Crypto apps and tools availability varies depending on your passport. As a citizen of the United States living abroad, you have a wealth of crypto tools at your disposal. This guide breaks down the wallets, exchanges, debit cards, payment services, tax apps, and even insurance options. These crypto apps can make managing crypto easy while you’re overseas. We highlight which tools are available and call out especially handy options for travellers. You don’t need to be a crypto expert to follow along! Let’s dive into our review of crypto tools available to citizens of the USA.
United States 🇺🇸 (U.S. Citizens Abroad)
U.S. citizens have access to many of the world’s top crypto services, though American regulations do shape what’s available. The key is to choose reputable, well-regulated platforms that you can use internationally. Here are the tools U.S. expats should know about:
Crypto Wallets (Custodial & Non-Custodial)
Wallets are your first step – this is where you store your Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other coins. As an American abroad, you can use both non-custodial wallets (you control your private keys) and custodial wallets (a company holds coins for you) with ease. Non-custodial wallets are generally available worldwide and aren’t tied to citizenship, so they work wherever you go. Popular options include:
- Mobile & Desktop Wallets: Apps like Trust Wallet are free, easy to use, and available globally. Trust Wallet (backed by Binance) supports a huge range of tokens and decentralised apps. These are non-custodial, meaning you alone hold the “keys” (passwords) to your crypto. Remember to safely back up your recovery phrases!
- Hardware Wallets: For maximum security, many expats use hardware devices like Ledger Nano X or Trezor. These are physical wallets (like USB sticks) that keep your coins offline. They’re not region-locked; you can order one to your home address before travelling. Hardware wallets cost money (usually $50-$150), but they’re a one-time purchase and very secure. Ledger and Trezor support thousands of coins and are widely trusted in the U.S. and beyond (have a look at our comparison of hardware wallets here).
- Custodial Wallets (Exchange Accounts): If you’re more comfortable with a familiar brand, you might use a U.S.-based exchange as a wallet. Coinbase, for instance, lets you store crypto on their app/website, that’s a custodial wallet since Coinbase holds your assets. The Coinbase Wallet app (distinct from the exchange app) is actually non-custodial and gives you full control. Custodial accounts can be convenient (you only need your email/password to log in from anywhere). Though, keep in mind that as a U.S. citizen, you’ll generally need to stick with services compliant with U.S. laws. The good news is U.S. exchanges are accessible from overseas (just have your 2-factor auth device handy). We’ll cover exchanges next.
Crypto Exchanges (Centralized & Decentralized)
Exchanges are where you buy, sell, or trade crypto, and U.S. expats have to be a bit careful here. Many centralised exchanges (CEX) around the world restrict U.S. customers because of American regulations. For example, the global version of Binance (the largest exchange) does not serve U.S. citizens due to U.S. regulatory constraints. Instead, U.S. users have regulated domestic exchanges and a few international platforms that welcome Americans. On the bright side, the exchanges that are available to Americans tend to be very reputable and secure. Some top choices include:
- Coinbase: A U.S.-based exchange that is highly regulated and beginner-friendly. Coinbase has a strong reputation for security and compliance. As a U.S. citizen, using Coinbase means your exchange is overseen by U.S. authorities (SEC/FinCEN state licenses, etc.). And you can use it from abroad just as you would at home. Coinbase is often considered one of the most trustworthy platforms. Fees can be a bit higher for the convenience, but it’s a solid, legal option for Americans anywhere.
- Kraken: Another U.S.-based exchange known for low fees and a wide coin selection. Kraken is popular among American crypto users and is regarded as one of the most reliable exchanges in the U.S. It’s available to U.S. citizens (except in New York and a couple of states due to local licensing). If you’re abroad, Kraken’s website and app still work (there’s no geo-blocking), you just might need to use a VPN if in a country that censors crypto sites.
