⚡ Quick summary (TL;DR)
Understand card open fees, spend fees, and FX so you can budget subscriptions and avoid underfunded declines.
Keep egress region, billing address, and card details aligned; leave a balance buffer; do not rapid-retry payments.
This guide is for MPChat Pay & MPCard (Cloud / Boundless).
📖 Overview
Cards settle in USD and cross-border spending triggers automatic FX. This article explains how rates work and which fees apply so statements make sense.
Two FX steps in your money flow
① Top-up: USDT ──▶ USD (credited to Pay)
② Spend: USD ──▶ local currency (cross-border purchases)
① Top-up conversion (USDT → USD)
USDT deposited to Pay is converted to USD at the then-current rate. USDT is not converted 1:1 — 1 USDT usually converts to about 0.993–0.998 USD and moves with the market, so the USD credited is slightly lower than the USDT amount. This conversion difference is part of your real spending cost; see "What does a purchase really cost?" below.
→ See Why Does My Wallet USD Balance Differ Slightly After a USDT Deposit?
② Spend conversion (USD → local currency)
Cards settle in USD. Outside USD regions, the bank converts USD to local currency. The currency conversion fee (FX) is charged directly by the card issuer; MPChat applies a Pass through policy, and the fee varies by country and region.
Fees on cross-border spending
Fee type | Description | Rate |
Commission | Charged per purchase | 0.80% |
USDT conversion difference | When deposited USDT is converted to USD | 1 USDT usually converts to about 0.993–0.998 USD; moves with the market |
Currency conversion / cross-border fee (FX) — USD region | Spend in USD settlement region | Pass through |
Currency conversion / cross-border fee (FX) — non-USD region | Spend outside USD settlement region | Pass through |
Refund fee | On transaction refund | 0 (no fee on refunds) |
Actual debit = spend amount + commission + USDT conversion difference (+ FX if applicable). Keep sufficient balance.
What does a purchase really cost?
This applies to MPChat cards (Cloud Card and Boundless Card): online spending follows this, and offline spending has a similar fee structure. It does not apply to ATM cash withdrawals — see How much is the handling fee for withdrawing money (cash) from an ATM with a physical card?.
The all-in cost has three parts:
Commission: 0.80%.
USDT conversion difference: USDT is not converted 1:1 into USD — 1 USDT usually converts to about 0.993–0.998 USD, and it moves with the market.
FX (currency conversion / cross-border fee): only on non-USD spending. It is charged directly by the card issuer; MPChat applies a Pass through policy, and the fee varies by country and region.
Spending scenario | All-in cost guide | Made up of |
Spending in USD | Usually about 1%, subject to actual rates | 0.80% fee + USDT conversion difference |
Spending in a non-USD currency (e.g. SGD, HKD) | Usually about 1.8%–2.2%, varies by country and region | 0.80% fee + USDT conversion difference + FX |
These are reference ranges, not fixed rates. The exact amount follows your in-app transaction record and the rate at the time of the transaction.
Why doesn't the bill match the listed price?
Common reasons:
FX difference: non-USD spending converts at the rate at transaction time.
USDT conversion difference: 1 USDT usually converts to about 0.993–0.998 USD; your deposit was converted to USD at that rate.
Commission / cross-border fee: added on top of the spend amount.
Pre-auth vs settlement: authorized amount may differ slightly from final settled amount.
→ See What Does an "Authorized" Transaction Mean? When Does It Become "Settled"?
How to lower cross-border costs
Prefer USD-priced merchants: non-USD spending adds an FX fee, so the all-in cost is usually higher.
Compare card fee profiles and pick the card that fits your spending pattern.
❓ FAQ
How are cross-border fees calculated?
FX (currency conversion / cross-border fee) is charged directly by the card issuer; MPChat applies a Pass through policy and the fee varies by country and region. The spend commission is 0.80%.
Are rates real-time?
USDT is converted to USD at the then-current rate (1 USDT usually converts to about 0.993–0.998 USD). FX on non-USD spending is charged directly by the card issuer and passed through by MPChat, varying by country and region. Everything follows the rate at the time of the transaction.
How much does a purchase really cost?
Spending in USD usually costs about 1% all-in (0.80% fee + USDT conversion difference); spending in a non-USD currency (e.g. SGD, HKD) usually costs about 1.8%–2.2% (plus FX), both subject to actual rates.
Are fees refunded on a refund?
No MPChat fee on refunds. For USD purchases, a full refund returns the same USD; any small difference comes only from FX rate movement.
📚 Related articles
💬 Still having trouble?
Do not retry payments rapidly (risk systems may cool you down). Screenshot the error (mask card number & CVV), then tap the message icon in MPChat for 1:1 support.
Need an MPCard? Apply inside the MPChat App — a virtual card is usually ready in about a minute.