Can't get a BitPay card? The alternatives

Tried to sign up for the BitPay Card and hit a waitlist? You are not doing anything wrong. BitPay paused new card applications back in 2023 after its issuing bank, Metropolitan Commercial Bank, exited crypto, and it has been looking for a new banking partner ever since - a pause that has now run more than two and a half years. Existing cardholders can still spend, but new users are stuck on a waitlist with no firm reopen date.

If you need a card now, here are the alternatives that are actually onboarding users, and where each wins.

Why you can't get a new BitPay card

The BitPay Card always relied on a US bank partner to issue it. When Metropolitan Commercial Bank wound down its crypto program in 2023, BitPay had to stop taking new applications and has publicly said it is working on a new partner - but has not named one or given a date. Existing cards keep working; the card is not cancelled, just closed to new signups. A pause this long is a reminder of how much a custodial card depends on one bank relationship you do not control.

Best BitPay card alternatives, compared

All of these are open to new users and fund from stablecoins.

The pattern: bank-partner risk

BitPay, Cypher, Wirex and Binance Card all ran into the same wall - a card program is only as stable as its bank and licensing, and users find out when signups freeze or a card stops on a set date. The structure that sidesteps this is self-custody: you hold your own USDT and the card spends from it, so a bank change cannot strand your balance.

Common questions

Is the BitPay card discontinued?

No - it is paused for new applications, not shut down. Existing cardholders can still spend. BitPay says it is seeking a new bank partner but has not announced one.

When will BitPay card applications reopen?

BitPay has not given a date. The pause has run more than 2.5 years since its issuing bank exited crypto in 2023, so it is worth having an alternative rather than waiting.

What is the best BitPay alternative in the US?

For self-custody, cards like Fizen, Gnosis Pay and ether.fi; for wide reach, RedotPay and KAST. Check each card's supported countries and funding options before signing up.

Sources: Bitrates and CryptoSlate for the BitPay pause; each issuer's official site for alternatives. Specs are indicative and change often - verify on the official site before signing up. Educational only, not financial advice.