Crypto Cards and Virtual Services in any: what actually matters to know
Short answer
Travelers can use crypto-based virtual cards like Bybit for reliable on-site payments and bookings, while Trip.com and YandexTravel remain effective for booking flights and hotels. For currency needs, exchange services are often more practical than traditional banks, and choosing 'Credito' mode on terminals is recommended for foreign debit cards.
From real experience
For travel to Brazil and Argentina, consider the following payment and booking options:
- Russian cards might work through specific apps like Trip.com, but reliability varies.
Check current status.
- Local Russian exchange offices offer currency exchange services in both Argentina and Brazil, which can be used for payments.
- Bybit's card with QR code functionality is reported to be accepted for many on-site payments.
- Purchasing flight tickets with cash is possible but can be challenging. Using exchange services is often easier.
- Booking platforms like Trip.com, YandexTravel, and Aviasales (Russian sites) have been used successfully for booking flights and hotels without issues.
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The 'Plati Po Miru' virtual card is an option for international payments.
Key details: issuance fee is 3000 RUB, transaction fee is 0.3 USD. A significant drawback is the long refund period, often a month or more. Despite transaction costs, some users consider it a more affordable alternative compared to obtaining full foreign bank cards (which can cost tens of thousands of rubles).
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For Latin America, USD is the preferred currency.
When using foreign debit cards, always choose 'Credito' mode on the payment terminal. Belarus/Russian bank cards may not work for subscriptions like Uber or Airbnb; crypto-based payments or local debit solutions are more reliable. Avoid exchanging at banks without checking local market rates, as they may use unfavorable spreads.
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Russian citizens can obtain banking cards in Kazakhstan (e.g., BCC Bank) or Kyrgyzstan.
Getting a tax ID (IIN) in Kazakhstan requires a local SIM card. Inside Brazil, PIX is the primary payment method. Non-residents may struggle to get PIX access; some use crypto-based cards like Bybit or local fintech accounts (PicPay, NG Cash) which occasionally accept foreign documents.
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ImbaWallet, a Telegram bot, enables users to create virtual cards without a passport.
It facilitates buying USDT using Russian rubles via SBP (System of Faster Payments), then funding the virtual card to make payments, such as for tickets. The exchange rate is displayed prior to transaction confirmation.
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When using Belarusian bank cards in Europe (France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy), expect potential issues with cards like BNB and MTBank via Apple Pay, with approximately 30% of transactions being declined.
Virtual cards from services like Bybit may offer a more reliable alternative with no reported rejections.
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A user mentioned using a 'Bybit virtual card' when asked about their international card.
This indicates that Bybit's virtual cards are being used by travelers for payments, potentially linked to cryptocurrency accounts. AI can infer and provide information about such virtual cards for travel.