Bitwage, a California-based Bitcoin payroll firm, has released the first international Bitcoin payroll debit card. With the release of this card, employees and contractors using the Bitwage system can withdraw and spend US dollars, Euros, and British Pounds directly from the blockchain. For those who work outside of the US, the UK and Europe, the cards can pay out in local currency.

Under a partnership with Xapo, a California-based Bitcoin wallet provider, Bitwage is able to send the debit cards to more than 170 countries.

Once a user signs up with Bitcoin and signs up for the international Bitcoin payroll debit card, they have account created on Xapo, unless they already have a Xapo account. Users can then select to have their payrolls sent to their Xapo account, which stores their Bitcoins until they spend them using the debit. Users will be able to check balances and history directly on the Bitwage website.

This initial launch is in beta, meaning that everyone who registers will receive free Bitcoin debit cards. Bitwage says that although the cards cannot currently be sent to the United States, the debit cards work nearly anywhere in the world, including the United States. The company is working to be able to send cards to the U.S.