Nexo vs Ready
Both EEA/UK Mastercards built around metal-card prestige. Nexo is custodial with Credit/Debit modes and free; Ready is self-custodial on Starknet with 0% FX on the Metal tier.
Quick verdict
European users specifically comparing crypto metal cards usually end up here. Nexo wins on flexibility (Credit Mode lets you borrow against any of 40+ collateral types, zero annual fee, Apple Pay) and broad collateral support. Ready wins on principle (self-custody — USDC never leaves your Starknet wallet) and on FX (0% on Metal, vs Nexo's 0.2–0.7% in EEA/UK).
Side-by-side
| Nexo | Ready | |
|---|---|---|
| FX Fees | EEA/UK 0.2%–0.7% · RoW 2%–2.5% (≈0% at Gold+) | Lite 1% · Metal 0% (official Mastercard rate) |
| Payback | Up to 2% NEXO or 0.5% BTC (Credit mode) | Lite 0.5% · Metal 3% in STRK (≈$150/mo cap) |
| Annual Fee | Free — no monthly/annual/inactivity fees | $6.99 Physical Lite · $120/yr Ready Metal |
| Physical Card | Virtual + physical (physical needs ≥$5k & Gold tier) | Lite plastic · Metal 16g (gold/silver) |
| Custody | Custodial | Self-custodial |
| Supported Currencies | 40+ cryptos accepted as collateral | USDC only (on Starknet) |
| Region | EEA, UK + select European countries | EEA + UK only |
Verdict by dimension
Custody
Ready wins on principle — your USDC stays in your own Starknet wallet. Nexo is custodial.
FX Fees
Ready Metal's 0% beats Nexo's 0.2%–0.7% in EEA/UK. Outside Europe, Nexo's 2%–2.5% (or 0% at Gold+) is higher than Ready's Metal 0%.
Annual Fee
Nexo wins — completely free vs Ready Metal's $120/yr upfront.
Cashback
Ready Metal's 3% in STRK is straightforward; Nexo's tiered up-to-2% NEXO requires holding NEXO tokens to unlock higher rates.
Apple Pay
Nexo wins — Ready hasn't shipped Apple Pay support yet (Google Pay only).
Asset support
Nexo accepts 40+ cryptos as collateral; Ready is USDC-only on Starknet.
Choose Nexo if…
you want zero up-front cost, value loyalty-tier benefits, want Apple Pay support, hold a wide range of crypto assets as collateral, and you're OK with a custodial setup.
Choose Ready if…
self-custody matters to you, you're already in the Starknet/USDC ecosystem, you're willing to pay $120/yr upfront for the Metal tier, and Google Pay (instead of Apple Pay) works for you.