Ready Card Tutorial for India Users (NRI Guide)

Ready Card — formerly Argent — is one of the only self-custodial crypto Mastercards in existence today. Your USDC stays locked in your own Starknet wallet until the moment you swipe or tap; the platform never touches your funds. For NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) living in the UK or EU, this is one of the cleanest ways to spend crypto earnings globally — without surrendering your keys to a custodian that could freeze, go insolvent, or get hacked. Ask anyone who held funds on WazirX when the July 2024 breach wiped $235 million in user assets: self-custody is not paranoia, it is basic financial hygiene.

Important eligibility note upfront: Ready Card applications are restricted to UK and EEA residents only. If you are based in India, you cannot apply directly. However, if you are an NRI living or working in the UK or any EEA country, you are fully eligible. The card functions as a standard Mastercard once issued and works in 140+ countries globally — including when you visit India.

Key Takeaways for Indian Users and NRIs

• Eligibility: NRIs in the UK or EEA can apply; Indian residents currently cannot (UK/EEA address required for KYC and card delivery)
• Two plans: Metal (120 USDC/year, paid upfront) and Lite (free card, $6.99 shipping only)
• Metal cashback: 3% in STRK on up to $5,000 spend per month (max $150/month, $1,800/year) — funded quarterly by the Starknet Foundation, not guaranteed permanently
• Lite cashback: 0.5% in STRK on all eligible purchases (same $150/month shared cap)
• FX fees: Metal = 0%; Lite = 1% — both use the official Mastercard rate, no hidden spread
• ATM: Metal gets $800/month fee-free; Lite pays 2% per withdrawal; daily limit $500, rolling 30-day $2,500
• Google Pay: supported now; Apple Pay: coming soon (not yet available)
• Self-custody: USDC on Starknet — your keys, your funds, until the moment you spend
• India tax note: India levies 30% flat tax on VDA gains + 1% TDS on all transactions — consult a CA or tax professional for ITR filing

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Who Can Apply: The NRI Eligibility Gate

This is the first question every Indian user asks, and the answer requires some nuance. Ready Card currently restricts applications to residents of the United Kingdom and the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA covers all 27 EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. The application requires a UK or EEA delivery address, and KYC is processed by Kulipa — the regulated e-money issuer behind the card — using a government-issued ID from an eligible country.

Here is how different Indian user profiles map to eligibility:

User Profile	Eligible?	Notes
Indian resident in India	No	Cannot apply; no UK/EEA address or eligible ID
NRI in the UK (work visa, ILR, or citizenship)	Yes	UK address + passport or driving licence accepted for KYC
NRI in EU (Germany, Netherlands, France, etc.)	Yes	EEA address + government ID accepted; SEPA deposit supported
Indian student in the UK or EEA	Likely yes	Student visa address counts; verify with Ready support for your situation
NRI with dual residency (India + UK)	Yes, if UK address used	Eligibility based on application address; card ships to UK address

Once the card is issued, it is a standard Mastercard. You can use it in India when you visit, across the EU, and in 140+ countries worldwide. The eligibility restriction only applies to the sign-up step — not to where you spend.

Ready Card operates under UK/EEA regulatory frameworks through Kulipa as the e-money issuer. It is not subject to RBI jurisdiction and is not a regulated product under Indian financial law. VDA regulations in India are evolving — verify current SEBI and RBI guidelines applicable to your situation before applying.

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Why Ready Card Appeals to the Indian Diaspora

The Indian tech diaspora in Europe has always been financially sophisticated — and increasingly crypto-aware. The self-custody angle resonates in this community for a reason that is viscerally recent: the WazirX hack of July 2024. One of India’s largest crypto exchanges lost $235 million in a single attack. Users who held funds on the platform were locked out, recovery timelines stretched for months, and many still have not recovered their full balances. The lesson was brutal and clear: centralised custody is a single point of failure.

