What's a crypto credit card? 

Crypto credit cards aren't all that different from regular credit cards. The issuing company extends a line of credit to you for you to spend and repay at a later date.  

With crypto credit cards however, the rewards you get for using it are paid back to you in cryptocurrency. 
Whereas an American Express will reward users with points for every dollar spent, crypto credit cards reward you with digital currencies.  

What's a crypto debit card? 

Crypto debit cards allow you to pay for goods in FiAt currencies, however, they draw the value directly from your cryptocurrency holdings.  

For example, if you have $1000 worth of Bitcoin in an account, you spend $500 on something with your crypto debit card, the remaining value of the BTC you have would be equivalent to $500. 

What's the difference between crypto debit and credit cards? 

The primary difference is in the source of the funds and rewards.  

Crypto credit cards offer lines of fiat credit where you're rewarded with crypto for their use

Crypto debit cards allow you to spend your crypto as fiat and there are no rewards

Why would you need a crypto credit or debit card? 

Cryptocurrencies are notoriously difficult to spend for the average purchase. 

Most retailers and businesses don't yet accept crypto as a form of payment (although that is slowly changing). 

Which means if you have crypto holdings, there's a lengthy process of getting it into a more universallty accepted currency. 

Often that means sending funds through a centralised crypto exchange to cash out as something like USD, or using a crypto loan service that uses your crypto as collateral for a fiat loan. 

Crypto debit and credit cards can make it very easy for you to spend your currencies without all these extra hurdles.

The best crypto credit cards

There is no one best crypto credit card. You should look through the listed options below to find the card that best fits your needs. 

Make sure you check out key statistics like APY and any additional fees to find the best fit. 

With that being said,m we've listed a few more details of the most popular crypto credit cards below for you to analyse yourself. 

Remember, these cards offer a line of fiat credit and you're rewarded in crypto for spending on them.  

1. Nexo credit card

Best for serious crypto investors

Nexo is a great option for serious crypto investors who might need access to a large credit line.

It allows users to take out loans of up to US$2 million on their crypto holdings, without having to sell the crypto and exit their position.

This is made possible as Nexo secures or insures the loan with the user’s current crypto holdings. It kind of operates like crypto loan in this sense.  

Nexo supports around 20 different cryptocurrencies at the time of writing, making it a great choice for those looking to take out a loan with their digital assets.

Nexo also offers some great features that make taking out a loan easier and more secure. For example, they offer instant approval and same-day payouts, so you can get your money quickly when you need it most.

Additionally, they have an automated risk management system that monitors your account activity 24/7 and ensures that all transactions are safe and secure.

Finally, they offer competitive interest rates on their loans so you can get the best deal available.

Oh yeah, and it's 2% back in crypto rewards for every purchase. Not a bad option at all.  

2.  SoFi credit card

Great for adding rewards directly to your wallet/account

The SoFi credit card is a great option for those looking to save, invest or pay down debt.

With no annual fees or foreign transaction fees, you can use the card without worrying about extra costs. Plus, you can earn 2 points per $1 spent on eligible purchases, equal to 2% cash back.

This rate can be boosted to 3% if you sign up for direct deposit.

What makes the SoFi credit card even more attractive is that it allows you to redeem your rewards for cryptocurrency straight into your SoFi Active Invest account.

This means that you can easily convert your rewards into digital currency and use them however you wish.

Whether it’s investing in stocks or paying off debt, the SoFi credit card offers a convenient way to make the most of your rewards.

3. Upgrade Bitcoin rewards card

Best for Bitcoin maxi's

The Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards card is great for Bitcoin fans who want to earn a little when spending.

With this card, you'll get an unlimited 1.5% back in bitcoin when you pay down your purchases on the card.

This is a great way to build up your cryptocurrency portfolio without having to invest directly in it.

Plus, Upgrade occasionally offers bonus rewards for cardholders, such as a $200 bonus for opening a Rewards Checking account and making three debit transactions.

4. Brex credit card

Best for small businesses

The Brex card is a little different as it's designed specifically for businesses (marketing makes me think it's aimed at startups more than larger brands).

With this card you earn Brex rewards which can be exchanged for BTC and ETH without any annual fees.

With the Brex card, you can earn points across a wide range of categories, including...

• 7 points per $1 spent on rideshares like Uber and Lyft as well as taxis
• 4 points per $1 spent on travel booked via Brex Travel
• 3 points per $1 spent on restaurants and eligible Apple purchases

You can redeem an unlimited number of points for bitcoin and ethereum at a rate of $7 worth per 1,000 Brex points, but you can also redeem your points for cash, travel, gift cards or statement credits.

This makes the Brex card an incredibly versatile credit card that offers something for everyone.

The Brex card is designed to make it easy for business startups to get started with cryptocurrency rewards without having to worry about annual fees or complicated point redemption systems.

With its wide range of earning opportunities and flexible redemption options, the Brex card is an ideal choice for those looking to maximize their rewards while minimizing their costs.

Whether you’re looking to save money on rideshares or travel expenses or just want to earn some extra cashback in the form of bitcoin or Ethereum.

