There’s only one surefire way to make money in crypto–and that’s when you get your crypto for free. Crypto cards often pay rewards between 1% and 5% — about average when compared to the cashback rewards offered by other types of cards. The difference here is that you aren’t earning cash back; you’re earning (free) crypto.
Most crypto credit rewards top out at 3% or less, but the Gemini credit card pumps up the jam with instant crypto rewards of up to 4% back on certain purchases. They also are running a into $200 crypto bonus after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days (Terms apply). Debit card offerings can be even more lucrative.
We gathered the best deals in crypto-land and provide a detailed explanation on how each one works below. But just in case you're feeling a little lazy, here's the TL;DR:
- Gemini Credit Card: Best For Ease Of Use And Crypto-Back Rewards
- Nexo Credit Card: Best For Using Your Crypto As Collateral
- Brex Credit Card: Best Crypto Credit Card For Business
- Binance Debit Card: Best For Cash-Back Rewards
- Crypto.com Debit Card: Best For Perks
What's the Difference Between Crypto Debit Cards and Crypto Credit Cards?
All crypto cards aren’t the same. Most are really debit cards — which means you’re spending your cash or crypto while some are credit cards — which means that you’re borrowing fiat money to spend. Others work more like prepaid cards, meaning you have to fund them with cash and top them up when the balance gets low.
Crypto Debit Cards
- Crypto debit cards and crypto prepaid cards can be placed under the same umbrella while crypto credit cards are a whole different ball game.
- Crypto debit cards don’t have high interest rates attached to them. The only hassle when it comes to crypto debit cards is the process of topping up your debit card directly from a bank account or your crypto wallet.
Crypto Credit Cards
- Crypto credit cards (like all other credit cards) have an extremely high interest rate (15%-27%) if you don’t pay off your balance in time.
- However, with crypto credit cards, you earn rewards directly in crypto rather than earning miles or points from traditional credit cards.
Each card fits different needs and lifestyles and that’s why we’ve gathered the best deals in crypto-land for top crypto debit and credit cards with a detailed explanation on how each one works. We’ll start off with crypto credit cards and then make our way into the top crypto debit cards.
How do Crypto Credit Cards Work?
A crypto credit card works much like a standard rewards credit card: You earn rewards for making certain types of purchases.
The main difference is that the rewards you earn are paid in crypto or in points that can be redeemed for crypto rather than earning miles or statement credits. Simple enough.
Be careful, though. With a crypto rewards credit card, you’re borrowing money — which isn’t always a bad thing. But if you don’t pay the balance in full, you’ll have to pay interest (which will be waaayyy higher than the rewards you can earn).
Expect interest rates similar to what you’d get with traditional credit cards, with rates ranging from about 15% to 27%. Wowsa. By comparison, most rewards top out at 3%, so it doesn’t make sense to carry a balance just to earn some rewards.
List of Top Crypto Credit Cards
4.8If you’re a person who eats out or buys groceries, Gemini is worth a closer look. Yes, that means all of us.The Gemini crypto rewards credit card uses a tiered rewards system that instantly pays 3% crypto back on dining, 2% on groceries, and 1% on every other expense.It also offers a special 4%back from gas, EV charging, transit, taxis & rideshareson up to $300 in spend per month (then 1% thereafter).And you won’t have to wait around growing a beard before you can claim your rewards. You get the rewards immediately after you swipe your card*. Choose any of the 60 types of cryptocurrencies, including popular picks like Bitcoin and Ethereum. *Some exclusions apply to instant rewards in which rewards are deposited when the transaction posts. Subject to Rewards Program Terms.
Pros
- No annual fee. See Rates & Fees.
- No fees on foreign transactions
- Receive rewards immediately
- Rewards are available in 50+ cryptocurrencies
- Integrate with Apple Pay or other mobile wallets
Cons
- Must refer to web or mobile app to see your card details
This card is available in all 50 U.S. states.
