Straight answers

Frequently asked questions

Is Valuto a bank?

No. Valuto is the middleware between your crypto and the card networks. Cards are issued under a regulated BIN-sponsor / e-money program and USDT is held with a custody partner; Valuto is the technology and compliance layer that ties them together.

Which crypto and networks can I use?

USDT (Tether) on Tron (TRC-20), Ethereum (ERC-20) and BNB Chain (BEP-20). You get a unique deposit address per network. Support for more stablecoins and chains is on the roadmap.

What exactly happens when I pay?

The terminal asks the issuer for an authorization against your card's fiat balance. When you top the card up from your wallet, we convert exactly enough USDT to fiat at the live rate and load it. Every deposit, conversion and spend is posted to a double-entry ledger you can audit.

Do I need to already own crypto?

No. You can buy USDT in-app with your own debit or credit card through a regulated on-ramp partner, from $50 to $1,000 per purchase, and it lands straight in your wallet.

Where is Valuto available — and where isn't it?

We're launching across Latin America, Japan and South Korea. Sanctioned regions are blocked by law: every applicant is screened against the OFAC SDN list, and Venezuela is blocked by IP, residence and registered address regardless of passport.

What identity checks do I need to pass?

Tier 1 (name, address, ID) unlocks a virtual card with starter limits. Tier 2 (proof of address plus a selfie/liveness check) unlocks a physical card and higher limits. Cards ship frozen until verification clears.

What data do you see, and what do you never see?

We process transaction and KYC data to run the service and stay compliant, all encrypted at rest. We never store full card numbers — those live only in the issuer's PCI token vault — and the majority of crypto sits in offline cold storage.

Is the demo the real system?

The demo runs the production-specified platform — wallet, conversion, card and compliance logic — against simulated custody, on-ramp and issuing partners. What's simulated is the outside world, not the decisions. Live issuance is gated on sponsor-bank and scheme approvals.