- Gemini: A U.S. exchange founded by the Winklevoss twins, with a strong focus on security and regulatory compliance. Gemini is a great choice for Americans prioritizing safety; it’s a NY trust company and fully compliant. You can access Gemini from overseas and even use features like their interest accounts (though interest products have had regulatory changes recently). Forbes listed Gemini alongside Kraken as a trusted American platform.
- Crypto.com: Though based in Singapore, Crypto.com is available in the U.S. and is known for aggressively complying with regulations to operate in many regions. It’s considered one of the major exchanges accessible to Americans. If you’re a U.S. citizen abroad, you can use your Crypto.com app to trade or spend (they have a Visa card too, covered below). Note: always use the official Crypto.com app/site, as U.S. users cannot use the separate “Crypto.com Exchange” service (that one is outside U.S. jurisdiction), but the main app is fine and regulated as an MSB in the U.S.
- Decentralised Exchanges (DEX): When abroad, some U.S. expats turn to DEXs like Uniswap or SushiSwap to swap tokens without a central intermediary. Uniswap, for example, is just a web protocol on Ethereum – it doesn’t ban U.S. users because there’s no customer login at all. Using a DEX can help you access tokens that U.S. exchanges don’t list. However, you’ll need a non-custodial wallet (like MetaMask) and some savvy to use these. Also remember: even though you can trade on a DEX, U.S. laws still require you to report gains, and certain tokens might be unregistered securities, so proceed with caution. For most beginners, sticking to the big name CEXs above is easier and safer.
Accessibility Tip: If you maintain a U.S. bank account, you can still link it to these exchanges for deposits/withdrawals (ACH transfers) even while you’re abroad. Just ensure your bank’s fraud system knows you’re overseas. If banking gets tricky, you can use international methods like wire transfers or even credit card buys (though watch the fees). Overall, U.S. expats have a good lineup of exchanges, mainly U.S. regulated ones that you can trust no matter where you roam.
Crypto Debit Cards and Payment Cards
Wouldn’t it be nice to buy a coffee in Bali using your Bitcoin? Crypto debit cards make that possible by letting you spend crypto from your account, which is converted to local currency for the merchant. For U.S. citizens, several reliable crypto cards are available (issued by U.S. companies and regulated by U.S. banking laws). These cards work worldwide via Visa or MasterCard networks, just like a normal debit card. Some top picks:
- Coinbase Visa Card: Coinbase offers a Visa debit card that links to your Coinbase account balance. It’s available to U.S. customers (as well as in a few other countries). The Coinbase Card lets you spend any crypto you hold on Coinbase, or even U.S. dollars from your cash balance. Whenever you make a purchase, Coinbase automatically converts the crypto of your choice to USD to settle the charge. It also gives rewards (currently around 1% back in crypto for US users). There are no annual fees, and no foreign transaction fees, a huge plus for expats. You can use the card anywhere in the world that accepts Visa. Since it’s issued by a U.S. entity, it’s fully compliant with U.S. regulations. If you’re living abroad but have a U.S. mailing address, you can get the Coinbase card sent to you (or get it before you leave).
- Crypto.com Visa Card: Crypto.com’s prepaid Visa card is popular internationally and is available to U.S. citizens as well. This card has tiered rewards, you can earn from 1% up to 5% or more in cashback, depending on how much of Crypto.com’s native CRO coin you stake. For expats, a big draw is the perks: higher-tier Crypto.com cards reimburse services like Spotify or Netflix (handy during travel). The card has no monthly fees, but note that to unlock the best benefits, you must stake CRO tokens for 6 months. If you don’t want to stake, the free tier still works with a lower 0% rewards. The Crypto.com card is a global product; in fact, it’s available in the U.S., Europe, and Australia, making it a great choice for many nationalities.
- BitPay Mastercard: BitPay, an Atlanta-based crypto payment company, offers a prepaid Mastercard for U.S. residents. It’s a simple card: you top it up by exchanging crypto in the BitPay app, and then you can spend those dollars with the card or withdraw cash at ATMs. BitPay’s card is known for low fees and has no conversion fee for spending (they use current exchange rates). It’s U.S.-only (not available to non-U.S. users), which means it’s designed with American regulations in mind. This can be a plus if you trust a card that’s overseen by U.S. financial regulators. For an expat, the BitPay card can be useful to budget your crypto spending. You decide how much crypto to load, and that becomes your USD balance on the card.