Ready Card eliminates that risk model for spending. Your USDC stays in your own Starknet self-custodial wallet at all times. When you pay at a terminal in London, Amsterdam, or Frankfurt, the app draws the exact USDC equivalent from your wallet at the official Mastercard exchange rate in real time. Kulipa settles the transaction. No platform holds your balance overnight. No exchange can freeze your funds. If Ready or Kulipa ceased to exist tomorrow, your USDC would still be in your wallet — accessible via any compatible Starknet interface (ArgentX, Braavos, etc.) using your seed phrase.

Beyond self-custody, three other factors make Ready particularly relevant for Indian users in the UK and EU:

• 0% FX fee on Metal: Indian professionals in London or Berlin frequently transact across currencies — GBP/EUR spending, INR remittances, USD-denominated crypto holdings. Ready Metal eliminates the FX tax that standard banks and even many digital banks impose.
• STRK cashback for tech-forward users: The Starknet ecosystem is actively courting Indian developers and crypto users. The 3% STRK cashback (up to $5,000/month on Metal) is effectively a yield layer on everyday spending — appealing to users already familiar with Layer-2 networks and DeFi mechanics.
• Google Pay support: Contactless payments via Google Pay are deeply embedded in Indian daily life and carry over naturally for Indian users in the UK/EU. Ready Card supports Google Pay today; Apple Pay is confirmed as coming soon but is not yet available.

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Plans and Fees

Ready offers two physical card tiers plus a virtual card. For NRIs spending regularly in the UK or EU, the Metal vs Lite maths is worth working through before you apply.

Feature	Metal	Lite
Annual cost	120 USDC (paid upfront, first year)	Free card ($6.99 shipping only)
FX fee	0%	1%
Cashback rate	3% on up to $5,000/month spend	0.5% on all eligible purchases
Cashback currency	STRK (Starknet token)	STRK (Starknet token)
Max monthly cashback	$150 in STRK	$150 in STRK
Max annual cashback	$1,800 in STRK	Varies
ATM withdrawals	Free up to $800/month	2% fee on every withdrawal
Exchange rate	Official Mastercard rate, no markup	Official Mastercard rate + 1%
Card material	16g premium metal (gold or metal finish)	Plastic

Spending and ATM limits (same for both plans): Maximum single transaction $5,000. Daily spending limit $10,000. Rolling 30-day limit $30,000. ATM: $500/day, $2,500 per rolling 30 days, $30,000/year.

Is Metal worth it for an NRI? At 3% cashback on $5,000/month, you earn $150/month in STRK. The annual fee is $120. If your monthly card spend exceeds roughly $333, the Metal card pays for itself through cashback alone. For an Indian IT professional in Germany with £2,000–3,000/month in regular spending, the break-even is covered in the first month. The 0% FX fee adds further savings compared to a standard UK bank card, which often charges 2–3% on EUR transactions.

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Step-by-Step Application Guide for NRIs

The entire process happens inside the Ready app. No web forms, no branches. Most users complete sign-up in under 15 minutes; KYC review adds 1–3 business days.

Step 1: Download the Ready App and Create Your Wallet

Search “Ready” on the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android). On first launch, select “Create new wallet.” The app generates a Starknet self-custodial wallet and immediately prompts you to back up your seed phrase. Do this before anything else and store the phrase offline. Your seed phrase is your only recovery mechanism — there is no customer support fallback for a lost seed phrase in a self-custodial wallet. Write it on paper, store it somewhere secure, and never share it.

Step 2: Choose Metal or Lite

Navigate to the “Card” tab in the app. Choose Metal (120 USDC upfront, higher rewards) or Lite (free, lower rewards). Use the break-even analysis above. For active NRI spenders who will use this as their primary daily card in the UK or EU, Metal is typically the stronger value proposition within the first two months of use.

Step 3: Complete KYC — Documents NRIs Will Need

KYC is handled by Kulipa. You will need:

• A government-issued photo ID — your Indian passport is accepted (as is a UK/EU driving licence or national ID card if you hold one)
• Proof of UK or EEA address — a UK council tax bill, utility bill, or bank statement from your EU address works
• A video selfie for liveness verification
• Note: Aadhaar is not applicable for NRI KYC in this context; your passport is the primary document

KYC approval typically takes 1–3 business days. You receive a notification in the app once approved. The virtual card activates immediately after KYC — you do not need to wait for the physical card to start spending.