The rewards just really make sense. We all eat, we all shop for groceries, we all need to get to places, and that’s where you’ll find the biggest rewards. Keeping it simple.
- People who use their car often (4% on refuel / recharge)
- People who commute often (4% on transit, taxis & rideshare)
- People who eat out (3% rewards on dining)
- People who buy groceries (2% rewards on groceries)
- Coinbase Card: Coinbase is a debit card, so you’re spending your own money rather than borrowing. But both cards send you rewards directly to your trading account so you can turn your rewards into cash, trade for another crypto, or save up for a rainy day.
- Venmo Card: The Venmo card is a credit card, like the Gemini card. The difference: you can use your Venmo rewards for anything. Pay your lawn-mowing guy, send a few bucks to a friend – or (of course) invest in crypto.
4.8Can you borrow from yourself? Well, yes. Nexo’s credit card makes it pretty easy, in fact. And instead of getting your loan in weird crypto tokens you can’t spend anywhere, you’ll get a Mastercard that’s accepted pretty much everywhere.Here’s how it works: You deposit crypto as collateral, and then you can borrow against your crypto as needed just by swiping your card.Purchases made with your card earn crypto rewards in the form of Bitcoin or Nexo’s own token ($NEXO). You can borrow up to 90% of your collateral’s value, depending on which crypto you borrow.
Pros
- Rewards of up to 2% in $NEXO tokens or 0.5% $BTC, depending on the card tier
- No minimum repayments or annual fees
- Can toggle between a credit and debit card
- 5 free ATM withdrawals every month
Cons
- Must be a citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA) or UK to qualify
- You must maintain collateral in your account that exceeds the amount that you borrow
- Charges foreign transaction fees (depending on card tier)
As of Sept 2024, only citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA) and the United Kingdom can order a Nexo Card. To be eligible, you need to verify your identity and also meet the following criteria:
- For a virtual card: maintain a Portfolio Balance of at least $50.
- For a physical card: maintain a Portfolio Balance of at least $500 and a Gold or Platinum Loyalty tier.
Crypto loans aren’t new, but Nexo’s approach is different from the others. Instead of getting your loan proceeds in tokens or magic beans, you get a convenient card (that pays rewards). You also get an open line of credit based on your collateral, so you can tap your credit as the need arises.
- People who want to borrow without credit checks.
- People who already use Nexo and the $NEXO token.
- Gemini Card: Nexo uses your crypto as collateral, while Gemini is a credit card. But both options let you earn rewards in Bitcoin (if you’re into that sort of thing). And if you’re in the US, you won’t be able to use Nexo’s card anyway. Sorry, we don’t make the rules.
- Brex Card: If you’re a business mover and shaker, the Brex card makes a better choice than most crypto cards on the list. But you’ll need some cash or decent revenue to qualify. Much like Nexo, you collateralize your own credit line, albeit with cash rather than crypto.
4.8You could always Venmo money to your mom, friend, or hair stylist, but now you can Venmo yourself some crypto! You should know upfront that this isn’t a crypto rewards credit card, per se, but it’s super easy to make it into a crypto Visa card.Here’s how: You can auto-purchase crypto from all your cashback!Venmo’s card offers 3% cash back on the category of item that you spend most on, 2% on the next, and 1% on the rest. Transfer your rewards to your Venmo account and start filling your bags with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or other select cryptos. See, you just turned Venmo’s card into a crypto Visa card with some of the highest rewards out there. Ingenious.Note: Venmo offers a debit card as well, but the debit card doesn’t earn crypto rewards.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Can be linked to Apple Pay and other mobile wallets
- No transaction to purchase crypto
Cons
- Incur fees on selling or converting crypto rewards
- Must transfer rewards to your Venmo app before cashing out
- Require a high credit score
This card is available to all U.S. residents.
You get rewards based on your spending habits. If you spend the most on dining, you will receive maximum cashback on dining. Don’t eat out as much? No stress. You can buy groceries and receive maximum cashback on your groceries while you eat your favorite home-cooked meal.
