Table of Contents
How to Use the Kinesis Card: A Step-by-Step Guide
1. Create your account
Go to the Kinesis website or download the app. Sign up with your email and a password, then confirm the email link they send. You need an active Individual account — the card links straight to it.
2. Finish identity verification (KYC)
Log in and start the check. Upload a government-issued ID (passport, national ID or driving licence), take a selfie or short video for facial verification, and add proof of address plus basic source-of-funds details if they ask. This has to be done before you can request a card. It usually takes a few minutes to a few hours, longer if they need extra checks. Once it’s done you’re eligible to apply (depending on whether the card is available where you live).
3. Request the card
Open the Virtual Card tab (or Card section) on the site or in the app and click to apply. Fill in the cardholder details — phone number, address, and source of funds again if required. For most people the virtual card is issued straight away and you get an email with the details so you can start using it. A physical card is also an option; if you choose that, it’s posted to the address on file and normally arrives in 15 days or more.
4. Activate it
In the mobile app, open the Virtual Card tab and enter the security code that arrives by SMS or from your authenticator app. After that the full card number, expiry date and CVV show up. The virtual card is usually already active. If you ordered a physical one, activate it in the same place and set a PIN when prompted — you’ll need the PIN for certain in-store debit transactions.
5. Put funds in the account
The card doesn’t have its own balance. It spends from whatever you hold in your Kinesis account — gold/KAU, silver/KAG, supported cryptocurrencies or stablecoins. You can fund it by depositing fiat and buying KAU or KAG, depositing supported crypto, receiving assets from another Kinesis user, or minting new KAU/KAG by depositing physical bullion where that’s offered. You can only spend what’s available; there’s no credit.
6. Set the spending order
In the Virtual Card section you choose which asset the card should use first. When you buy something, that asset gets converted into the merchant’s local currency at the time of payment. A conversion fee applies — currently 0.22 % for most assets.
7. Making purchases
The card works wherever Mastercard is accepted — shops, online, restaurants, travel, contactless where it’s supported.
Online: enter the virtual card number, expiry and CVV.
In shops: use the physical card and enter your PIN for a debit transaction, or choose “Credit” to sign.
Mobile wallets: add the virtual card to Google Pay or Apple Pay if it’s available in your region, then tap or scan as usual.
ATMs: withdrawals are possible; each one costs $5.00.
At the point of purchase the selected asset is converted into the local currency. The conversion fee is 0.22 % for most digital assets and 0 % when spending C1USD. There are no monthly card fees.
8. Checking transactions
Everything shows up in your Kinesis account. From there you can look at the transaction history, remaining balances, manage the card, freeze or unfreeze it, and review spending.
9. Velocity Yield and cashback (where they apply)
Purchases made with eligible assets such as KAU or KAG can count toward the Velocity Yield program. Eligible activity earns a share of the platform’s transaction-fee pool, paid monthly in allocated gold or silver under the program rules.
Separately, purchases earn 2 % cashback in KAU on up to $2,000 of spending per month. Extra cashback of up to 10 % in gold is available when you shop through the Metalback hub at participating retailers. Gold earned this way also counts toward other yields in the system (Holder’s Yield and Velocity Yield) where those apply.