A round-up of crypto credit cards for earning rewards
If you believe cryptocurrency is a good long-term investment, you might be considering adding crypto credit cards to your wallet.
A growing number of companies are working to offer cryptocurrency rewards for crypto enthusiasts who want to participate in the digital currency economy.
Of course, this particular type of reward currency isn’t for everyone. It’s important to note your risk tolerance to potential volatility in the market. If you’re a total crypto newbie, check out our full introductory guide to earning cryptocurrency on credit cards.
Note that there is no official Bitcoin credit card or Ethereum credit card, but you may be able to earn those or other cryptocurrencies with any of the cards mentioned in this guide.
At TPG, we are certainly fans of cards that earn rewards on every purchase — be it in the form of cash-back, airline miles or transferable points to use toward travel. Cards that earn crypto may attract those who have faith in the future of the various currencies out there.
However, it is important to note that the value of any cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin or Ethereum, could frequently and rapidly rise or fall at any point. So, you’ll want to seriously consider whether or not the risk is worth it for you before deciding to apply for one of these crypto credit cards.
Keeping the above in mind, these are some of the most popular cards that earn cryptocurrency.
Related: What you need to know about earning crypto on your credit cards
Gemini Credit Card
The Gemini Credit Card* is a Mastercard-branded product with no annual fee. The card features 4% back on gas and EV charging (up to $200 per month, then 1%), 3% back on dining, 2% back on groceries and 1% back everywhere else. You can choose to redeem rewards as any of more than 50 cryptocurrencies available on Gemini.
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Some of the biggest cryptocurrencies in the Gemini credit card rewards program include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Filecoin, Zcash, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Tezos, Solana and Polkadot. You can also cash in with stablecoins such as USD Coin and Gemini dollar.
This card is a popular choice for cryptocurrency rewards due to its low costs, higher reward earning rates and being beginner-friendly.
Crypto.com Visa Card
The Crypto.com Visa Card* is a no-annual-fee card from one of the best-known cryptocurrency exchanges in the United States. (This is partially due to a major ad campaign with Matt Damon and buying naming rights to the Crypto.com Arena, formerly known as the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.)
The Crypto.com card is a bit more complex, with five tiers and varying rewards depending on your cryptocurrency balances.
The basic Midnight Blue tier requires no crypto holdings and doesn’t offer rewards. With $400 or more in the Cronos (CRO) currency, the native currency created by Crypto.com, you can earn 1% to 5% back on regular purchases, depending on your tier.
Other perks that come with higher tiers include up to 100% back on Spotify, Netflix and Amazon Prime subscriptions, merchant offers with Expedia and Airbnb and complimentary airport lounge access. However, those top benefits require holding a whopping $400,000 in CRO, far beyond what most people could afford or consider.
Venmo Credit Card
The Venmo Credit Card* offers rewards in multiple forms, including cryptocurrency. Users can choose a preferred cryptocurrency for monthly rewards, which are redeemed automatically.
The Venmo card has no annual fee and offers up to 3% cash back rewards in your top category for each statement period, 2% in your second biggest spend category and 1% on everything else.
Venmo only supports a short range of currencies: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin, as well as the PayPal stablecoin, PayPal USD. Venmo cryptocurrency transactions are made through a partnership with Paxos, which charges a fee as a difference between buying and selling prices, known as a spread.
The card is issued in partnership with Synchrony Bank.
Discontinued crypto credit cards
Since crypto credit cards began gaining traction years ago, some of the momentum has slowed as certain cards gradually shut down operations or closed their relationships with cryptocurrencies.
The BlockFi Rewards Visa Signature Card*, which earned rewards that could be transferred into multiple cryptocurrencies, is no longer available for new applicants. The Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Visa Credit Card* once offered Bitcoin rewards on every purchase, but it isn’t accepting applications either.
SoFi, meanwhile, ceased offering the option to convert SoFi Credit Card* rewards into crypto in 2023.
*The information for the Gemini Credit Card, Crypto.com Visa Card, Venmo Credit Card, BlockFi Rewards Visa Signature Card, Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Visa Credit Card and SoFi Credit Card have been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Bottom line
If you’re interested in earning cryptocurrency, research the supported currencies, annual fees and earning rates associated with the cards you’re considering. Remember that cryptocurrencies carry unique risks, so there’s a chance your rewards could become worth less and less over time.
Plus, there’s evidence the momentum around cryptocurrency has slowed, so a crypto credit card may not be the best option out there for earning rewards on your purchases. If you’re not into crypto or prefer to earn reward currency like points, cash back or miles, check out our list of the best credit cards to find a card that better suits your needs.
Related: The best rewards credit cards