Step 4: Enter Your UK or EEA Delivery Address

The physical card ships to your UK or EEA address. Delivery typically takes 5–10 business days. The virtual card is live from day one of KYC approval — add it to Google Pay and you can start transacting immediately. The physical Metal card has a satisfying weight (16g premium metal) that sets it apart from a standard plastic card.

Step 5: Fund Your Starknet Wallet with USDC

The Ready Card draws directly from your Starknet wallet balance. There is no separate “card balance” — your whole wallet is the card balance. You need USDC in your Ready wallet before you can spend. Ready supports four deposit routes; the right one depends on where your funds currently sit.

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How NRIs Can Fund Ready Card: INR to USDC on Starknet

This is the section most Indian-focused guides skip — and it is the most practically useful part. Getting USDC onto Starknet from an INR starting point requires a few steps, but each step is well-established and low-cost.

Route 1: NRE/NRO Account → Wise → Coinbase/Kraken → Starknet (Recommended for NRIs)

• Transfer GBP or EUR from your NRE account (or UK/EU salary account) to Coinbase or Kraken
• Buy USDC on Coinbase or Kraken using GBP (UK Faster Payments) or EUR (SEPA) — both are near-instant and low-fee
• Withdraw USDC from the exchange directly to your Ready wallet Starknet address using the LayerSwap bridge built into the app (App → Fund → From an exchange or other chain)
• Alternatively, use the Ready IBAN deposit method: App → Fund → Deposit → copy the IBAN → send GBP or EUR directly from your bank account. Funds auto-convert to USDC. UK Faster Payments and SEPA both supported.

Route 2: Indian Exchange → USDC Bridge → Starknet (For India-Based Holdings)

• Buy USDC on WazirX, CoinDCX, or Mudrex using INR — USDC is listed on all three with INR pairs
• Withdraw USDC to a Polygon or Ethereum wallet first (Starknet bridging from Indian exchanges typically requires an intermediate step via Ethereum or Polygon)
• Use LayerSwap (built into the Ready app) or a manual Starknet bridge to move USDC from Ethereum/Polygon onto Starknet
• Note: RBI restrictions apply to INR on-ramp for Indian residents; NRIs using NRE accounts have more flexibility. Confirm your bank’s policy before initiating large transfers.

Route 3: Direct Bridge from Exchange (Fastest for Existing Crypto Holdings)

• If you already hold USDC on Binance, OKX, Bybit, KuCoin, MEXC, or Gate.io, use App → Fund → From an exchange or other chain
• The LayerSwap integration routes USDC directly from your exchange withdrawal to your Starknet wallet address in 30 seconds to a few minutes
• Slippage is near zero; this is the lowest-friction option if you are already a crypto user

Route 4: Starknet Wallet Transfer (If You Already Have USDC on Starknet)

If you use ArgentX, Braavos, or another Starknet-compatible wallet, send USDC directly to your Ready wallet address. Starknet transaction fees are under $0.01, and transfers are near-instant. This is the cheapest route if you are already in the Starknet ecosystem.

The full India-to-Ready funding path: INR bank account → NRE/NRO account or remittance service (Wise/TransferWise) → GBP or EUR → Coinbase/Kraken → USDC → Starknet bridge (LayerSwap via Ready app) → Ready wallet → Card spend. Each step is established, auditable, and reversible.

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India’s Crypto Tax Context and Ready Card Spending

India’s Finance Act 2022 introduced one of the most stringent crypto tax regimes globally: a 30% flat tax on Virtual Digital Asset (VDA) gains plus a 1% Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on every VDA transaction. No loss deductions against gains are permitted. This framework applies to resident Indians and, in principle, to NRIs on Indian-sourced income and assets depending on their residency status.

