How to Avoid FX and Top-Up Fees Abroad

A crypto card can be a cheap way to spend abroad, or a surprisingly expensive one. The difference is rarely one big fee. It is a stack of small ones: a currency markup here, an ATM charge there, a top-up cost you paid before you even left home. This guide shows where each cost comes from and how to keep it small.

Always pay in the local currency

At a card terminal or ATM abroad, you may be asked whether you want to pay in your home currency or the local one. This is called dynamic currency conversion. It sounds helpful, because you see the price in a currency you know. In practice, the merchant or ATM provider applies its own exchange rate, which is usually much worse than your card’s.

The rule is simple: always choose the local currency. If a terminal converts for you without asking, you can ask the merchant to cancel and run the payment again in local currency. Check your receipt for a printed exchange rate, which is a common sign that conversion took place.

FX markups and weekend pricing

When you pay in a foreign currency, your card converts the amount using an exchange rate. Some cards use a rate close to the market rate. Others add an FX fee or markup on top, either as a separate line or built into the rate.

Some issuers also add an extra margin when currency markets are closed, usually from Friday evening to Sunday night. The idea is to protect the issuer from rate moves while it cannot trade. Not every card does this, but if yours does, big purchases such as hotel bills may cost a little more at weekends.

Example: on a hypothetical card with a 2% FX markup, $1,500 of spending abroad costs an extra $30. A card with no markup would save that amount, before any other fees.

ATM operator fees vs card fees

Cash withdrawals can carry two separate charges. The first is from your card issuer. Many crypto cards include a monthly allowance of free withdrawals, then charge a percentage or flat fee after that. The second is from the ATM operator, which some machines add regardless of your card. Your card’s free allowance does not cover this.

To keep cash costs down:

• use ATMs run by local banks, which are less likely to add operator fees than standalone machines in tourist areas;
• withdraw fewer, larger amounts rather than many small ones, if it is safe to do so;
• decline the conversion offer on screen and choose local currency;
• pay by card or phone where possible, and keep cash for places that need it.

Top-up costs and monthly free limits

Before you can spend, you need to fund the card. How you top up can cost more than the spending itself. Common top-up routes include bank transfer, debit or credit card, and crypto deposit. Each may carry its own fee, spread or network charge, and converting crypto to fiat inside the app may add another spread.

Many cards also have monthly free limits on top-ups, spending in foreign currency or ATM withdrawals. Once you pass a limit, fees can kick in. These limits often depend on your plan or tier. Our academy guide to FX and top-up fees explains each type in more detail, and every card review lists the verified figures with a source.

A good habit is to top up once before the trip using the cheapest method, rather than topping up in a hurry with whatever works on the day.

Checklist before you travel

1. Check your card’s FX markup and whether it adds weekend pricing.
2. Note your monthly free limits for foreign spending and ATM withdrawals.
3. Find the cheapest top-up method and fund the card a few days before you go.
4. Add the card to your phone wallet as a backup in case the physical card is lost.
5. Carry a second payment method from a different provider.
6. At every terminal and ATM, choose to pay in the local currency.
7. Look for bank-run ATMs and avoid standalone machines where possible.
8. Check your app after the first few payments to confirm the rate looks right.

Frequently asked questions