5. Venmo credit card

Best for those looking for cashback

Who knew Venmo also had a credit card!?

The Venmo credit card is a great way to earn rewards on your everyday spending.

With 3% back on your top spending category, 2% back on your next spending category and 1% back on everything else, you can get cash back that you can use for auto-purchasing cryptocurrency without incurring any transaction fees.

Plus, there’s no annual fee associated with this card.

Here's the cool bit though. You can exchange that cash back directly for select cryptocurrencies. It's basically cash back for crypto making this a nice passive crypto earner.   

You can also use the rewards from the Venmo credit card for statement credits or peer-to-peer payments. This makes it easy to pay friends and family quickly and securely.

With all these features, the Venmo credit card is an excellent choice for anyone looking to maximize their rewards while making payments simple and secure.

6. Unifimoney credit card

Best for variety of rewards

The Unifimoney Visa Credit Card is a card that offers rewards in bitcoin, gold or equity investments.

This credit card could be an exciting opportunity for those looking to invest their rewards into gold, or what's often referred to as digital gold, Bitcoin. 

It could also provide a great way for people to diversify their investment portfolio and take advantage of potential returns from different asset classes. 

Unfortunately info on this card is thin. Despite being written in 2023, the card's website still lists it being rolled out to Unifimoney customers in 2022. 

We'll keep digging to see if we can find anything else.  

The best crypto debit cards

As always, DYOR before jumping into one of these cards. 

Make sure you know what you're getting into and what the charges for usage will be.  

There is no one best card, only what's best for you. Below are a few of the most popular options you might want to consider.  

1. Binance debit card

Great for European users

Binance is the biggest crypto exchange in the world, it'd be odd if they didn't offer a card as well.  

Their card has some good return and cashback rates of up to 8%. 

The rewards are paid back to users in BNB, Binance's native token. 

Unlike many crypto cards, they also offer free ATM withdrawals of cash and it's secured by Binance's top level security.  

The only downside for many is that Binance's card is not available worldwide. They offer a list of eligible countries which I've dropped below. 

Aruba, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Curaçao, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Greece, Guadeloupe, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Martinique, Mayotte, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, Saint-Martin, Sint Maarten, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. 

2. Crypto.com debit card

 Great for cashback rewards

The Crypto.com Visa debit card is a prepaid card, meaning you'll need to fund it before using it.

There's no credit option available at this time.

This card functions like a debit card, and there are multiple selections to choose from (see the image above for a quick overview).

Each card brings different levels of rewards and benefits - the most important is the cashback % which ranges from 0 to 5% (no idea why anyone would want a card with 0% rewards nowadays). 

Rewards are tied to staking the CRO token with Crypto.com, so you'll have to buy the tokens in order to stake them and potentially earn rewards.

It's important to note that the value of these tokens may rise or fall over time, so it's important to do your research before investing in them.

Overall, the Crypto.com Visa debit card is an interesting option for those looking for a way to use their cryptocurrency holdings in everyday life.

The rewards associated with staking CRO tokens can be quite lucrative if done correctly, but it's important to remember that there is always risk involved when investing in any asset class.

It's also worth noting that there are other options out there for those who don't want to take on such risks — such as traditional banking services or other crypto-based cards — so make sure you do your research before making a decision about which one is right for you.

3. Coinbase debit card

Great for rewards without staking

The Coinbase debit card is a great way to access the money you’ve stored in your Coinbase account.

You can easily fund your card with PayPal or through a connected bank account, so you have the option of spending both dollars and crypto with this card.

The Coinbase card also offers cash-back rewards on crypto assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other tokens.

These rewards rotate, but Coinbase will automatically assign a reward if you forget to change your selection. This makes it easy to get rewarded for using your Coinbase debit card for larger purchases.

Overall, the Coinbase debit card is an excellent way to access the funds in your Coinbase account quickly and easily.

It also provides cash-back rewards on crypto assets which can be a great incentive for users who are looking to maximize their returns from their investments.

With its ease of use and rewards system, the Coinbase debit card is definitely worth considering for anyone looking for an easy way to spend their cryptocurrency.

4. Wirex Visa Card

Good option for altcoiners

The Wirex Visa Card is an excellent choice for those who regularly shop and use altcoins.

It allows users to operate both fiat and crypto accounts, as well as exchange crypto to fiat without the need for intermediaries.

This card also offers rewards in cashbacks when you spend or buy anything with it.

The Wirex Visa Card has some great features that make it stand out from other cards.

For example, it allows you to operate even multisig accounts, which is a great security feature.

Additionally, you can get 2% cashback on purchases with the card, making it a great way to save money while shopping.

The Wirex Visa Card is an ideal choice for those who want to take advantage of the convenience of using a credit card while still being able to access their cryptocurrency funds quickly and securely.

5.Unbanked BlockCard debit card

Great low-fees

BlockCard is a great choice for those looking for a low-fee Bitcoin debit card. It has a $5 monthly fee, $3 ATM withdrawal fee, and $2 foreign transaction fee.