- People who use Venmo as a verb (aka people who use Venmo frequently)
- People who like a simple rewards program
- People with good to excellent credit (credit score of 690 is required)
- Gemini Card: If you need a credit card rather than a debit card, there are two main choices: Gemini and Venmo. Gemini pays you in crypto rewards fast. Venmo makes you redeem your points for crypto, but you can use your Venmo points for just about anything. Just don’t end up in jail because of what you bought, OK?
- Nexo Card: If you really need to borrow (and you live in the European Economic Area), Nexo lets you borrow to your heart’s content–as long as you have crypto collateral to back the credit line. If you live in the US and need a credit line with crypto rewards, look at the Gemini card.
CL Card powered by Ledger
4.6Ledger’s CL Card can act both as a credit or debit card - whatever you want. First, you have to top your CL Card from your Ledger. Once it’s in your card, you have two options: Spend crypto directly (aka treat it as a debit card) or use it as collateral (aka treat it as a credit card).Using your crypto as collateral will open a line of credit which means that you can borrow against your crypto just by swiping your card. But remember, make sure your line of credit never exceeds your collateral amount!Ledger’s CL Card is provided by Baanx (a company whose aim is to bridge the gap between traditional finance and the world of digital currency).As when you spend your crypto, you will receive 1% cashback in $BTC or $USDT. You can also earn 2% of crypto rewards in Baanx’s own token ($BXX).
Pros
- Earn 1% cashback in $BTC or $USDT or 2% cashback in $BXX
- Can be added to Apple Pay or Google Pay on your phone
- Can use your crypto as collateral to open a line of credit
Cons
- Need to top your card from your Ledger account
- Must be a citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA) or UK to qualify
- You must maintain collateral in your account that exceeds the amount that you borrow
Only available in the European Economic Area (EEA) and UK.
Getting a loan or a line of credit usually means that you’re drowning in paperwork but with this card, all you need to do is top your card with crypto as collateral. It’s that simple.
- People who have a Ledger account
- People who want to borrow without credit checks.
- People who invest in $BXX for the long term
- Nexo Card: The CL card uses your own crypto to back your credit line– and so does Nexo. Both cards offer rewards in $BTC with Ledger offering 1% cashback while Nexo only offers 0.5%.
4.5Business expenses add up faster than consumer expenses. When was the last time you bought 20 Macbooks for your home? Some consumer crypto rewards cards with lower spending or credit limits aren’t up to the job.
Brex fixes that. WithBrex’s crypto credit card for business, you’ll earn points you can redeem for Bitcoin or Ethereum. Spend $1, and you get 1 point. Earn 1000 points, and you get $7 in crypto. That works out to 0.7% back in crypto rewards. You’ve got other choices too. Redeem for cash, miles, travel or even gift cards.
Pros
- Card made for businesses
- No annual fee
- Offers special rewards like miles
Cons
- Complex rewards system
- Very low cashback rate (0.7%)
- Need to have a registered business
You'll need a U.S. billing address to get a Brex card but can use it to purchase stuff anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
Other cards can work in a business context. Maybe. But it’s a forced fit at best. Brex specializes inbusiness financial services, from banking to the Brex card. You can connect your account to popular accounting software, like Xero or Quickbooks, and even set up virtual cards for your team. (Yes, you’ll earn points for their purchases too).
- Businesses with $1 million in annual revenue.
- Businesses that offer spending accounts to team members.
- Startups that have cash ($500,000) but limited credit history.
- Nexo Card: The Brex card uses your own cash to back your credit line– and so does Nexo (except they use your crypto). If you’re in a strong cash position, both platforms let you borrow against your assets, but with Nexo, you’ll need to buy some crypto with that cash.
