Especially for friends who need to make cross-border purchases, subscribe to overseas services (such as ChatGPT Plus, Netflix, Spotify), or travel internationally, virtual cards provide a convenient and secure payment method. With the sudden "suspension of operations" of WildCard, many users began to look for alternatives. Today, let's discuss whether BinPay can become a new choice for domestic users, taking over the role of WildCard.
The "Suspension" Controversy of WildCard#
WildCard was once a favorite among domestic users, favored by many cross-border consumers for its features such as Alipay top-up, support for OpenAI top-ups, and ChatGPT Plus subscriptions. On July 12, 2025, WildCard suddenly announced that it would suspend all business operations to comply with the requirements of relevant departments, and the official website was temporarily inaccessible. Although the website resumed on July 14, allowing users to check card numbers and CVV, the top-up and withdrawal functions had been disabled. By July 20, the official notice further clarified the suspension of new user registrations, top-ups, and withdrawal functions, but promised that the balance could still be used for AI product subscriptions. Just two days later, on July 22, tests showed that old users could no longer log into the backend, and all subscription consumption, top-up, withdrawal, and refund functions were suspended, even making balance consumption problematic.
This series of events left WildCard users feeling disappointed. Although the official statement claimed they had not "run away," services were almost completely halted, and hopes for a return to normal operations were slim. Faced with such a situation, many users began to look for more stable and reliable alternatives, and U Card Master recommended BinPay as a highly regarded option.
What is BinPay? What Can It Do?#
BinPay is a prepaid card platform operated by a licensed financial institution registered and regulated in Hong Kong, holding both US MSB and Hong Kong MSO licenses, ensuring a certain level of compliance and security. It offers virtual and physical cards from Visa and MasterCard, suitable for e-commerce consumption globally (such as Amazon, eBay), subscription services (such as ChatGPT Plus, Netflix, Spotify), and even supports Apple Pay and Google Pay, making it convenient to bind to mobile wallets. Notably, BinPay's Visa card can also be linked to Alipay, greatly facilitating daily use for domestic users.
BinPay's top-up method is somewhat unique, requiring users to first purchase USDT or USDC through cryptocurrency exchanges (such as OKX, Binance, HTX, Gate), and then use the BinPay APP to convert USDT into USD, which can then be topped up to the card balance for consumption. Although this method is slightly more complicated than directly topping up with Alipay, the benefit lies in its higher stability and security, avoiding the sudden service interruption risks caused by domestic payment channel regulations.
Types of Cards and Fees for BinPay#
BinPay offers two types of virtual cards and one physical card, with the following specific fees:
- Premium Card: Activation fee of $25, top-up fee of 1.3%, withdrawal fee of 0.5%.
- Diamond Card: Activation fee of $50, top-up fee of 0.7%, no withdrawal fee.
- Physical Card: Activation fee of $98, includes a $1 balance, no shipping fee, card validity of 4 years, free card replacement upon expiration, and a top-up fee of only 1%, with no ATM withdrawal fees (some ATMs may charge additional fees).
All card types have no monthly fees, annual fees, consumption fees, or cross-border fees, and a single transaction over $50 can waive the gateway fee (transactions under $50 incur a fee of $0.3 per transaction). This fee structure is quite favorable for users who frequently engage in cross-border consumption or subscription services.
How to Use BinPay? Simple Steps to Get Started#
For beginners, the process of using BinPay is not complicated. You can follow these steps:
- Purchase USDT: Use the USDT purchase link recommended by U Card Master to choose OKX, Binance, HTX, or Gate, register and log in, then purchase the required amount of USDT.
- Top Up to BinPay: After completing the purchase on the exchange, use the withdrawal function to transfer USDT to your BinPay account.
- Convert and Spend: In the BinPay APP, convert USDT to USD, and after topping up the virtual or physical card balance, you can use it for consumption.
If you are not familiar with the USDT purchasing process, you can directly visit the USDT purchase tutorial and follow the page instructions step by step, which is simple and clear.
Advantages of BinPay Compared to WildCard#
Compared to WildCard, BinPay has advantages in the following areas:
- Stability and Compliance: BinPay is operated by a licensed financial institution, holding dual licenses from the US and Hong Kong, ensuring stronger compliance and lower risk of service interruption. In contrast, WildCard's service suspension due to policy reasons highlights the uncertainty of domestic payment channels.
- Global Applicability: BinPay supports Visa and MasterCard, covering e-commerce and subscription services globally, compatible with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and even able to link to Alipay, offering a wider range of applicable scenarios.
- Transparent Fees: BinPay has a clear fee structure with no hidden fees, and no monthly or annual fees, making long-term usage costs manageable.
- Physical Card Option: For users who need to make offline purchases or ATM withdrawals, BinPay's physical card is a plus, while WildCard only offers virtual cards.
BinPay also has some points to note, such as the need to purchase USDT for top-ups, which may be slightly more cumbersome than WildCard's Alipay top-up. However, considering the regulatory environment of domestic payment channels, this method is actually safer and more reliable.
Conclusion: Is BinPay an Ideal Alternative to WildCard?#
For domestic users looking for alternatives due to WildCard's service suspension, BinPay is undoubtedly a choice worth trying. It not only provides a stable and secure payment method but also supports a wide range of consumption scenarios globally, with transparent and flexible fees, suitable for cross-border e-commerce, subscription services, and international travel needs. Although the top-up process may seem slightly complex through USDT, using platforms recommended by U Card Master such as OKX and Binance makes the operation quite manageable. As long as you can accept this process, BinPay can fully become an ideal alternative to WildCard, helping you continue to enjoy the convenience of overseas services.