A few points specifically relevant to Ready Card spending, though these are not professional tax advice — always consult a qualified CA or tax professional for ITR filing:

• Card spending is a taxable event: When you spend USDC via Ready Card, you are converting a VDA (USDC) to fiat. Indian tax authorities generally treat this as a disposal event subject to the 30% VDA tax regime. The fact that it happens through a Mastercard rather than an exchange does not change the underlying tax characterisation.
• USDC as a stablecoin: USDC is pegged 1:1 to USD. If you acquired USDC at $1.00 and spend it at $1.00, your VDA gain is technically zero — though USDC is still classified as a VDA under Indian law, and the 1% TDS obligation applies to the transaction amount at source. Confirm with your CA how TDS applies to overseas card transactions.
• NRI tax residency: If you qualify as an NRI under the Income Tax Act (i.e., fewer than 182 days in India during the financial year), your foreign income — including crypto gains made outside India — may not be taxable in India. Ready Card spending from a UK/EEA wallet may fall outside Indian tax jurisdiction entirely for qualifying NRIs. This is a significant and evolving area — specific advice from a CA with NRI and crypto expertise is essential.
• ITR filing obligations: NRIs with Indian financial assets or Indian-sourced income must still file an ITR. Foreign payment card transactions should be disclosed as required under Schedule FA (Foreign Assets) and applicable provisions. The CBDT has not yet issued specific guidance on foreign crypto card spending — this remains a grey area.
• STRK cashback as income: The STRK tokens received as cashback may constitute income or a capital receipt under Indian tax law. STRK’s INR value at the time of receipt determines any applicable assessment. The Starknet Foundation, not Ready or Kulipa, funds the cashback — the characterisation for Indian tax purposes is unresolved as of April 2026.

This section is informational only and does not constitute tax or legal advice. Consult a qualified Chartered Accountant familiar with both VDA taxation and NRI regulations before making any decisions.

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STRK Cashback — What Indian Crypto Users Should Know

The STRK cashback programme is Ready’s headline feature, and it carries a specific appeal for the Indian diaspora tech community — many of whom already follow the Starknet ecosystem through developer communities and Starknet India channels on Twitter/X.

Here is the structure as verified from official Ready sources:

• Metal: 3% cashback in STRK on up to $5,000 of eligible spending per month. Maximum $150/month, up to $1,800/year in STRK.
• Lite: 0.5% cashback in STRK on all eligible purchases. Same $150/month cap applies.
• Payment timing: STRK credited automatically to your Starknet wallet by the 15th of the following month. No manual claiming.
• Cashback funder: The Starknet Foundation, not Ready or Kulipa. This is a growth incentive for the Starknet ecosystem — structurally similar to how some Layer-2 protocols subsidise early users.
• Quarterly review: The programme is reviewed every quarter by the Starknet Foundation and is explicitly not guaranteed in perpetuity. Rate could be reduced or discontinued. Do not build spending strategy around cashback as a permanent fixture.
• Excluded categories: Gambling, cash-equivalent transactions, and money transfers are excluded. The full list is not exhaustive in the FAQ — transactions in these categories will not earn cashback.

For Indian users holding STRK from cashback: the tokens land in your Starknet self-custodial wallet. To convert to GBP or EUR, swap STRK for USDC on a Starknet DEX (such as Ekubo), bridge to an exchange, and withdraw. Be aware that this conversion is likely a taxable event in your jurisdiction — for UK residents under Capital Gains Tax, and potentially under the Indian VDA regime if you are an NRI with Indian tax obligations.

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Ready Card vs Competitors for Indian Users

The Indian diaspora in the UK and EU has a few crypto card options. Here is how Ready compares to the alternatives most commonly discussed in Indian crypto communities.

