Turn your crypto into instant credit

Exactly Protocol is a decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol and trusted Uphold partner. Exactly Protocol allows you to use your crypto as collateral and borrow against it. When you deposit supported assets like USDC, ETH, or BTC, they’re allocated to the protocol’s on-chain lending markets, where they earn a variable yield. You can then use that same balance to spend on the Exa Visa Signature® Credit Card.

The Exa Card is an on-chain payment card that provides instant liquidity. You can use assets like BTC, ETH or USDC as collateral to spend on a credit card, instantly and securely. You can pay in one or more installments without selling your crypto.

When you complete the onboarding process to set up your Instant Credit account within Uphold, a virtual Exa Card is created for you automatically. There’s no separate application needed. Once your account setup is complete, you’ll see your Exa Card in the app. Your card is ready for immediate use. 

No. The Exa Card is 100% virtual. You manage and use it entirely through your Uphold app and Apple or Google wallet.

There is no annual fee. There are no hidden fees for using the Exa Card. Standard Visa network or FX fees may apply for international transactions. Interest costs are based on fixed rates confirmed at purchase.

The Exa Card is issued by Third National Bank under a Visa license. It is critical to distinguish responsibilities:

• Third National Bank provides the card but is not responsible for any credit or funding.

• The credit features (borrowing against crypto collateral) are provided by the Exactly Protocol, which is a separate, decentralized service and is not affiliated with Third National Bank.

Uphold simply provides the app interface for you to access and manage this decentralized credit.

Your Exa Card has two types of limits:

• Card limit: a fixed spending cap of $10,000 per week.

• Spending limit: a dynamic limit based on your collateral value, health score, and Exactly protocol security thresholds.

These combined limits ensure responsible borrowing and help keep your account secure while staying compliant with Visa network rules.

Some merchants like hotels, car rentals, or fuel stations place a temporary authorization hold for a higher amount than the purchase total. The correct charge posts once the merchant finalizes the transaction, and the hold is automatically released.

If you make a purchase in a currency other than USD, Visa automatically converts it at the current exchange rate during settlement. Small FX spreads or network fees may apply.

You can access and manage your Exa Card directly from the Cards widget on your Uphold home screen. This is where you can check your available balance, view card details, manage security settings, and reach support — all in one place.

Access and manage your card

1. Open the cards widget.

2. At the top of the screen, view your available spending amount.

3. Use the quick-action buttons to:

   1. View card info (card number, expiry date, CVV).

   2. View PIN (for verification purposes).

   3. Freeze or unfreeze your card instantly for security.

4. Scroll below the card image to review your recent card activity.

Card settings and support

1. On the Exa Card page, tap Settings.

2. From here, you can:

   1. Request monthly statements to be sent to your email.

   2. Report your card as stolen or compromised.

   3. Contact our support team for help with transactions, limits, or disputes.

These tools make it easy to stay in control of your Exa Card and manage everything right inside the Uphold app.

The way you pay back your purchases with the Exa Card is set up in advance, like a default option in your app.

Before you make any purchase, you must choose your preferred repayment plan: from 1 payment (meaning you pay the full amount back right away) up to 8 fixed payments, which are scheduled every 28 days.

Your plan is locked in at the moment of the purchase. If you buy something while you have the 8-installment setting active, that debt must be repaid in 8 installments — you cannot go back and change it later.

This chosen setting will automatically apply to every new thing you buy until you manually go into the app and change the default setting for future transactions.

Set Your Repayment Option

1. Go to Instant Credit, then tap Payments.

2. Select your purchase repayment plan.

3. Choose how you’d like to pay:

   1. Pay in full (single payment), or

   2. Spread over up to 8 installments, paid every 28 days.

4. Each payment option has a different fixed APR. Uphold will highlight the most cost-efficient choice, but you can select whichever suits you best.

5. Tap Set payment option to confirm.

Complete or track your payments

1. Visit Instant Credit, then Payments, to view your upcoming installment schedule.

2. Select the installment you’d like to pay.

3. Tap Choose payment method and select from any available option:

   1. Your Uphold portfolio balance, or

   2. Payment methods such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, credit/debit card, or linked bank account.

4. Review the payment preview window.

5. Tap Confirm payment to complete the transaction.