Reward rate and structure
ether.fi Card pays a flat 3% back in Bitcoin on every purchase, regardless of category, with monthly caps ranging from $2,000 to $50,000 depending on Club tier. Coinbase One Card pays 2% at the base tier and up to 4% at $200,000 in Assets on Coinbase, capped at $10,000 of monthly spend. Ether.fi's flat rate is more predictable; Coinbase One's headline rate is higher but harder to reach.
Card A — ether.fi Card
The ether.fi Card is a DeFi-native credit card that lets users spend using their crypto balance while earning cashback. It is designed for ether.fi Club members and offers a non-custodial approach where users remain in control of their assets. The card supports both virtual and physical formats and is accepted at over 100 million locations worldwide via Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Rewards
Club members earn up to 3% cashback on card purchases. The exact rate and monthly cap depend on the Club membership tier:
- Core: 3% cashback up to $2,000/month
- Luxe: 3% cashback up to $10,000/month
- Pinnacle: 3% cashback up to $50,000/month
- VIP: unlimited 3% cashback
All tiers earn 3,000 membership points for every $1,000 spent. Additionally, members receive 1% cashback on purchases made by their referrals.
Benefits
- Non-custodial security model where users retain control of their crypto.
- IBAN and SWIFT transfer capabilities for fiat movement.
- Concierge services and airport lounge access.
- Hotel discounts advertised up to 65% for members.
- Purchase protection, extended warranty, auto rental insurance, and baggage coverage.
- Corporate card programs available for crypto-native businesses.
Important Considerations
The card is tied to ether.fi Club membership, which requires holding and staking ETHFI tokens or meeting other membership criteria. The card is not directly affiliated with the ether.fi protocol and is issued subject to separate terms. FX fees are 0% on EUR and USD transactions, but 1% elsewhere. ATM withdrawals carry a 2% fee.
Card B — Coinbase One Card
The Coinbase One Card is a credit card on the American Express network, available exclusively to Coinbase One members. It stands out as one of the highest crypto rewards credit cards available in the US, offering up to 4% back in Bitcoin. The card is issued by First Electronic Bank and comes with a metal design etched with text from Bitcoin’s Genesis Block.
Rewards
The card’s reward rate is tiered based on the user’s “Assets on Coinbase” (AOC):
- 2% back for AOC under $10,000
- 2.5% back for AOC between $10,000 and $49,999.99
- 3% back for AOC between $50,000 and $199,999.99
- 4% back for AOC of $200,000 or more
The elevated rates (above 2%) are capped at $10,000 in eligible purchases per calendar month, after which rewards drop to 2%. Rewards are deposited as Bitcoin directly into the user’s Coinbase account.
Coinbase One Membership
A paid Coinbase One subscription is required to hold the card. The basic tier costs $4.99/month or $49.99/year. If the membership lapses, the card account may be closed. Membership benefits include zero trading fees on the first $500 of monthly trades, competitive USDC yield, and $10/month in Base network gas credits.
Benefits
- No annual fee on the card itself and no foreign transaction fees.
- American Express network benefits including purchase protection, extended warranty, travel insurance, and access to Amex Offers and Experiences.
- Rewards settle immediately when a purchase posts.
- Flexible repayment from a linked bank account or crypto held at Coinbase.
Important Considerations
The card is managed entirely within the Coinbase mobile app, with no desktop web access for card features. Some users have reported limited customer support for disputes compared to traditional credit cards. The membership fee acts as an effective annual cost, so users should calculate their break-even based on expected spend and rewards tier.