Virtual Cards Overview
What Are Bitnob Virtual Cards?
Bitnob gives you API access to issue and manage USD-denominated virtual Visa cards, backed by regulated card issuers.
These are prepaid, online-only virtual cards you can create on demand and fund using Bitcoin , stablecoins, or local fiat. They are ideal for:
E-commerce purchases
SaaS subscriptions
Programmatic payouts
Controlled corporate or personal spend
Bitnob acts as a technology and distribution partner — integrating with licensed card issuers and program managers to give you seamless access without needing to manage Visa relationships or compliance yourself.
Key Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Virtual Visa Cards | 16-digit card number (PAN), CVV, and expiry delivered instantly. |
| USD-Denominated | Spend in USD across millions of online merchants globally. |
| Online Use Only | Cards are restricted to e-commerce and subscription platforms (not usable at POS or ATMs). |
| Fund via Wallet | Use your Bitnob wallet balance (BTC, USDT, fiat) to fund cards. |
| Freeze, Unfreeze, Terminate | Manage card lifecycle and security in real time. |
| Track Spend | View and analyze card transactions via API or dashboard. |
| Secure by Design | No physical plastic, no ATM risk, and limited usage scope by default. |
Who Is This For?
| User | Example Use |
|---|---|
| Fintech apps | Issue cards to users and let them spend wallet balance. |
| Crypto platforms | Allow users to spend stablecoins directly via Visa. |
| Payroll platforms | Distribute prepaid cards to contractors or freelancers. |
| Remittance apps | Let recipients receive cards instead of fiat bank deposits. |
| Business finance teams | Create virtual corporate cards for budget-controlled spend. |
Whether you're a solo developer, a product manager at a startup, or a large-scale platform — Bitnob Virtual Cards help you bring programmable payments to your users without building infrastructure from scratch.
How It Works
You create a card via Bitnob API.
You fund it using your balance (stablecoins, BTC, or local fiat).
Your user receives the card instantly (card number, CVV , expiry).
They spend it online anywhere Visa is accepted (within allowed categories).
You control it: freeze, unfreeze, terminate, monitor.
All issuance and compliance are handled by Bitnob’s regulated card partners. You get full lifecycle control; with none of the overhead.
Common Use Cases
| Use Case | Description |
|---|---|
| Subscriptions | Users use virtual cards for Netflix, Notion, Canva, AWS, etc. |
| E-commerce | Shop online on Amazon, ASOS, Uber, Aliexpress, and more. |
| Programmatic Spend | Issue cards per payout or event (e.g. auto-generate one for influencer campaign). |
| Controlled Corporate Spend | Allocate cards to departments, with per-card budgets and spend limits. |
| Crypto-to-Card | Let users convert USDT or BTC to usable Visa value instantly. |
What You Cannot Do
These cards are restricted by design:
| Not Supported | Reason |
|---|---|
| POS payments | No plastic card; online-only model. |
| ATM withdrawals | Card is not linked to cash networks. |
| Local-currency cards | All cards are USD-denominated only. |
| 3DS card authentication | Currently not supported (coming soon where required). |
This ensures low fraud risk, fast issuance, and global usability for digital transactions.
Funding & Usage Model
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Currency | USD |
| Supported Funding Assets | USDT (TRC20, ERC20), USDC, BTC, NGN |
| FX Handling | Bitnob handles conversions internally |
| Card Balance Model | Prepaid; no overdraft or credit |
| Cardholder Fees | Optional, defined per platform integration |
| Bitnob Fees | Transparent per transaction or funding; no hidden charges |
You control how much to load, how long to keep cards alive, and when to revoke them.
Developer Experience
Create and fund cards via API
Track all transactions programmatically
Receive webhooks for key card events
Simulate spend in Sandbox mode before going live
Use with Wallet-as-a-Service or directly from your own system
Compliance and Legal Note
Bitnob is not a licensed card issuer.
We work with licensed issuing banks and Visa program managers to make virtual cards accessible via our platform and APIs.
Card issuance, onboarding, and merchant settlement are powered by our regulated partners. You integrate with us — we handle the complexity behind the scenes.
What’s Next in This Documentation
| Section | Learn About |
|---|---|
| Card Issuance | How to programmatically create virtual cards |
| Card Funding | Load cards from your Bitnob wallet |
| Card Status Management | Freeze, unfreeze, or terminate cards |
| Transaction Monitoring | View spending history, track spend patterns |
| Webhooks | Get real-time card lifecycle and transaction events |
| Error Handling | Common errors, decline codes, and retry logic |
| Security & Compliance | How to protect your users and stay compliant |
Build Better Payment Experiences
Virtual Cards from Bitnob are not just a feature — they are a programmable financial primitive.
They let you embed global payment capability into any application, with full control, high security, and no legacy bank overhead.
You focus on building the product. We provide the card infrastructure.