Compare Crypto Credit Cards
| Gemini Credit Card | Ease of use | 4% cashback on refuel, 3% on dining, 2% on groceries and 1% on all other expenses | Up to 4% cash back |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venmo Card | Existing Venmo users | 3% cashback on the category you spend the most on, 2% on the next and 1% on the rest | Up to 3% cashback |
| Nexo Card | Using crypto as collateral | Can toggle between a credit and debit card and allows 5 free ATM withdrawals every month | Up to 2% $NEXO or 0.5% $BTC |
| Brex Card | Business use | No annual fees and can redeem special rewards like miles, gift cards etc. | 1 point per $1 spent |
| CL Card | Using crypto as collateral | Top up your card from your Ledger account and then either spend crypto directly or use it as collateral | 2% in $BXX or 1% in $BTC / $USDT |
Should You Get A Crypto Credit Card?
Are you already in the market for a new credit card? If so, you can consider crypto credit cards. Rewards offer an easy way to build your crypto portfolio over time while giving you access to a line of credit.
Two birds, one stone.
If you’ll carry a balance, watch out: the interest will cost much more than you’ll earn in rewards.You’ll also have to weigh the potential future value of the crypto rewards. Your crypto rewards could go to the moon, but they might turn into moon dust.
Consider crypto credit cards in comparison to traditional non-crypto rewards cards. Both require a credit check, and annual percentage rates typically fall in a similar range, meaning you probably won’t save money on interest either way. Introductory APR deals are less common with rewards cards.
It really comes down to which types of rewards blow your hair back.
- Traditional Card Rewards: You’ll get a choice of miles, statement credits, streaming services, or points you can redeem for merchandise. Free toasters, anyone?
- Crypto Card Rewards: You’ll get your rewards in crypto or points you can redeem for crypto. The percentage you can earn in cashback rewards with most crypto rewards credit cards is comparable to that of traditional reward credit cards. As a caveat, crypto cards also don’t usually come with introductory offers like you might find with traditional cards. It’s all about the crypto, yo.
Either way, they’re after your money in the form of interest payments (using rewards as bait). But if you play the game right, you’ll get their money instead.
How do Crypto Debit Cards Work?
Crypto debit cards or prepaid cards work much like a debit card from your bank, meaning you’re not borrowing. With a crypto debit card, you’re using the cash or crypto in your account — just like you would be using the cash in your bank account when using a regular debit card.
The big difference compared to a bank debit card is that you’re earning crypto rewards while spending.
You’re not borrowing, and that’s good. But you might be racking up a tax bill. Here’s how: When you spend your crypto, the exchange sells it on the open market–giving you cash in return. Neato.
Except… that this could mean you’ll have to pay capital gains tax (assuming you have a gain since you bought it).
But there’s a workaround to the tax conundrum. You can fund your account with USD or a stablecoin alternative such as USDC or USDT. Stablecoins track the value of fiat currencies, like USD, so there’s no gain and, therefore, no taxes. Coinbase, for example, lets you fund your card with USD or USDC.
Prepaid cards work differently. You’ll have to fund your card with USD through a bank account or with the assets you hold on the exchange. Check the rewards; it might be worth it for your situation. On the plus side, you limit your loss exposure to the funded amount of the card. If your card is lost, you can only lose the amount you’ve put on the card.
List of Top Crypto Debit Cards
Coinbase Visa Debit Card
4.9So, you’ve got crypto stacked, but you’re a bit light on cash. No worries.Coinbase’s crypto Visa card lets you spend your crypto just like cash — while earning crypto rewards as well.
If you don’t want to spend your crypto, then don’t. You can fund the Coinbase debit card with PayPal or a connected bank account. Either way, you’ll earn crypto rewards as you swipe or tap or whatever people do these days to pay for stuff.
The Coinbase card works like a Bitcoin debit card, letting you spend or earn Bitcoin. You can choose to earn your rewards in $BTC, $ETH, $DOGE, $ALGO or other available cryptos. Keep in mind that the cashback varies with each crypto (For example, you get 1% cashback if you earn rewards in $BTC but 4% cashback if you earn rewards in $ALGO.