Feature	Ready Metal	Crypto.com Visa	Bybit Card	Revolut (Crypto)
Self-custody	Yes — Starknet wallet	No — custodial	No — custodial	No — custodial
Annual fee	120 USDC	Varies by tier (top tiers require CRO stake)	Free	Free to £99.99/year
FX fee	0%	0% on some tiers	0% on some tiers	0% on paid plans (limits apply)
Cashback	3% in STRK (up to $5k/month)	Up to 5% in CRO (requires large CRO stake)	Varies by tier	0.1–1% cashback
Supported assets	USDC only	Multiple (BTC, ETH, CRO, stablecoins)	Multiple	Multiple fiat and crypto
Google Pay	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Apple Pay	Coming soon	Yes	Yes	Yes
UK/EEA eligible	Yes	Yes	Yes (select regions)	Yes
NRI-friendly	Yes (UK/EEA address required)	Yes	Yes	Yes

The self-custody differentiator is the core argument for Ready over Crypto.com or Revolut. Crypto.com holds your funds; so does Revolut. Both are regulated and established — but custodial means counterparty risk. Post-WazirX, post-FTX, the Indian diaspora crypto community has a visceral understanding of what custodial risk means in practice.

Bybit Card is worth a mention specifically for NRI users — Bybit has broad Asia-Pacific brand recognition and offers a Mastercard with multi-asset support. If you already hold assets on Bybit and want the simplest path to a crypto card, Bybit Card is a legitimate alternative. The trade-off: Bybit Card is custodial, meaning your funds remain on Bybit’s platform until the moment of spend. Ready inverts that model entirely.

For another self-custodial alternative in a different ecosystem, see our review of the Ready Card main guide and the Ether.fi Cash Card review — the Ether.fi card is Ethereum-focused and another strong option for self-custody purists.

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Real-World NRI Use Cases

Indian IT Professional in Germany

You earn a EUR salary, you hold USDC as a USD hedge, and you send money home to India periodically via Wise. Ready Metal slots in as your primary card for daily EUR spending — groceries at Rewe, subscriptions (Netflix, Spotify), travel bookings (Lufthansa to India, Booking.com hotels). The 0% FX fee saves you the 2.5% your German bank charges on non-EUR transactions. The 3% STRK cashback means spending €3,000/month earns you roughly $90 in STRK tokens each month, covering the annual card fee inside the first two months.

NRI Entrepreneur in London Using USDC for Business Expenses

You run a consultancy, invoice in USD, hold USDC in self-custody, and pay UK suppliers in GBP. Ready Metal lets you spend directly from your USDC wallet at 0% FX — no conversion overhead, no exchange intermediary. The 3% STRK cashback (up to $5,000/month) on business spending adds up quickly for a founder with regular supplier payments, software subscriptions, and travel costs. The self-custody architecture means your business USDC reserves never sit on a platform account that could be frozen.

NRI Visiting India — ATM Withdrawals and India Spending

Ready Card is a global Mastercard. When you visit family in India, you can use it at any Mastercard-accepting ATM in India (SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Kotak, etc.) to withdraw INR. Metal users get $800/month in fee-free ATM withdrawals; the daily limit is $500. The Mastercard exchange rate applies — no RBI-regulated forex desk required. You can also use the card directly for INR purchases at merchants accepting Mastercard contactless: Amazon India and Flipkart for diaspora shopping, airline bookings on Air India, IRCTC for train tickets when visiting. The card works anywhere Mastercard is accepted globally, including across India.

Diaspora Investor Using USDC as USD Hedge

You hold USDC as a hedge against INR depreciation — a rational strategy given the rupee’s historical trajectory. Instead of leaving USDC idle on an exchange, Ready Card lets you spend from that USDC position directly, earning 3% STRK cashback in the process. The self-custody model eliminates exchange bankruptcy risk (the reason many Indian diaspora investors moved off custodial platforms after FTX and WazirX). USDC stays in your wallet; it only moves when you choose to spend.

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Referral Rewards

Ready’s referral programme offers meaningful rewards for Metal sign-ups. The programme is worth sharing within your UK/EU-based network — diaspora communities tend to move in clusters, and if you know other NRIs who would benefit from a self-custodial crypto card, the referral pays for both parties.

Plan	Your reward	Friend’s reward	Unlock condition
Metal	$15	$15	Friend orders Metal card and spends $50
Lite	$1 (after 5+ successful referrals)	$5	Friend completes card setup

Note: the referral is valid only for NRIs in the UK/EEA. Indian residents in India cannot apply through any referral link. Confirm your friend’s eligibility before sharing.

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FAQ — Ready Card for Indian Users and NRIs