Imagine that for every chocolate bar you buy, you get some Bitcoin (or other crypto) in return. Well, actually, you don’t have to imagine that because crypto rewards credit cards allow you to do just that. Which are the best crypto credit cards, though?
This is quite a frequently asked question due to the fact that there are only a few legit crypto credit cards available, which is why people usually go for crypto debit cards. But what is the difference between a crypto credit card and a crypto debit card?
Put shortly, one allows you to earn crypto, while the other allows you to spend it outside of crypto exchanges like Binance or Kraken. So, before picking a card that’s best for you, make sure you know which type you actually need.
In this article, you’ll find thorough crypto credit card reviews of the following cards:
Besides that, I’ll also cover such crypto debit cards as:
Without waiting any longer, let’s get to it!
Abhishek Bhattacharya
Entrepreneur, Author, Forbes 30 Under 30
How are crypto credit cards evolving in response to changes in the cryptocurrency market?
Years ago, we saw startups without significant partnerships bring cards that were difficult to trust. Today, banking and fintech incumbents launch specialized "card products" focused on payments via cryptocurrency. This is due to the emergence of more prominent regulations designed to drive confidence in these products - eKYC, digital signatures, liveness checks, AML laws and policies, etc.
1. Brex Credit Card – Redeem Your Brex Reward Points for BTC or ETH
Ranks #1 out of 4
- + Brex reward points can be converted to crypto
- + No annual fee
- + No personal guarantee
- + Dynamic limit structure
- - Only supports BTC and ETH
- - Not suitable for personal use
One of the cards that you’ll see on many “best crypto credit card” lists is the Brex card. Well, it’s not a CRYPTO credit card, per se; it actually is a traditional credit card that also allows users to redeem their rewards for crypto.
Brex credit card is made specifically for businesses. So, if you’re searching for the best crypto credit card for your personal needs, Brex is definitely not for you. If you need a corporate credit card, however, Brex is suitable for startups with a minimum of $50,000 cash balance or mid-market companies and enterprises with at least $400,000 monthly revenue.
You can get both a virtual and a physical Brex card that is issued on the Mastercard payment network, which means it’s acceptable worldwide. One of the more unique features of the Brex card is that it has a dynamic limit structure based on the financial factors of the business in question. Also, it has no annual fees and no personal guarantee.
But enough about the card's technical details, you can learn more on the official Brex website. Since you’re looking for the best crypto credit card, you’re probably more interested in the question: How does the Brex reward system work?
Brex provides a point-based rewards system. This means that you’ll get a certain amount of points for each purchase. Initially, you get 1 point for each $1 spent. Though, certain purchases qualify for 2x, 3x, 5x, and 7x multipliers. For example, you can get 7 points per $1 spent on rideshares and taxis.
You can redeem these points for various types of rewards, including gift cards, statement credits, cashback, miles, and, of course, crypto.
Speaking of crypto rewards, Brex supports two crypto assets – Bitcoin and Ethereum. 1 point can be redeemed for 0.7 cent worth of crypto. You must redeem at least 1,000 points per transaction ($7 worth of crypto), but you cannot redeem more than 1 million points ($7,000 worth of crypto).
Do note, though, that you’ll be charged a network fee for redemption based on the asset in question (the fee is paid to transaction validators).
The ability to redeem Brex points for crypto was introduced in May 2021. This redemption option is made possible through Brex’s partnership with TravelBank, which is a travel booking service. What does it have to do with crypto?
TravelBank partners with Coinbase, which is one of the most popular crypto exchanges on the market. So, when you want to redeem your points for crypto, TravelBank places a buy order on Coinbase on your behalf (for either ETH or BTC) and then these assets are sent straight into your Coinbase wallet.
Therefore, if you don’t have a Coinbase wallet already, make sure to create one. Of course, you’ll be able to transfer your crypto later to another wallet, if you wish. For example, you can easily transfer your funds from the Coinbase wallet to a hardware wallet like Ledger Nano X for stronger security.
Now, the last point that should be discussed in this Brex crypto credit card review is whether it is a crypto credit card USA users can access. Well, Brex is an American company, so – yes, Brex is definitely an option if you’re searching for a crypto credit card in the USA.
In fact, it’s even easier to get the card if you’re based in the USA, because you have to have a valid US incorporation, a US EIN issued by the IRS, and a US billing address. Besides, international businesses have to comply with additional requirements, like opening a US bank account, having a valid international residential address, providing their operations in the US, and so on.
All in all, Brex is a credit card for businesses that allows turning its reward points into Bitcoin or Ethereum, which makes it one of the best crypto credit cards on the market (or, at least, the closest thing there is to a crypto credit card these days).