Pros
- Zero crypto spending fees
- No annual fees
- Spend in over 160 cryptos
- Accepted at 40M+ merchants worldwide
- Choose rewards with up to 4% cashback
Cons
- The Coinbase card currently has an application waitlist
- If you spend crypto, you might have to pay capital gains tax (if you had gains)
As long as Coinbase's services are accessible in your region, you should typically be able to obtain the Coinbase Visa Card. Here is thelist of countries in which you can access Coinbase.
Coinbase’s debit card is more flexible than your double-jointed friend who can bend their elbows backward. You’re not stuck spending your crypto (unless you want to). You can also use your card to tap your PayPal account or bank account, earning crypto rewards for purchases you would have made anyway.
- People who hold crypto on Coinbase’s exchange
- People who want to earn rewards directly in crypto
- Crypto.com Card: The Coinbase card and Crypto.com card both use your own money for funding rather than credit. One big difference: Coinbase doesn’t make you stake anything to earn rewards. Groovy.
- Binance Card: Similar to Coinbase’s card, Binance gives you rewards for spending your own money. Only difference is that you need to hold $BNB tokens to earn rewards with the Binance card.
Crypto.com Prepaid Card
4.8Being one of the oldest and most popular cards in the space, Crypto.com offers 5 different cards, each with unique offerings.The Crypto.com card ties its debit card rewards to staking the $CRO token, the native token of the Cronos blockchain. The more you stake, the more you can earn in rewards.
At the top tier ($400,000 staked $CRO), you’ll earn 5% back. At the lowest staking tier ($400), you’ll earn 1% back. Actually, there’s an even lower tier that pays, well, nothing. Top tiers come with other goodies in addition to rewards, such as free accounts for Spotify, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and more.Note: The Crypto.com card is a prepaid card, so you’ll have to top it up if the balance gets low.
Pros
- Multiple tiers that let you grow into higher rewards
- Rewards of up to 5% back, depending on the tier
- Free accounts with Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime, X Premium on top tiers
- Airport lounge access
Cons
- High staking requirements for top tiers
- Rewards are only paid in $CRO, a utility token unique to Crypto.com
- Staked $CRO does not earn staking rewards
- You need to lock up your $CRO for 180 days for it to be considered
- Needs to be topped up via bank transfer or through your wallet on Crypto.com
As long as Crypto.com's services are accessible in your region, you should typically be able to obtain the Crypto.com Visa Card. Here is thelist of countries that are restricted to use the Crypto.com app.
If you’re in a position to stake higher amounts, you can earn 3% to 5% back on purchases and enjoy a bevy of free goodies, including free streaming services.
- People who can stake $400 and up ($40,000 or $400,000 for top tiers).
- People who have a Crypto.com account
- People who use streaming services
- People who travel a lot (airport lounge access)
- People who invest in $CRO for the long term
- Coinbase Card: Like Crypto.com’s card, Coinbase gives you rewards for spending your own money. Crypto.com offers higher rewards at the top tiers, whereas Coinbase treats everyone the same. You also don’t have to stake anything on Coinbase to earn rewards.
- Binance Card: Just like Crypto.com’s card, users need to hold / stake the company’s native token to earn rewards on their daily purchases. Biggest difference is that Binance’s highest cashback rate (8%) supersedes Crypto.com (5%).
4.9Binance slam dunks oneveryone with waaayyy higher crypto rewards. But there’s a catch to reaching those lofty heights:The Binance card ties its debit card rewards to holding the $BNB token.The more $BNB you hold, the more you can earn in rewards.
At the lowest staking tier (holding no $BNB), you’ll earn 0.1% back. At the top tier (Holding 600 $BNB tokens - equivalent to $300,000 at the time of writing 🤯), you’ll earn 8% back! Even though the 8% looks enticing, there is an upper limit for the monthly amount of cashback rewards. At the lowest card level, users have a monthly cap of 5 euros while the highest card level has an upper cap of 100 euros per month.