This makes it one of the most affordable options on the market. Additionally, BlockCard supports 14 different cryptocurrencies, giving users plenty of options when it comes to spending their digital assets.

One of the best features of BlockCard is its rewards program.

Users can earn up to 6.38% cashback on all purchases made with their card.

This means that you can save money while still enjoying the convenience of using your Bitcoin debit card for everyday purchases.

Furthermore, BlockCard also offers discounts and other promotions from time to time which can help you save even more money in the long run.

6. Bitpay debit card

Good option for US residents

BitPay is a great choice for cryptocurrency enthusiasts living in the United States.

It offers no exchange fees in the U.S., and can be used anywhere MasterCard is accepted. The card supports seven different cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and more.

With BitPay, users can easily convert their digital currency into fiat currency to make purchases or withdraw cash from ATMs worldwide.

The card also comes with a 3% foreign transaction fee and a $2.50 ATM withdrawal fee. Unfortunately, there are no rewards associated with the card at this time.

However, it does offer an easy way to access your funds without having to worry about exchange rates or international fees when traveling abroad.

Overall, BitPay is an excellent option for those looking to use their cryptocurrency in everyday life without having to worry about extra fees or complicated exchanges.

7. Embily debit card

Best for a simple ease of use

The Embily VISA card is a great choice for those looking for a convenient and secure way to pay with cryptocurrency.

With the ability to use it anywhere that VISA is accepted, you can make purchases in almost any country without having to worry about exchange rates or fees.

The card supports major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Binance Coin and stablecoins, making it easy to top-up your card using your cryptocurrency.

The Embily Card also comes with an excellent mobile app that makes managing your finances and tracking your spending simple and straightforward.

You can easily fund your card directly from the app, allowing you to keep track of all of your transactions in one place.

While the credit card isn't yet available in the U.S., you can still sign up for their Debit Card today and start taking advantage of all of its features right away.

How can I earn crypto with a credit card? 

You basically earn crypto by using the card. 

Think of the established credit and debit cards that offer rewards like airmiles,  cashback, hotel points etc. 

There's usually a set reward limit, right?

As in, you spend $1 and you get 1 airmile in return. that airmile is credited to your account for use at a later date.  

These are the same idea, only instead of points you get crypto. 

It might be something like for every $1 you spend you get your crypto wallet/exchange account credited with 0.000000001 BTC.  

In short, use the card and get the crypto reward. 

What are the benefits of using a crypto card? 

The TL;DR here si that you earn crypto for spending money.  

of course the cards are a secure and convenient way to store and transact with cryptocurrencies. But the real benefit is getting that sweet crypto back in your account.  

It also reduces the friction of turning crypto into something that can be used to buy a bottle of water or pay your bills down to a single step.  

They're basically making it easier for people to sue crypto in day-to-day life and get rewarded for doing so.  

How to choose the best crypto credit and debit cards

Thi sis the million-dollar question.  

There are a couple of validation criteria you should run through before choosing a card to use for your own payments. 

Types of currencies supported

A lot of cards have a specific list of cryptocurrencies they will use as the collateral for your payments or that they'll reward you in. 

If you don't hold - or don't want to hold - those currencies then there's very little benefit to you using that card. 

Rewards offered and reward rate

This ties in with the above. 

If the rewards offered are so small to be insignificant or simply aren't something you're interested in, choose a different card.  

Some cards offer a flat-rate across all purchase categories, while others offer higher rates in bonus categories and lower rates on purchases outside of those bonus categories.

Flat-rate cards tend to be the most versatile and work well for just about anyone, but if you have high spending in certain categories, you could benefit more from a bonus category card.

When selecting a crypto credit card with a good rewards rate, it's important to compare different offers and look at the details of each one. You should also consider any annual fees or other costs associated with the card.

Additionally, make sure that the rewards rate is competitive compared to other cards available in the market. By doing your research and comparing different offers, you can find the best crypto credit card for your needs and maximize your rewards earnings.

Fees

Fees should be one of the primary factors you consider when deciding which crypto credit card is the best value.

It's important to understand the different types of fees that may be associated with a particular card before making a decision and how they affect you as an individual. 

One of the most common fees to look for is the foreign transaction fee, which is charged on transactions made in foreign currencies or processed through foreign banks.

If you're a frequent international traveler, it's important to find a credit card with no foreign transaction fee.

Some cards charge a cryptocurrency sales fee when you sell your crypto rewards. While this doesn't necessarily mean you need to rule out those cards, one without this type of fee could be more cost-effective in the long run.

It's also important to consider other fees such as annual fees, balance transfer fees, and cash advance fees when comparing different credit cards.

These can add up quickly and make one card much more expensive than another. Be sure to read all of the fine print and compare all of the associated costs before making your final decision.

With so many options available today, there are plenty of great choices that won't break your budget or leave you with excessive fees.

Usage and places accepted

Make sure the card has a decent level of acceptance with different merchants. 

There's no point in getting a card if you can only use it in a handful of places.  

A lot of the cards are partnered with companies like Visa so they can be accepted anywhere Visa is taken.  Look for this unless you have a very specific use case in mind.  

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