Crypto credit cards are arguably the easiest tool for anyone looking to spend crypto for day-to-day expenses. They eliminate the need for complex conversions or exchanges. These cards also offer perks like cashback, travel rewards, and other incentives that make them even more appealing. This guide gives you a 360-degree view of the best crypto credit cards on the market in 2024.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Crypto credit and debit cards simplify spending digital assets directly for everyday purchases.
• Crypto credit cards generally offer rewards like cashback in cryptocurrency or other perks.
• Card fees vary, with some offering no annual or foreign transaction fees.
• Choose a card based on your spending habits, fees, and the rewards that suit your preference and financial objectives.
Which are the best crypto credit cards?
1. BlockFi Bitcoin Rewards Credit Card
BlockFi is one of the first platforms to offer crypto credit card services. It functions just like any other credit card but offers exciting rewards in Bitcoin.
Key highlights and perks
- Rewards: Cardholders earn 1.5% back in Bitcoin on every purchase. After reaching $50,000 in annual spending, this rate increases to 2%. New cardholders can earn up to $100 in crypto during their first three months.
- Fees: No annual or foreign transaction fees are associated with the card.
- Additional benefits: The card includes a 0.25% back in Bitcoin on eligible trades. Referral rewards and other Visa Signature benefits, such as access to Visa’s Luxury Hotel Collection and travel protection, are also included.
- Referral program: Earn $30 in Bitcoin for referring new cardholders.
- Being a Visa Signature card gives extra perks like access to Visa’s Luxury Hotel Collection, rental car savings, travel and purchase protection, and more.
Who can apply?
Anybody with a decent credit score can apply, while select users are eligible for pre-approved cards.
BlockFi may be the first platform to introduce crypto rewards to credit cards, but it is definitely not the best. The reward rates are lower when compared to counterparts. The lack of real-time rewards is a turn-off. More importantly, reward coins are limited to bitcoin.
2. Gemini Credit Card
The Gemini Credit Card takes a different approach from BlockFi by offering tiered rewards. Gemini’s “invest as you spend” model allows users to earn rewards based on their spending. These rewards can then be directly invested.
Key highlights and perks
- Rewards: The Gemini Credit Card offers up to 3% back on dining, 2% back on groceries, and 1% back on other purchases. Rewards are deposited in real-time into the cardholder’s Gemini wallet.
- Fees: The card doesn’t charge any annual or foreign transaction fees. However, you may incur fees when selling or converting crypto rewards.
- Eligibility and accessibility: The card is available to all 50 U.S. state residents. Applicants must have a Gemini Exchange account.
- Mastercard benefits: The card comes with standard Mastercard benefits, including protection against unauthorized purchases and identity theft.
- Security features: The card includes Mastercard Zero Liability Protection and Mastercard ID Theft Protection.
Did you know: Gemini crypto credit card rewards are available in Bitcoin, Ethereum, or 40+ other digital assets. Cardholders can change their crypto reward type at any time.
Who can apply?
Only U.S. residents with good credit scores can apply for the card. Generally, you can expect to receive your new card via mail within 5-7 days. Although , the wait time can be longer depending various factors such as the number of applicants at the time.
3. Nexo Card
Nexo Card offers the flexibility to switch between credit and debit modes. In credit mode, users borrow against their crypto holdings at rates starting from 2.9%, which helps preserve their assets’ growth potential.
Meanwhile, the debit mode lets users spend cryptocurrencies and stablecoins directly while also earning daily interest on their balance. The card provides cashback or interest rewards based on the loyalty tier, which increases the value for users.
Key highlights
- Allows holding and spending cryptocurrency
- Supports payments in local currencies
- Offers up to 4% cash back on purchases
- Includes a freeze/unfreeze feature for the card via a mobile app.
- Instant transaction notifications
- Enables borrowing up to $2 million with loans starting at 6.9% APR
- Specific details on monthly/annual fees and FX fees were not confirmed
Who can apply?
