Shoppers using cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ethereum were hit after Visa locked down prepaid cards.
BitPay, Cryptopay and Bitwala have all had their cards suspended as of 5 January, meaning they cannot be used to pay for goods on the high street.
The cards allow users to buy leading cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and ethereum, transfer them onto the prepaid card and use them in the same way as a traditional bank card.
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All three of the prepaid cryptocurrency card companies took to social media to release statements about the suspension.
BitPay confirmed the news and said: “Yesterday our European BitPay card issuer received direction from Visa to immediately close all accounts of its prepaid Visa debit programs”.
In its statement Cryptopay said all funds would be returned to users.
“Unfortunately, our card issuer instructed us to cease all Cryptopay prepaid cards starting 5 January, 2018.”
Bitwala said it would hold an “emergency meeting” in an attempt to resolve the issue.
“Following an announcement from our card issuer on behalf of Visa Europe, Bitwala cards are taken out of operation starting today. Our team is holding an emergency meeting to resolve the issue with the card holders best interest in mind and will make an update shortly.”
Services from BitWala and others are provided through WaveCrest, which is based in Gibraltar.
World news in pictures
World news in pictures
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1/45 5 January 2017
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2/45 4 January 2017
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3/45 3 January 2018
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4/45 2 January 2018
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5/45 1 January 2018
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6/45 31 December 2017
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7/45 30 December 2017
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8/45 29 December 2017
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9/45 28 December 2017
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10/45 27 December 2017
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11/45 26 December 2017
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12/45 25 December 2017
Members of ice swimming club "Berliner Seehunde" (Berlin Seals) take a dip in the Orankesee lake in Berlin as part of their traditional Christmas ice swimming session, in Berlin, Germany
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13/45 24 December 2017
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14/45 23 December 2017
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15/45 22 December 2017
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16/45 21 December 2017
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17/45 20 December 2017
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18/45 19 December 2017
South Korean and U.S. Marines take part in a winter military drill in Pyeongchang, South Korea
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19/45 18 December 2017
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20/45 17 December 2017
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21/45 16 December 2017
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22/45 15 December 2017
Palestinian protesters wave the national flag during clashes with Israeli security forces near the border fence with Israel, east of Gaza City as demonstrations continue over US President Donald Trump's declaration of Jerusalem as Israel's capital
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23/45 14 December 2017
Hamas supporters take part in a rally marking the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Islamist movement, in Gaza City
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24/45 13 December 2017
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25/45 12 December 2017
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26/45 11 December 2017
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27/45 10 December 2017
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28/45 9 December 2017
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29/45 8 December 2017
A Palestinian protester uses a sling to hurl stones towards Israeli troops
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30/45 7 December 2017
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31/45 6 December 2017
Palestinians burn an Israeli and a U.S. flag during a protest against the U.S. intention to move its embassy to Jerusalem and to recognize the city of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in Gaza City
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32/45 5 December 2017
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33/45 4 December 2017
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34/45 3 December 2017
A supporter of Salvador Nasralla, presidential candidate for the Opposition Alliance Against the Dictatorship, puts a balloon on the shield of a soldier in a protest while the country is still mired in chaos over a contested presidential election in Tegucigalpa, Honduras
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35/45 2 December 2017
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36/45 1 December 2017
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37/45 30 November 2017
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38/45 29 November 2017
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39/45 28 November 2017
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40/45 27 November 2017
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41/45 26 November 2017
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42/45 25 November 2017
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43/45 24 November 2017
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44/45 23 November 2017
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45/45 22 November 2017
Former Bosnian Serb military chief Ratko Mladic shouts at the presiding judge during the verdict hearing in his genocide trial, in The Hague, Netherlands
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Cryptocurrencies are digital currencies that can be used to buy or sell items from people and companies.
Interest has been sparked recently after bitcoin saw an increase in value in 2017 from $1000 to just $20,000.
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