Pros
- No spending fees or annual fees
- Multiple tiers that let you grow into higher rewards
- Highest cashback of 8% (with a cap on cashback rewards)
Cons
- Need to hold a lot of $BNB to reach the top tier
- Rewards are only paid in $BNB
- Cashback amount is capped based on your card level
As long as Binance's services are accessible in your region, you should typically be able to obtain the Binace Visa Card. Here is thelist of countries that are restricted to use Binance.However, as of December 2023, Binance has closed their card services in the European Economic Area (EEA).
If you’re able to hold enough $BNB tokens, this is one the best cards out there offering 8% cashback. You also earn your rewards in $BNB which is an extremely liquid and popular cryptocurrency.
- People who hold crypto on Binance
- People who hold large amounts of $BNB
- People who invest in $BNB for the long term
- Coinbase Card: Like Binance’s card, Coinbase gives you rewards for spending your own money. Binance offers higher rewards at the top tiers, whereas Coinbase treats everyone the same. You also don’t have to hold any tokens on Coinbase to earn rewards.
- Crypto.com Card: The Binance card and Crypto.com card both require you to hold / stake the native token to earn rewards. Binance offers higher rewards but Crypto.com offers other fringe benefits like free accounts with Spotify, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and more.
4.7For those of you who hate to keep your crypto on Centralized Exchanges (CEXs), this one’s for you!The Gnosis card is linked to your Safe account which only you have access to.Accepted by 80 million merchants worldwide, you can spend your crypto like you spend your cash. With no transaction fees, gas fees or off ramping fees, the Gnosis Card will make your life hassle free.
Pros
- No spending fees or annual fees
- 0 fees (no transaction fees, no gas fees etc.)
- Accepted at 80M merchants worldwide
- Customize your card with your ENS name
Cons
- Need to have EURe in your wallet to order the card
- Need to top up your account with EURe to make transactions
- No cashback or special rewards
Only available in Europe at the moment.
If you have an ENS name, you can bring your onchain identity to real life! Like how traditional cards have your name on them, the Gnosis card will have your ENS name on it.Using ENS is a great marketing technique butthe best feature of this card is that it’s linked to your decentralized wallet and not a centralized exchange. This ensures that the only person who has access to these funds is you and ONLY you. 🫵This is your daily reminder: not your keys, not your assets (we’re looking at you FTX 👀)
- People who have a lot of funds in their Safe Smart Account
- People who hold large amounts of $EURe in their wallet
- People who want a way to spend their crypto without involving CEXs
- MetaMask Card: Like Gnosis’s card, MetaMask’s card is the only other one that debits money directly from your decentralized wallet. Also similar to Gnosis’s card, MetaMask’s card also doesn’t offer any cashback or benefits.
MetaMask Card (Pilot Launch)
4.7Launched in August 2024, theMetaMask Mastercard is the latest crypto card to break into the space. With a special partnership with a Layer 2 network on Ethereum, users can make transactions with $USDC, $USDT and $WETH on Linea.The MetaMask card works like a debit card letting you spend your crypto directly from your MetaMask wallet. That being said, as the card is still in its pilot phase, it doesn't offer any cashback or rewards.
Pros
- Linked to a decentralized wallet, no centralized exchange needed
- Can be linked to your Apple Pay / Google Pay account on your phone
- Can make purchases everywhere mastercards are accepted
Cons
- Need to hold assets on the Linea network
- No cashback or special rewards
- People who want a way to spend their crypto without involving CEX
The pilot phase is kicking off in the EU and the UK. Go toMetaMask Portfolio and check for the "Card" tab to see if you’re eligible.
This is one of the first few crypto cards that can be linked to your Apple Pay / Google Pay account. This is good news for all you people who don’t carry around your wallet anymore - just add your MetaMask Card to your Apple Pay and then it’s just smooth sailing ahead.