- Others: There are a few more card options U.S. expats might consider. Wirex, originally UK-based, has expanded to the U.S. and offers a Visa card with up to 8% rewards (in their WXT token). Uphold (a trading platform) also has a U.S. Mastercard that lets you spend assets, including crypto. And if you use Gemini, they introduced the Gemini Credit Card, which gives crypto rewards on purchases. Keep an eye on any foreign transaction fees (some U.S. credit cards charge ~3% on non-USD purchases; most crypto debit cards don’t, but always double-check the terms).
Regulation note: All the above cards are tied to U.S. companies, so they follow U.S. regulations (e.g. KYC identity checks when you apply). They’re perfectly legal for Americans to use worldwide. If you see other crypto cards online, make sure they serve U.S. customers – many European crypto cards, for example, cannot legally be issued to Americans. Stick to the names above and you’ll have a convenient way to spend crypto on the road.
Payment Methods & Remittances in Crypto
Living abroad often means moving money across borders – whether it’s paying bills back home or sending funds to friends/family. Traditional international transfers can be slow or expensive, so crypto presents an attractive alternative. U.S. expats have a few payment and remittance tools worth noting:
- Stablecoins for Global Transfers: One simple method is to use a stablecoin like USDC (USD Coin) to transfer money. For example, if you owe $500 on your U.S. credit card but you’re in Thailand, you could buy $500 worth of USDC, then use an exchange or service that operates in the U.S. to cash it out to your bank. This can be faster and cheaper than an international wire. A real-world bridge for this is MoneyGram’s USDC service, which now lets users convert cash to USDC and back to cash in many countries (including the U.S., UK, and Canada). As a U.S. citizen, you could deposit cash at a MoneyGram location abroad and have it appear as USDC in a digital wallet, then send that to a U.S. exchange and withdraw dollars, effectively a remittance without banks. The reverse works too (send USDC to yourself and pick up cash locally via MoneyGram). This service was launched through a partnership with the Stellar blockchain and is expanding accessibility for non-bank transfers. It’s a great example of crypto enabling near-instant remittances.
- Lightning Network Payments (Strike): The Bitcoin Lightning Network allows fast, cheap Bitcoin transactions, which is perfect for cross-border payments. A popular app leveraging this is Strike. Strike is a U.S.-based payments app that lets you send money internationally by converting it to Bitcoin behind the scenes. You can load Strike with your U.S. bank or debit card and send dollars to, say, someone in Europe, and Strike delivers it as local currency on the other end using Bitcoin’s network to bridge the gap. Strike expanded globally in 2023 and is rolling out in 65 countries. For U.S. expats, this means you could potentially send money to yourself or others in various countries with minimal fees. For example, you might use Strike to send funds from your U.S. account to yourself in a country where you have a local bank. It’s a clever way to move money if direct banking is an issue.
- Crypto Payroll & Invoicing: If you earn income while abroad, you might consider services like Bitwage. Bitwage allows you to invoice clients or receive salary in cryptocurrency or split between crypto and fiat. For instance, an American abroad could have part of their freelance income paid in Bitcoin via Bitwage, which can then be spent or converted as needed. It’s an international-friendly platform, meaning clients in the U.S. can pay Bitwage in USD, and you receive crypto, or vice versa. This can simplify getting paid across borders.
- Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Marketplaces: In countries where you might not have a bank, peer marketplaces like Bisq or Paxful (Paxful is back online as of 2023 after a brief pause) allow you to trade crypto for local currency directly with people. As a U.S. expat, you could use these to, for example, swap some Bitcoin for the local currency of the country you’re in, using local mobile payment apps or cash deposits. Always exercise caution with P2P trades, use escrow and check trader ratings, but it’s another tool in the kit for accessing money.
