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When you think of credit card rewards, you probably think of cash back, miles, or points. But what if you could get rewarded in cryptocurrency?
Crypto credit cards help you to earn crypto directly through your purchases or convert rewards into digital currency.
Whether you want to dip your toes into crypto or add to your existing portfolio, earning crypto through a card can be a relatively low-risk way to do so. Here are some of the best crypto credit cards and debit cards that can allow you to earn rewards in cryptocurrency.
Best crypto credit cards
- Brex Card
- Venmo Credit Card
- Gemini Credit Card®
- Robinhood Cash Card
- Coinbase Card
Brex Card
The Brex Card is a corporate credit card catered to startups. Its unique rewards program allows you to earn points and redeem them for various benefits, including Bitcoin and Ethereum.
The Brex Card partners with Coinbase, so you can easily connect your Coinbase wallet to manage your crypto once you redeem your rewards.
This card offers a lucrative (and somewhat complicated) rewards structure with bonus rewards in categories like rideshares, dining, and Apple purchases.
The spending limit on this card is also considerably higher than other business credit cards. But, keep in mind it’s a charge card, so you can’t carry a balance from one month to the next.
Venmo Credit Card
The Venmo Card is a cash back credit card offered by the popular peer-to-peer payment platform. Keep in mind this card doesn’t directly earn cryptocurrency rewards. But, you can use any cash back you earn to invest in cryptocurrency through the Venmo app.
Cardholders can earn 3% back in their top spending category, 2% cash back in their next top spending category, and 1% back on other purchases. Categories include travel, dining and nightlife, groceries, entertainment, and utilities.
The Venmo Card doesn’t have an annual fee and easily integrates with the Venmo app, making it a solid option for frequent users.
Gemini Credit Card
The Gemini Credit Card, offered by the Gemini cryptocurrency exchange, is a good option for crypto enthusiasts. With this card, you can earn rewards in cryptocurrency. This means you don’t have to go through the hassle of converting cash back to crypto.
You can earn up to 3% back on dining purchases, 2% back on groceries, and 1% back on everything else. Rewards are available in Bitcoin and more than 50 other cryptocurrencies. Rewards are deposited into your Gemini account, allowing you to accumulate crypto over time.
The Gemini card has no annual fee and no exchange fees when acquiring crypto rewards.
Robinhood Cash Card
The Robinhood Cash Card is a debit card that helps you invest as you make purchases. Like the Venmo card, you can use your cash back rewards to invest in crypto through the Robinhood app.
With the Robinhood Cash Card, you can earn elevated cash back on a rotating list of retailers, and 2% cash back at gas stations and grocery stores. The card also comes with a round-up feature, allowing you to round up your purchases to the nearest dollar and invest the spare change.
This debit card doesn’t have any monthly fees, in-network ATM fees, or overdraft fees.
Coinbase Card
With this debit card, you can get crypto rewards on all of your purchases, usually between 1-2% back. You can also spend your crypto directly at any merchant that accepts Visa cards.
This gives you the flexibility to use your crypto assets without converting them into fiat currency (i.e. USD) beforehand. The card provides real-time spending insights, allowing you to track your expenses easily.
There are no annual fees with this card, but there may be monthly spending caps on how much rewards you can earn.
Should you get a crypto rewards card?
Crypto rewards cards can come in the form of both credit cards and debit cards. The right card for you depends if you want to earn cryptocurrency directly or through cash back.
If you want to earn rewards in the form of crypto, a crypto rewards card can be appealing. The same goes for if you already hold cryptocurrencies and want to use them for everyday purchases.
But it’s important to consider a few factors. Crypto is much more volatile than other types of rewards you can earn, including cash back.
The cash back you earn with a credit card is often worth the same over time, minus the impact of inflation. Crypto value, on the other hand, can fluctuate widely in a short period of time.
Despite this, some digital currencies have had enormous staying power. Bitcoin and Ethereum are two popular types of crypto that are worth considerably more than they started. For example, Bitcoin has grown more than 57% in 2023 alone.
The good news is that with crypto cards, you can earn crypto without having to invest your own money in most cases. This way, you can get familiar with crypto without putting your own cash on the line. But keep in mind you’ll be giving up the potential to earn other types of rewards for your spending.
Are crypto credit cards safe?
Credit cards are generally very safe to use, mostly due to their $0 liability policies. This means you’re not liable for any fraudulent purchases made with your card. This makes credit cards significantly safer than debit cards.
The safety of your cryptocurrency is an entirely different story. The regulatory landscape for crypto is still evolving, and this can impact the safety of the crypto connected to your credit card.
When you use a crypto card, your digital assets are typically converted into fiat currency at the time of the transaction. This means that you don’t have direct control over your cryptocurrencies while using the card. You’ll need to trust the card issuer with the custody and security of your funds.
While you can keep crypto in an online account with platforms like Coinbase or Gemini, many experts suggest storing crypto in a cold wallet that’s not connected to the internet.
The bottom line
Crypto cards allow you to earn crypto while you spend, giving you the chance to build up a balance without putting your own money on the line.
The value of your crypto has the potential to go up or down overnight. But, you can position yourself for sizable gains if the value of your crypto increases in the long run.
But, crypto credit cards can make it easy to overspend and wind up in debt. If you opt for a crypto credit card, we recommend using it only for purchases you can afford and paying your balance off in full every single month.
Opinions expressed are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.