2. Venmo Credit Card – Turn Your Cashback to Crypto
Ranks #2 out of 4
- + Rewards based on your spending habits
- + No annual fee
- + No foreign transaction fees
- + Allows using cashback to buy crypto
- - Must have an account for at least 30 days before applying for a card
- - Only available in the US
Venmo credit card is present on many “best crypto credit card” lists, even though it’s not an actual crypto credit card. It does, however, offer the “Cash Back to Crypto” feature. Therefore, Venmo is a traditional credit card that allows turning rewards into crypto, which brings it pretty close to the concept of a crypto credit card, right?
According to various crypto credit card reviews, Venmo is a very popular credit and debit card provider in the US. It simplifies the process of sending money to your friends and family, splitting bills, and, of course, purchasing goods and services from businesses that accept Venmo payments.
Venmo has no annual fees and no fees when it comes to sending money to other people. However, it does charge a 3% fee when you pay for goods and services. Besides, it also charges the prime rate plus a variable APR (from 11.99% to 20.99%, depending on your account type) for purchases.
Now that we got the basics out of the way, what’s the deal with Venmo credit card rewards? Essentially, it provides users with up to 3% cashback on their purchases. However, the cashback depends on the categories of your purchases and on their popularity.
There are eight categories: travel, dining & nightlife, groceries, entertainment, and bills & utilities, transport, health & beauty, and gas.
The popularity of the categories is custom for each user as it depends on how much a user spends on each category. A 3% cashback is given for your highest spending category, a 2% cashback for the subsequent category, and 1% for all other categories.
Where does crypto come in, though? Well, for one, the Venmo app allows you to buy, hold, and sell crypto. So, if you were wondering, “Can you buy crypto with a credit card?”, the answer is – yes, some even offer built-in functions for doing that.
Talking about buying crypto with Venmo, you can use your cashback to do that and even set a function for automatic purchases through the “Cash Back to Crypto” feature.
As of writing, there are four supported cryptocurrencies – Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, and Litecoin. You can even set price alerts on said crypto assets that will inform you once their price changes by 5-10% in the span of one day.
The crypto purchasing process on the Venmo app doesn’t incur additional transaction fees. However, there is a crypto conversion spread you’ll have to pay with each monthly transaction.
There are two core requirements you must comply with if you want to get the card – you must live in the US, and you must have a good to excellent credit score (690 and above). This implies that the Venmo card is a crypto credit card for USA-based users only. Therefore, it’s not an option for international users.
Overall, according to many Venmo crypto credit card reviews, it’s a convenient credit card that simplifies the process of sending money to your friends or making various purchases while earning cashback in return (which can then be used to buy crypto). Though, it's only accessible in the USA, but if you’re searching for the best crypto credit card USA residents can get, this just might be it.
Alternative to Crypto Credit Cards – Crypto Debit Cards
As you can see, there are not many legit crypto credit cards because it’s not yet a popular thing in the crypto world. What is a popular thing, however, is crypto debit cards. In fact, sometimes, people who search for the best crypto credit cards are actually searching for crypto debit cards.
You see, these two concepts often get mixed up. Let’s unmix them. A crypto credit card allows you to earn rewards in crypto from purchases made using borrowed fiat money (which you’ll have to give back later).
Crypto debit cards, on the other hand, are connected to your bank account and/or a crypto wallet and can be used to make purchases with fiat AND crypto you own. Besides, they usually provide rewards as well.
I’ll explain this in more detail later. For now, though, let’s check out some of the best crypto debit cards on the market.
3. KuCoin Debit Card – Up to 10% Cashback
Ranks #3 out of 4
- + Up to 4.7% cashback
- + Apple Pay / Google Pay support
- + Provides rewards besides cashback
- + Instant crypto-fiat conversion
- - Very limited crypto asset support (more will be added in the future)
- - Charges quite a lot of fees
If you’ve realized that you need to find the best crypto debit card instead of the best crypto credit card, the KuCoin card (KuCard) is definitely worth your attention. It’s a crypto debit card launched by KuCoin, one of the crypto exchange giants. Though, as of writing, it’s not yet available for ordering (but soon will be).
The KuCard is a physical and virtual card accepted by millions of merchants that accept Visa. You can connect it to Google or Apple Pay, making it a very convenient payment option. Besides, you can quickly manage your money and keep an eye on your spending on the KuCoin app.
Of course, the KuCoin debit card will allow you to pay using various crypto and fiat currencies. However, as of writing, it only supports USDT and ETH (more currencies will be added in the future).