Overall, crypto gives US citizens abroad flexibility. You can think of your crypto wallet as a “Swiss army knife” for money: you can convert to different currencies, move funds quickly, and bypass high bank fees. Just be mindful of legalities, the U.S. expects you to report holdings (like if you have a lot of money in a foreign exchange/wallet) and any gains, even from abroad. Speaking of which, let’s talk taxes and tracking.
Tax Tracking Apps for Crypto Earnings
Yes, even when you’re thousands of miles away, Uncle Sam wants to know about your crypto profits. The U.S. is one of the few countries that taxes its citizens no matter where they live, so American expats must report crypto capital gains and income each year. This can be tricky if you trade often or use multiple wallets, but there are crypto tax apps to the rescue. These tools connect to your exchanges and wallets, calculate your gains/losses, and help generate the forms you need. Here are some that support U.S. filers (including expats):
- Koinly: Koinly is a popular crypto tax calculator that supports the U.S. (and many other countries). You can connect your wallets and exchange accounts via API or by uploading transaction history, and Koinly will crunch the numbers. It can generate the IRS Form 8949 and other summaries you’d need for filing. Koinly isn’t free, but it has a free tier if you have only a handful of transactions, and you only pay when you want to generate a tax report. Many expats use Koinly because it can also handle things like airdrops, staking income, etc., and it supports multiple fiat currencies (useful if you have transactions in other currencies). Fun fact: If you’re a U.S. expat, you usually get an automatic 2-month extension to file taxes (to June 15), so you have a bit more time to use Koinly to get your crypto report in order!
- CoinTracker: This is another well-known portfolio and tax tracker. CoinTracker has partnerships with companies like Coinbase, and it’s used by many U.S. taxpayers. Like Koinly, you connect accounts, and it calculates your gains. CoinTracker has a free tier (for up to a certain number of transactions) and paid plans. One advantage: it can integrate with TurboTax, which is handy if you file your U.S. taxes using that software. As an expat, you might use a specialised expat tax service, but you can still give them the CoinTracker output to include in your return.
- TaxBit: TaxBit is a tax software that some big exchanges use on the backend. They had an offering for individuals that sometimes was free (subsidised by exchanges) – for example, if you only used certain platforms, TaxBit might let you get a report at no cost. It’s worth checking if you qualify. TaxBit is very focused on U.S. IRS compliance.
- Others: There are plenty of alternatives. CoinLedger (previously CryptoTrader Tax) is another U.S.-focused app that also now markets to Canadians, etc. TokenTax is a premium service that even handles tricky cases (it’s pricier, but comes with expert support – could be overkill for most). CoinTracking.info is a longstanding tool that some advanced users love (it’s very detailed, supports many countries, including U.S., and can generate Form 8949 too). Most of these are accessible anywhere (they’re cloud services), so even if you’re backpacking in Thailand, you can log in and work on your taxes. Pro tip: keep records of your trades as you go, or regularly sync to your tax app; it makes life easier when tax season comes. And remember, U.S. expats may also have to declare foreign crypto exchange accounts if they exceed certain balances, under FBAR rules. The situation is evolving on that, but if you hold a lot on a non-U.S. exchange, talk to a tax advisor.
The bottom line is, being an expat doesn’t exempt you from U.S. crypto taxes, but the tools above will make it manageable. Some are free up to a point, others are paid – choose what fits your activity level. Many expats find paying $50-$100 for a good tax report generator is worth the peace of mind to stay in compliance.
