% crypto cashback — the highest advertised rate in the market.
• Visa network — universally accepted worldwide.
• DeFi-native design — aligned with the values of the decentralised finance community.
• Hybrid custody — users retain more control over their crypto assets.
• Available across the EU including France — broad European accessibility.

Disadvantages

• Trust score of only 48/100 — this is below average and should not be ignored. It reflects limited track record, lower regulatory transparency, or insufficient public data about the issuer's practices.
• 200% cashback requires scrutiny — the conditions, caps, and token volatility behind this figure may dramatically reduce real-world value.
• Reward token risk — cashback in DeFi tokens like 1INCH is subject to significant price volatility; your rewards could depreciate rapidly.
• Monavate Ltd is a relatively niche issuer — less brand recognition and a shorter operational history than Visa partners like Mastercard-backed Wirex or Crypto.com.
• Hybrid custody adds complexity — not ideal for users who prefer simple, fully managed solutions.
• Limited publicly available information on withdrawal limits and full fee schedules.

Our Verdict

The 1inch Card is an intriguing option for committed DeFi users who want to monetise everyday spending without paying annual fees or staking large sums of tokens. The zero-cost entry point and the headline 200% cashback figure make it one of the most eye-catching cards in the European market right now.

That said, we cannot overlook the trust score of 48/100. For a card where you are linking real spending to a DeFi-native infrastructure, confidence in the issuer matters enormously. We recommend approaching this card as a secondary card — useful for DeFi-aligned spending and reward accumulation — rather than your primary financial instrument.

If you are already embedded in the 1inch ecosystem and understand the risks of DeFi-native products, this card has genuine appeal. If you are new to crypto cards, we suggest starting with a higher-trust-score option and returning to the 1inch Card once it has built a longer, more verifiable track record.