Frequently asked questions
The essentials on how DEO Finance keeps your money in your control, covers network fees, verifies identity, and powers the card.
What is a wallet?
Your DEO wallet is a self-custody account that holds USDC, a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar. Under the hood it is a Circle User-Controlled Wallet — an ERC-4337 smart account provisioned for you on both the Base and Polygon networks, so a single wallet works across both. Self-custody means you stay in control: you authorize activity with a PIN you set, and DEO cannot move your funds for you. When you first set your PIN, the smart account is created and your wallet address is shown so you can start receiving USDC right away.
Why free gas?
Every blockchain transaction normally carries a network fee, called gas, that is paid in the chain's native token. That usually forces newcomers to buy a separate token just to move their own money. DEO removes that hurdle: transfers use Circle gas sponsorship, and for now we cover the network fee on your behalf. You only ever deal in USDC — there is no need to hold ETH, MATIC, or any other token to send funds.
Why is KYC required?
Know Your Customer (KYC) is identity verification required by financial regulations and anti-money-laundering rules for regulated services like fiat on-ramps and card issuance. DEO uses Stripe Identity to verify a government-issued ID together with a selfie liveness check, and your verification data is encrypted at rest and only ever decrypted on the server. Verification also unlocks higher account tiers with larger transaction limits, and it is a prerequisite for getting a card.
How do I use the card?
After you complete KYC you can issue a virtual card, backed by Stripe Issuing, to spend your USDC balance online. Issuing a card and topping it up are sensitive actions, so they require an extra two-factor (TOTP) confirmation. Once issued, you can view the card number, its temporary CVV, the expiration date, and the billing address in the app. Top the card up with USDC from your wallet and the balance is reflected instantly; when you pay, the amount is deducted from the card and you get a notification and an activity entry for the transaction.
Still have questions? Reach out through your account settings and we'll help you out.