⚡ 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 / Flash / 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 converts to USD proportionally, so USD credited may differ slightly from the USDT amount — this is normal.
→ 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 at near real-time bank rates. Under Pass through, Visa/issuer live rates apply — close to public market rates.
Fees on cross-border spending
Fee type | Description | Rate |
Commission | Charged per purchase | 0.80% |
Cross-border fee — USD region | Spend in USD settlement region | Pass through |
Cross-border fee — 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 (+ cross-border fee if applicable). Keep sufficient balance.
Why doesn't the bill match the listed price?
Common reasons:
FX difference: non-USD spending converts at the rate at transaction time.
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-region or USD-priced merchants to reduce non-USD cross-border fees.
Compare card fee profiles and pick the card that fits your spending pattern.
❓ FAQ
How are cross-border fees calculated?
Cross-border fees are Pass through (currency conversion per Visa/issuer rules); spend commission is 0.80%.
Are rates real-time?
Near real-time bank rates, very close to public market rates (Pass through).
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.