Network and region are separate
Visa and Mastercard are networks; the US, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore are issuing regions. A US virtual card can belong to either network, so these are not mutually exclusive categories.
Product overview · three common card options · shared account balance
Virtual cards: three common options and issuing regions
PIKABAO virtual credit cards include Visa and Mastercard options, with guidance for the US, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and other issuing regions. Choose the BIN and number of cards based on merchant requirements, authentication, fees and management needs.
From $1
Issuing fee, one-time
From $1 depending on the card segment and limit
$0
Monthly / yearly / management fee
No charges once issued if the card isn't used
$0
Account top-up fee
Topping up your account costs nothing
3%
Card top-up fee
Flat rate with no tiers
PAYMENT REQUIREMENTS
Match the purpose with the card attributes before issuing
Network, issuing region and authentication support are different attributes. Check currently available PIKABAO virtual credit card BINs and their prices before confirming issuance.
Merchant requirements come first
Check issuing-region restrictions and mandatory 3DS before following a recommendation. Recommendations narrow the choice but do not replace current rules for a particular product or account.
Plan card count and funds separately
An existing suitable card may be enough. Add cards for separate accounting or different regional requirements, and budget separately for issuance, funding fees and spendable funds.
CARD PORTFOLIO
Three common card options: differences at a glance
CARD 01
Visa virtual card
For online merchants accepting Visa; check the selected BIN.
- Check accepted networks
- Separate subscriptions from API billing
- Confirm ad-use acceptance
CARD 02
Mastercard virtual card
For merchants accepting Mastercard; verify linking and renewals separately.
- Review current PayPal linking requirements
- Check regional streaming payment methods
- Manage card funds and records separately
CARD 03
US virtual card
US issuance can overlap with either Visa or Mastercard.
- Check issuance in Card details
- Review product-specific regional requirements
- Issuance does not establish residence
The "US virtual card" is not a third card type. The first two are split by card network (Visa / Mastercard); this one is split by issuing region — you still pick Visa or Mastercard when issuing it, and both run on real US card segments. It serves one purpose: platforms that explicitly require a card issued in the US, such as switching an Apple ID to the US region or Netflix US. When a platform cares about the network instead (PayPal, for example, needs Mastercard), go straight to the first two and skip the issuing-region filter.
Visa and Mastercard identify networks, while US cards identify an issuing region. They are not three cards automatically included in an account. Review fees, funding, authentication and acceptance for each selected BIN.
| Category | Checks | Selection basis |
|---|---|---|
| Visa | BIN, merchant card-type restrictions, authentication | Accepted network plus product-specific conditions |
| Mastercard | BIN, linking verification, recurring charges | PayPal and streaming are not universally Mastercard-only |
| US issuance | Issuer attributes, account region, product eligibility | Filter by issuance where the product explicitly requires it |
FEES AND FUNDS
Separate fees from spendable funds
Calculate issuance fees, card funds and purchases separately. PIKABAO issuance starts at $1, account deposits cost $0, card funding costs 3%, and there are no monthly, annual or management fees. Review current BIN charges and conditions on the issuing and pricing pages.
| Item | Calculation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Issuance | One-time per card, from $1 | Check the selected BIN and applicable refund rules |
| Card funds | Allocate account funds to a card | Spendable funds, not a fee or credit facility |
| Card funding | Funds added × 3% | Include initial and later funding |
| Account withdrawal | Flat $3 per withdrawal | Separate from merchant refunds and card funds returned to the account |
| Other transaction charges | Current BIN information | Review disclosed conversion or decline fees where applicable |
Example: two $1 issuance fees, with $120 and $60 in card funds, cost $2 issuance + $5.40 funding + $180 spendable funds = $187.40 from the account. From an existing $200 account balance, $12.60 remains. The full $187.40 is not a fee.
CARD SELECTION
Choose by merchant requirements and management needs
List your services and purchase channels, then check networks, issuing regions, authentication, currency and transaction limits. Visa and Mastercard identify networks; US cards identify an issuing region. These are not three mutually exclusive products.
- AI
separate personal subscriptions from API billing and prepare renewal funds.
- Advertising
check ad acceptance, billing thresholds and read-only transaction limits; track invoices by project.
- E-commerce and SaaS
separate orders, store fees and application subscriptions. A payment card is not a receiving account.
- Regional subscriptions
follow genuine account region and actual product rules, not blanket country requirements.
- Standard accounts permit 5 unclosed cards; advertising users may apply for up to 30. Frozen and idle cards count until closure completes.
- Separate cards simplify reconciliation, funding and replacement, but do not guarantee risk isolation. Card funds are not a complete loss cap.
HOW IT WORKS
Issuing process: from registration to card readiness
Create an account
Use your own long-term email and complete the displayed email verification. Protect your password and do not share accounts.