As of 2024, only residents of the European Economic Area (EEA) and the U.K. can order a Nexo Card. Eligibility also requires identity verification
4. SoFi Credit Card
The SoFi Credit Card offers unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases. Rewards can be redeemed as statement credits or towards SoFi products like savings, investments, or loan payments. It also provides 3% cash back on trips booked through SoFi Travel.
Additional benefits include zero annual fees, no foreign transaction fees, and protection features like Zero Fraud Liability and ID Theft Protection. The card is primarily designed for customers with excellent credit, and it includes Mastercard World Elite perks like 24/7 Travel Concierge and cell phone insurance coverage up to $1,000.
Key highlights
- No annual fee: The card maintains a $0 annual fee, making it cost-effective for users.
- No foreign transaction fees: Users are not charged extra fees for transactions outside the U.S.
- Cash back rewards: The SoFi Credit Card offers up to 2% cash back on all purchases. In addition, there’s a 3% cash-back reward for bookings made through the new SoFi Travel powered by Expedia.
- Cell phone protection: Cardholders can benefit from up to $1,000 in insurance coverage.
- World Elite Mastercard benefits: Include perks like monthly Lyft credits, a free annual Shoprunner membership, and a 3-month free trial for DashPass.
Who can apply?
Any 18+ individual with an “excellent” credit score can apply for the SoFi Credit Card. A physical U.S. mailing address and a valid Social Security number are also required.
5. Coinbase Card
Despite not being a credit card, the Coinbase Card gets an honorary mention in our best crypto credit card list for its ability to bridge digital with traditional finance. This Visa debit card enables customers to use the cryptocurrencies in their Coinbase accounts for everyday transactions while simultaneously rewarding them with various crypto incentives.
Key highlights and perks
- Rewards: The card provides up to 4% back in crypto rewards on purchases. The specific rewards vary depending on the cryptocurrency used.
- Fees: There is no annual fee for the Coinbase Card. However, it’s important to note that there is a 2.49% cryptocurrency conversion fee when spending crypto.
- Spending: The card allows both crypto and USD transactions. The aforementioned conversion fee applies when spending crypto or converting it into cash at ATMs.
- Card security: The card has a mobile app that allows users to track spending and manage the card, including the option to freeze it for security purposes.
- ATM withdrawals: The card has fees associated with domestic and international ATM withdrawals over certain amounts. Specifically, any amount over 200 EUR/GBP per month is subject to a 1.00% fee for domestic ATM withdrawals and a 2.00% fee for international withdrawals.
- Limits: The Coinbase Card has daily, monthly, and yearly spending limits, as well as a daily ATM withdrawal limit.
Who can apply?
As of August 2024, the Coinbase Card is available to U.S. residents (except those in Hawaii) and it supports transactions in both crypto and U.S. dollars. However, it is also compatible with any point of sale worldwide that accepts VISA cards.
6. Wirex
The Wirex Card is also a debit card, but we are including it here as a special case for its perks and practicality. The card allows users to spend cryptocurrencies for everyday purchases while offering up to 8% cryptoback (cashback) on purchases.
It provides fee-free ATM withdrawals up to $200 globally and does not charge foreign exchange fees, which makes it ideal for frequent travelers. It offers strong security features and is available as both physical and virtual cards.
Key highlights
- International payments: Wirex cards automatically convert to local currency at point-of-sale using interbank and Over-the-Counter (OTC) rates, with no exchange fees. This feature is applicable to over 150 currencies.
- No annual fee: The Wirex card continues to have no annual fee.
- Rewards: The rewards program, known as Cryptoback™, offers up to 8% back in rewards on all purchases made with the card. These rewards are paid in X-Points, a unit of Wirex loyalty points.
- Free ATM withdrawals: ATM withdrawals are free up to a certain limit. While your information mentions SG$400, the most recent data indicates the limit is €400 per month (approximately $400), after which a 2% fee applies.