- People who have a lot of funds in their MetaMask Wallet
- People who have assets on the Linea Network
- Gnosis Pay Card: Like Metamask’s card, Gnosis’s card is the only other one that debits money directly from your decentralized wallet. Also similar to Metamask’s card, Gnosis’s card also doesn’t offer any cashback or benefits.
Compare Crypto Debit Cards
| Coinbase Card | High rewards without staking | You can choose to earn cashback in different cryptos with 4% cashback in $ALGO and only 1% in $BTC | Up to 4% cashback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crypto.Com Prepaid Card | Additional rewards | Along with cashback, offers multiple other rewards such as free Netflix and Spotify accounts, airport lounge access etc. | Up to 5% cashback |
| Binance Card | Cashback rewards | Offers the highest cashback rate of 8% but has upper cap on amount on cashback rewards | Up to 8% cashback |
| Gnosis Pay Card | Existing SAFE users | Directly linked to your SAFE account allowing you to spend your crypto stored onchain | No cashback / special rewards |
| MetaMask Card | Existing MetaMask Users | Directly linked to your MetaMask account allowing you to spend your crypto stored onchain | No cashback / special rewards |
Final Thoughts On Crypto Cards
Crypto credit cards can be a great way to earn crypto-specific rewards. If air miles programs and traditional rewards programs aren’t your cup of tea, maybe crypto rewards are more to your taste.
But watch out for the interest: that’s the gotcha. If you’re interest-averse, pay your balance off in full each month or consider a crypto debit card instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 100%. Crypto card rewards are usually paid monthly in the crypto that you choose, but some such as Gemini credit card are instant. As you make qualifying purchases, you earn crypto rewards or points you can redeem for rewards. However, crypto choices may be limited. The percentage you earn back can vary as well, usually ranging from 1% up to 5%.
The IRS views credit card rewards as “rebates” which are not taxable because they require a purchase. In effect, it’s like using a coupon when you shop. Hooray!However, this tax treatment only applies to crypto rewards. Some crypto debit cards, like the Coinbase card, allow you to spend your crypto balance. In these transactions, Coinbase sells part of your crypto and funds your card with an equivalent amount of dollars to spend instead.
A cryptocurrency sale is a taxable event. If you had a profit when you “spent’ your crypto, you have a capital gain and the tax bill that comes with it.
They look similar, but crypto credit cards and crypto debit cards differ in funding sources. When using a crypto credit card, you are borrowing money. If you're good at paying it back in time, you skip paying any interest. With a debit card or prepaid card, however, you’re using your own money or crypto to make purchases.
Crypto credit cards are just as safe (or unsafe) as traditional credit cards. They come with the same risks as well. Your credit card information can be stolen, leaving you a mess to straighten out with the credit card company. With all credit cards, it’s important to safeguard your card and use credit wisely.
Although there's no Coinbase crypto credit card, Coinbase does offer a crypto debit card. The Coinbase crypto visa card offers two benefits for crypto holders.
- Spend your crypto like cash: You can use your crypto on Coinbase to fund your crypto card and spend your holdings anywhere that takes Visa.
- Crypto rewards: Each month, Coinbase gives you a choice of rewards paid in crypto for purchases you make with your card. Your crypto reward options rotate each month.
If you're after credit cards then Gemini does offer a great card, which is worth a closer look.
Crypto credit cards work much other credit cards regarding how they can affect your credit score.
- Applying for new credit: When you apply for new credit, your credit score can drop temporarily. A crypto credit card application is a request for new credit.
- Increases in credit usage: If using your crypto credit card causes an increase in the percentage of your available credit used, your credit score can be impacted.
- Your average age of credit: Credit rating agencies measure the average age of your credit. New credit accounts reduce the average age of credit, which can affect your credit score.
- Your payment history: You'll need to pay your crypto card statement on time. Just like with other credit cards, crypto cards with a late payment can reduce your overall credit score.
Like all credit cards, crypto cards are regulated, so issuers must follow Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements, including proof of identity. None of the providers in our crypto credit card review offer a crypto credit or debit card without identity verification.
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