Verify identity and account access
Submit genuine information through the current verification page. Google Authenticator supplies one-time codes, not identity verification. Follow actual review and document requests.
Fund and confirm credit
Check supported currency, network, deposit address and minimum amount. Save the transaction hash; blockchain confirmation and account credit are separate.
Select a BIN and submit
Check network, issuing region, fees, read-only limits and available slots. Follow issuance status, then verify the credentials and funds.
Each card needs its own issuance fee and funding. Review, chain confirmation and issuance times depend on actual progress; do not plan a payment deadline around a fixed minute estimate.
CARD FORM AND FUNDING
Card form and funding type are different
Virtual and physical describe form; prepaid, debit and credit describe funding. Digital credentials support online payments where accepted, but do not automatically include every physical-card capability. Check acceptance and authentication separately.
| Question | What to check |
|---|---|
| Online purchases | Accepted network, card type, issuing region and authentication |
| Recurring subscriptions | BIN support and successful storage of the merchant payment method |
| Apple / Google Pay | Current BIN and wallet-region support; technology names alone do not establish availability |
| Cash or receiving funds | ATM withdrawals are not offered; a payment card is not a receiving bank account |
| Available funds | Card funds, authorization holds and settlement records; funds do not reset monthly |
USAGE POLICY
Virtual credit card usage scope and restrictions
PIKABAO virtual credit cards are for your own lawful overseas purchases and subscription payments. The following uses are outside the service scope. Check your payment scenario and the merchant's requirements before using a card.
- Mainland China e-commerce and domestic payments
The service does not support mainland China e-commerce, domestic services or domestic card-linking scenarios such as Alipay and Taobao. Use a payment method supported by the relevant platform.
- Cashing out, currency exchange and withdrawals to mainland China bank cards
The service does not provide cash-out, foreign-exchange or mainland China bank-card withdrawal services. Do not use fictitious transactions to convert a card balance into cash.
- Third-party payments, collections and fund transfers
Accounts are for your own use only. Do not pay or collect funds for others, rent or lend your account, or use someone else's identity to open a card.
- Illegal or restricted transactions
The service does not support categories prohibited by the Terms of Service, including gambling, adult content, drugs, weapons and cryptocurrency trading.
- False disputes and abusive chargebacks
Do not obtain funds through false refund requests, fabricated transaction disputes or abusive chargebacks. Prohibited use may result in restrictions on your account, cards or related operations.
The ban on cashing out does not prevent legitimate balance recovery. Returning a card balance to your account, withdrawing an account balance to your own wallet and receiving a merchant refund follow their respective rules. See the Terms of Service, balance withdrawal rules and Refund Policy for details.
ISSUING REGIONS
Payment requirements by issuing region
Check whether the specific product requires local issuance, then compare authentication, costs and limits. Issuance, billing currency, account region and residence are different attributes.
REGION 01
US virtual cards
Check US issuance; not every US-region product requires a US card.
Check currently selectable BINs and required details before issuance.
View region guideREGION 02
Hong Kong virtual cards
Check acceptance, billing details and settlement fees.
Check currently selectable BINs and required details before issuance.
View region guideREGION 03
Japan virtual cards
Review local-issuance restrictions and official alternatives by merchant.
Check currently selectable BINs and required details before issuance.
View region guideREGION 04
Singapore virtual cards
Check local products, authentication and settlement currency.
Check currently selectable BINs and required details before issuance.
View region guideREGION 05
Other issuing regions
Compare acceptance, authentication and costs for Europe, Canada and Australia.
Check currently selectable BINs and required details before issuance.
View region guideFAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can different networks and regions coexist?
Yes within approved card slots. Each card has separate credentials, available funds and transaction records.
Does opening another card require another deposit?
Only if the account lacks the issuance fee, initial card funds and funding fee. An existing account balance can fund additional cards.
Can every card be used with Apple Pay?
Confirm the current BIN and wallet support first. Network tokenization technology does not prove availability for every card.
What happens at expiry?
Use the expiry displayed in Card details, plan replacement and update merchant billing. Do not rely on a guaranteed reminder or automatic renewal.
How are remaining funds returned?
Review pending authorizations and settlements before requesting card closure. Reconcile completed returns to the account; wallet withdrawals follow separate rules.
OPEN A CARD
Open a card for your payment needs
Confirm acceptance, fees and authentication, then plan funding and card count.
RELATED PAGES
Related pages
Visa virtual card
Network, BIN acceptance and payment preparation.
Mastercard virtual card
Card verification and recurring-payment checks.
US virtual card
US issuance and product-specific requirements.
Hong Kong virtual card
Hong Kong products and billing requirements.
Fees
Separate issuance, funding, transaction and withdrawal costs.
Japan virtual card
Check payment methods for each local product.
Singapore virtual card
Local acceptance and authentication.
Other regions
Issuance, authentication and currency distinctions.
Virtual-card concepts
Separate card form from funding type.