Talking about the benefits of the KuCard, it’s worth noting that it offers exclusive rewards to its users, including up to 10% cashback, various discounts, and much more. Besides, it enables real-time crypto-to-fiat conversion, which is done instantly when you want to make a purchase using crypto.
To sum up, the KuCoin debit card surely is a promising player on the market that will allow you to generate rewards while spending your crypto and fiat currencies.
Did you know?
Compare Crypto Exchanges Side by Side With Others
All Crypto Exchanges may look similar to you but they're NOT all the same!
4. Coinbase Debit Card – Over 250 Supported Cryptocurrencies
Ranks #4 out of 4
- + Strong security measures
- + A lot of supported cryptocurrencies
- + Apple Pay / Google Pay support
- + No transaction, annual, or ATM withdrawal fees
- - Pretty small cashback rewards
You’ll surely find the Coinbase card in many “best crypto debit card” lists (and even some “best crypto credit card” lists, even though it’s not one). This is the case because it’s a crypto debit card launched by Coinbase, one of the most secure cryptocurrency exchanges on the market.
Just like any other crypto debit card, it allows you to spend your crypto like you can spend traditional fiat currencies – to buy clothes, food, or pay your bills. You can use the Coinbase debit card in many places where Visa is accepted. It instantly converts your crypto to fiat whenever you want to make a purchase.
What makes the Coinbase card stand out is its currency support. When it comes to fiat, it only supports USD. However, when it comes to crypto, it supports all crypto assets that the Coinbase exchange supports, which is over a few hundred. This is the case because the Coinbase card is linked to your Coinbase account.
Does it offer any rewards? It does, but they are slightly smaller compared to some other crypto debit cards. The Coinbase card provides users with cashback that range from 1% to 4%, depending on the crypto assets they want to earn rewards in. You can choose from such currencies as BTC, ETH, XLM, and more.
The card is available in the US and several countries in Europe. So, if you were searching for a crypto credit card USA residents can use, you might want to look into the Coinbase card. Even though it's not a credit card, it definitely is one of the best crypto debit cards out there.
Best Crypto Credit Card: What is a Crypto Credit Card?
Now, if you’re searching for the best crypto credit card, you probably already know what it is. However, let’s refresh your knowledge.
Crypto credit cards work kind of similarly to traditional credit cards – you purchase things with your credit line and earn rewards in the process. However, the main difference is that you earn rewards in crypto (or points that can be exchanged for crypto), which is why crypto credit cards are often referred to as crypto rewards credit cards.
But can you buy crypto with a credit card? Yes, you can. Most renowned crypto exchanges like Binance, KuCoin, or Kraken allow users to purchase crypto using a credit or debit card. However, do note that this usually incurs higher fees.
Now, you do have to be very careful with credit cards (traditional and crypto-based) because you are paying with borrowed money, which means you’ll have to give it back. Of course, you’ll be alright as long as you don’t try to bite off more than you can chew.
If it’s the opposite scenario, though, and you are not able to cover your full balance by the due date, you will have to pay interest on your purchases, which tends to get pretty high, by the way.
Also, do keep in mind that using a credit card will temporarily lower your credit score, which could affect your costs for insurance, loans, or any variable-rate debt in the future. Besides, as your credit score shows your creditworthiness rank[1], in order to get a credit card, you do have to have a good score in the first place.
Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that crypto rewards credit cards are still a pretty new and rare concept, which means they are quite limited. For one, there are only a few crypto credit cards overall. And, when it comes to those that exist, you’ll notice that they basically are traditional credit cards that allow redeeming rewards in crypto (a very limited range of crypto, might I add).
Therefore, many people tend to go for crypto debit cards instead. What’s the difference, though?
What is the Difference Between Crypto Credit and Debit Cards?
Some people who want to find the best crypto credit card could actually be looking for a crypto debit card because they might not truly understand the difference between these two. Let me break it down.
As you already know, when you use a crypto rewards credit card, you get rewarded in crypto for buying various things. However, the purchases you make using the card are paid in fiat from your credit line.
When it comes to a crypto debit card, it’s all about paying for goods using crypto and fiat from your own balance. The card quickly converts crypto to fiat, allowing you to make online and in-store payments, as well as withdraw cash from ATMs.
Though, note that there are also prepaid debit cards, which are kind of the same as traditional crypto debit cards, apart from the fact that debit cards are linked to your crypto wallet or bank account, while prepaid cards have to be funded in advance.
Overall, a crypto debit card is a much more popular choice among crypto enthusiasts. And, even in the traditional finance world, people tend to choose debit over credit cards.[2]
Either way, if you’re searching for a card that will allow you to earn crypto rewards while making fiat-based purchases, then you’re on the right path to finding the best crypto credit card. However, if you want a card that will allow you to use crypto in a way you can use fiat AND earn rewards in the meantime, you should be looking for a crypto debit card.