- Compatibility with currencies: Wirex supports spending over 150 currencies at live interbank rates.
Who can apply?
You must complete the Wirex verification process to qualify for a Wirex Card. Note that the eligibility criteria may vary by region, so it’s best to review Wirex’s specific requirements for your location before applying.
Top crypto credit and debit cards compared
| Card | Card type | Rewards | Fees | Benefits | Eligibility criteria |
| BlockFi Bitcoin Rewards Credit Card | Credit | 1.5% back in Bitcoin on all purchases; 2% after $50,000 spent annually | No annual or foreign transaction fees | 0.25% back in Bitcoin on eligible trades, Visa Signature perks | Available to anyone with a decent credit score; pre-approved cards available for select users |
| Gemini Credit Card | Credit | Up to 3% back on dining, 2% on groceries, 1% on other purchases | No annual or foreign transaction fees; fees may apply for selling or converting crypto rewards | Mastercard benefits, including identity theft protection | Available to U.S. residents with a good credit score; requires a Gemini Exchange account |
| Nexo Card | Hybrid | Up to 4% cash back on purchases | No confirmed details on monthly/annual fees and FX fees | Switch between credit and debit modes, borrow up to $2 million | Available to residents of the EEA and UK; requires identity verification |
| SoFi Credit Card | Credit | 2% unlimited cash back on all purchases; 3% on SoFi Travel | No annual or foreign transaction fees | Mastercard World Elite perks, including cell phone protection | Available to U.S. residents with an excellent credit score; requires a U.S. mailing address and valid Social Security number |
| Coinbase Card | Debit | Up to 4% back in crypto rewards on purchases | No annual fee; 2.49% crypto conversion fee | Mobile app for spending tracking and security features | Available to U.S. residents (excluding Hawaii); supports crypto and USD transactions |
| Wirex Card | Debit | Up to 8% Cryptoback™ rewards on purchases | No annual fee; 2% fee for ATM withdrawals over €400 per month | Supports over 150 currencies, free ATM withdrawals up to $200 | Requires completion of Wirex verification process; eligibility criteria may vary by region |
What are crypto credit cards?
Crypto credit cards are designed to bridge the gap between digital currencies and everyday spending. Unlike traditional credit cards, these cards link directly to a cryptocurrency wallet so users can pay with crypto at compatible point of sales.
This setup simplifies the process of using cryptocurrency for daily transactions without the need for manual crypto-to-fiat conversions (or vice versa).
Benefits of crypto credit cards
While the specific perks may vary from card to card, some of the most noteworthy benefits of crypto credit cards include:
- You can earn cryptocurrency on every purchase.
- These cards are accepted wherever traditional credit cards are used.
- Some cards offer the advantage of no annual or foreign transaction fees.
- Crypto credit cards allow you to spend digital currencies directly without manual conversions.
- They provide enhanced security measures like fraud protection and instant card freeze.
- Rewards can be redeemed as cryptocurrency, statement credits, or other financial products.
- You can borrow against your crypto holdings while keeping your assets intact.
The drawbacks of crypto credit cards
All crypto credit cards, even the best ones, have their share of drawbacks, including:
- The opportunity cost in crypto payments can be high. For instance, say you earn 100 points redeemable in three months. The market is bullish in the first month, so you wait with the hope that the bullish momentum will continue. However, the market crashed all of a sudden in the second month onward, and now your rewards have lost value.
- Similarly, many crypto credit cards limit rewards to a specific coin or token. So, the real-world value of the rewards ultimately depends on the performance and reliability of that specific asset.
Should you get a crypto credit card?
The crypto credit (and debit) cards discussed in this guide are among the best options available on the market as of 2024. Each card differs in terms of credit score requirements and fee structures, so choosing the right one depends on your individual needs. Take your time to carefully evaluate the features, fees, and limitations before deciding on the card that best suits your preference and financial objectives.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always read terms and conditions carefully when signing up for any form of crypto credit or debit card.
Frequently asked questions
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