Expat-Friendly Health Insurance (Crypto-Friendly Options)
One often overlooked aspect of expat life is health insurance. The great news is you can get global health coverage as an American abroad; the tricky part is paying for it or finding one that aligns with your crypto earnings. While most big insurers don’t directly take Bitcoin yet, a few forward-thinking companies cater to digital nomads and even accept crypto payments. Here are some options and ideas:
- Insured Nomads: This is a relatively new insurance provider built specifically for digital nomads and remote workers. They offer travel medical insurance and global health plans. Notably, Insured Nomads has embraced the crypto community – in 2021 they partnered with a DeFi insurance marketplace to let customers purchase policies using cryptocurrency. That means you could pay for your coverage with Ethereum, USDC, DAI, and several other coins. The idea was to lower fees and make it convenient for people who already hold crypto. Insured Nomads is U.S.-founded (with American execs), but it serves clients worldwide with plans that cover you internationally. They focus on expats, so coverage is designed to work in multiple countries. If you have crypto income and want health insurance, this is a standout choice because you can literally pay in crypto and be done, no need to convert to fiat first. Plus, they understand the nomadic lifestyle (including things like mental health, evacuation, etc., in their plans).
- SafetyWing: While SafetyWing doesn’t (as of this writing) accept crypto directly, it’s worth a mention because it’s popular among American nomads for its simplicity and low cost. SafetyWing offers a subscription-based travel medical insurance that you can buy while abroad (coverage in 175+ countries). You pay monthly with a credit/debit card, so one workaround is to use a crypto debit card (like the ones mentioned above) to pay those fees; effectively, you are paying with crypto behind the scenes. SafetyWing is U.S.-friendly and even covers brief visits back to the U.S. (with some limitations). They might not cater specifically to “crypto earners,” but many in the crypto community use them just because it’s convenient while moving around.
- Cigna Global / GeoBlue / Others: Traditional expat insurance giants like Cigna or GeoBlue (Blue Cross Blue Shield’s expat arm) have comprehensive health plans for Americans abroad. These usually require paying premiums annually or monthly via bank transfer or card. While these companies don’t take Bitcoin directly, you can again use a crypto-funded card to pay. The advantage with big insurers is wide coverage and reliable service; the downside is cost (and no crypto integration yet). If you have significant crypto income, you might not mind the cost, and you can always convert a bit of crypto to cover your premium.
- Local Plans and Cash Payments: Depending on where you settle, you might join a local health plan or national insurance. Crypto can come in handy here too, you could cash out small amounts monthly to pay local insurance or healthcare costs out-of-pocket. Some clinics in expat hotspots even accept Bitcoin, but that’s hit-or-miss. The more likely scenario is that you use crypto to get money into your local bank to pay expenses. For example, if you’re an American in Portugal, you might use an exchange to convert crypto to euros and then pay for your Portuguese health insurance.
- Life Insurance and Others: A quick note, some insurers in the U.S. have started accepting crypto for life insurance premiums or other products (e.g., MassMutual famously bought Bitcoin for its general fund, and smaller firms like Premier Shield Insurance in Massachusetts let you pay premiums in Bitcoin). While these are not health insurance, it shows a trend of insurers opening up to crypto. As a U.S. expat, if you maintain something like a life insurance policy back home, check if your provider allows crypto payments; you might be pleasantly surprised.
In summary, health insurance for expats is still mostly a fiat game, but innovators like Insured Nomads are bridging the gap. The key is to ensure you’re covered health-wise (don’t want to skimp on this in case of emergency) and then use your crypto financial tools to pay or budget for it. Even if paying in crypto directly isn’t an option, your crypto earnings can easily be converted via the platforms we discussed to keep you insured.
Summary of Crypto Apps and Tools for USA Citizens
As a U.S. citizen abroad, you have a robust toolkit for living the crypto lifestyle. Non-custodial wallets give you financial sovereignty wherever you are, U.S.-based exchanges like Coinbase / Kraken / Gemini keep you trading within a compliant framework, crypto cards let you swipe your BTC for groceries, and new payment channels mean sending money home (or anywhere) is faster than ever. Just stay on top of your tax reporting and compliance, and you can enjoy the freedom of crypto with the peace of mind that you’re using reputable, legal, and convenient services. The world is getting more crypto-friendly by the day, so you truly can take your coins with you on your travels!