Conclusions
Now that you surely know the difference between a crypto debit and a credit card, you can be certain whether you’re on the right path in searching for the best crypto credit card or not. Nevertheless, a crypto credit card is not such a popular concept in the crypto world as of writing, which is why there are not many options to choose from.
There are quite a lot of crypto debit card options, on the other hand. Some of the best ones on the market are those released by popular crypto exchanges – Binance card, KuCoin card, Coinbase card, or Bybit card. If you want to find out more crypto debit card alternatives, check out this article.
That being said, I hope you find the card that is perfect for you, whether it be a crypto credit or debit card.
Other Crypto Services in This Category
Here are other crypto services related to the category but not as favored by BitDegree readers yet. In my personal opinion, today there are much more optimal crypto services in the list with the higher rating that I'd recommend for the same price range or less.
Binance Debit Card – Up to 8% BNB Cashback
- + Supported by over 90+ million merchants worldwide
- + 8% BNB cashback program
- + Low fees
- + No need to pre convert crypto
- + Secure transactions
- - Limited number of supported cryptocurrencies
UPDATE 2024: As of late 2023, the Binance debit card is no longer available to be acquired and / or used.
The Binance card may not claim the title of the best crypto credit card, because it's not a credit card. However, it certainly stands out as one of the top crypto debit cards. The fact that it belongs to Binance, a leading crypto exchange that offers a variety of services, supports a bunch of popular crypto assets, and has strong security measures, surely is a valid reason for that.
The Binance debit card is a virtual and physical card that can be used to purchase goods and services with fiat or crypto in most places where Visa is accepted. In fact, over 90 million merchants all over the world accept the Binance card. Besides, you can connect it to Google or Samsung Pay.
As of writing, you can get the card in EEA, Argentina, Bahrain, Brazil, Colombia, GCC, Peru, and Mexico. Thus, it supports such fiat currencies as EUR, USD, ARS, BRL, COP, PEN, and MXN. Though, this list will most probably expand in the future.
When it comes to supported cryptocurrencies, do note that it depends on the country where the card is issued. However, all cards support such crypto assets as BTC, ETH, BNB, USDT, or BUSD.
Now, one of the main benefits of the Binance card is that you can earn up to 8% BNB cashback on your purchases made with crypto or fiat. BNB is the native token of Binance, which has various use cases, including getting discounts on trading fees.
Another benefit of the Binance Card is that it has no ATM withdrawal fees, no foreign exchange fees, and no annual fees. Besides, you don’t need to pre-convert your crypto, and all your funds are protected with strong security measures.
So, it could even be said that the Binance Card is better than any “best crypto credit card” because it not only provides you with crypto rewards for spending your money, but also allows you to use crypto as easily as you can use your fiat.
Bybit Debit Card – Accepted By Over 90 Million Merchants
- + Exclusive loyalty rewards
- + Supported by over 90 million Mastercard merchants around the world
- + High spending limits
- + Low fees
- + Chance to earn interest with auto-savings
- - Limited crypto support
The Bybit card should clearly be on your radar if you’re searching for a crypto card. Even though it’s not the best crypto credit card (as it’s NOT a credit card), it surely ranks as one of the best crypto debit cards.
To be more precise, the Bybit card is a Mastercard debit card that is accepted by over 90 million merchants. It is connected to your Bybit account and allows you to use funds directly from it. Thus, you don’t need to connect it to any other wallet or account.
Talking about the benefits of the Bybit card, it has zero staking requirements, several card tiers, the Bybit VIP Card program, and offers exclusive loyalty rewards on purchases. As of writing, the Bybit card supports such fiat currencies as EUR and GBP, as well as such cryptocurrencies as XRP, USDT, BTC, ETH, and USDC.
It’s also worth noting that the Bybit card has no annual fees. It does, however, impose a foreign exchange fee and a crypto conversion fee. Besides, the card is only accessible to users in the UK and EEA countries (except for Romania, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Croatia).
Nevertheless, the Bybit debit card is a great choice if you want to spend your crypto anytime and anywhere while at the same time earning lucrative rewards on your purchases.
The content published on this website is not aimed to give any kind of financial, investment, trading, or any other form of advice. BitDegree.org does not endorse or suggest you to buy, sell or hold any kind of cryptocurrency. Before making financial investment decisions, do consult your financial advisor.
Scientific References
1. Y. Demyanyk: 'Your Credit Score Is a Ranking, Not a Score';
2. J. Zinman: 'Debit or Credit?'.
About Article's Experts & Analysts
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