Pay in Crypto

Comparisons / ether.fi Card vs Gemini Credit Card

ether.fi Card vs Gemini Credit Card

Two Bitcoin credit cards with different reward strategies

Our verdict: ether.fi Card

Pick the ether.fi Card if you want a flat 3% back in Bitcoin with no category tracking and you are an ether.fi Club member. Pick the Gemini Credit Card if you spend heavily on dining (3%) or gas and transit (4%) and you are on the invite list. For most users, ether.fi's flat 3% with high caps beats Gemini's category bonuses, and ether.fi is accessible today while Gemini is on a waitlist.

Quick comparison

Card A ether.fi Card

Card offering up to 3% cashback for ether.fi Club members, funded by crypto.

Type
Crypto (debit/credit)
Network
other
Status
Accepting applications
Regions
Club members
Visit issuer →

Credit card with crypto rewards issued by WebBank on the Mastercard network; applications are invite-only via waitlist.

Type
Credit
Network
mastercard
Status
Waitlist only
Regions
US (waitlist invite required)
Visit issuer →

Overview

The ether.fi Card and the Gemini Credit Card are both Bitcoin-earning credit cards, but they reflect two different product philosophies. ether.fi Card pays a flat rate on every purchase, with the rate and monthly cap determined by Club tier. Gemini Credit Card pays a category-based rate, with bonuses on dining, gas, transit, and groceries. Both are issued by US-regulated partners and both pay rewards in cryptocurrency. The right choice depends on whether your spending is concentrated in specific categories or spread across everyday purchases.

What actually matters

Each factor below is something a real cardholder needs to decide. We walk through both cards' positions on the same question, then summarize.

Reward structure

ether.fi Card pays 3% flat on every purchase, capped by tier ($2k to $50k per month). Gemini Credit Card pays 1% base, 2% groceries, 3% dining, and 4% gas/ev/transit (the 4% capped at $300 monthly spend). Category-based cards win for users with concentrated category spend; flat-rate cards win for users with diffuse spend.

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 — Gemini Credit Card

The Gemini Credit Card is a Mastercard issued by WebBank that offers crypto rewards on everyday purchases. Applications are currently invite-only via a waitlist, making it a somewhat exclusive product. The card is designed for users who want to earn Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies as cashback without dealing with complex staking or subscription requirements.

Rewards

The card offers a tiered reward structure based on spending categories:

  • 4% back on gas, EV charging, and transit (up to $300/month, then 1%)
  • 3% back on dining
  • 2% back on groceries
  • 1% back on all other purchases

Rewards are earned in the user’s choice of cryptocurrency and deposited directly into their Gemini account. This makes it one of the better category-based crypto rewards cards available.

Benefits

  • No annual fee.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • World Mastercard benefits including travel protections and concierge services.
  • Rewards are available immediately after a transaction posts.

Important Considerations

The card is currently on a waitlist and requires an invite to apply. Users must have a Gemini account to receive rewards. The 4% category on gas and transit is capped at $300 in monthly spend, after which it drops to 1%. The card is available only in the US. As with all crypto rewards cards, the value of earned rewards fluctuates with the market.

Application status

ether.fi Card is actively issued to ether.fi Club members. Gemini Credit Card is invite-only via waitlist, with no public timeline for opening applications broadly. If you need a card now, ether.fi is the only accessible option.

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 — Gemini Credit Card

The Gemini Credit Card is a Mastercard issued by WebBank that offers crypto rewards on everyday purchases. Applications are currently invite-only via a waitlist, making it a somewhat exclusive product. The card is designed for users who want to earn Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies as cashback without dealing with complex staking or subscription requirements.

Rewards

The card offers a tiered reward structure based on spending categories:

  • 4% back on gas, EV charging, and transit (up to $300/month, then 1%)
  • 3% back on dining
  • 2% back on groceries
  • 1% back on all other purchases

Rewards are earned in the user’s choice of cryptocurrency and deposited directly into their Gemini account. This makes it one of the better category-based crypto rewards cards available.

Benefits

  • No annual fee.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • World Mastercard benefits including travel protections and concierge services.
  • Rewards are available immediately after a transaction posts.

Important Considerations

The card is currently on a waitlist and requires an invite to apply. Users must have a Gemini account to receive rewards. The 4% category on gas and transit is capped at $300 in monthly spend, after which it drops to 1%. The card is available only in the US. As with all crypto rewards cards, the value of earned rewards fluctuates with the market.

Eligibility requirements

ether.fi Card requires ether.fi Club membership (ETHFI staking or other criteria). Gemini Credit Card requires a Gemini account and an invite. Both have a gate, but ether.fi's gate is staking-based and reachable for existing Club members, while Gemini's waitlist is a hard block for most applicants in 2026.

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 — Gemini Credit Card

The Gemini Credit Card is a Mastercard issued by WebBank that offers crypto rewards on everyday purchases. Applications are currently invite-only via a waitlist, making it a somewhat exclusive product. The card is designed for users who want to earn Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies as cashback without dealing with complex staking or subscription requirements.

Rewards

The card offers a tiered reward structure based on spending categories:

  • 4% back on gas, EV charging, and transit (up to $300/month, then 1%)
  • 3% back on dining
  • 2% back on groceries
  • 1% back on all other purchases

Rewards are earned in the user’s choice of cryptocurrency and deposited directly into their Gemini account. This makes it one of the better category-based crypto rewards cards available.

Benefits

  • No annual fee.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • World Mastercard benefits including travel protections and concierge services.
  • Rewards are available immediately after a transaction posts.

Important Considerations

The card is currently on a waitlist and requires an invite to apply. Users must have a Gemini account to receive rewards. The 4% category on gas and transit is capped at $300 in monthly spend, after which it drops to 1%. The card is available only in the US. As with all crypto rewards cards, the value of earned rewards fluctuates with the market.

Annual and ongoing fees

Neither card charges an annual fee. ether.fi carries the opportunity cost of locked ETHFI tokens for Club membership. Gemini has no membership fee. Net of staking opportunity cost, ether.fi has a real ongoing cost that Gemini does not.

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 — Gemini Credit Card

The Gemini Credit Card is a Mastercard issued by WebBank that offers crypto rewards on everyday purchases. Applications are currently invite-only via a waitlist, making it a somewhat exclusive product. The card is designed for users who want to earn Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies as cashback without dealing with complex staking or subscription requirements.

Rewards

The card offers a tiered reward structure based on spending categories:

  • 4% back on gas, EV charging, and transit (up to $300/month, then 1%)
  • 3% back on dining
  • 2% back on groceries
  • 1% back on all other purchases

Rewards are earned in the user’s choice of cryptocurrency and deposited directly into their Gemini account. This makes it one of the better category-based crypto rewards cards available.

Benefits

  • No annual fee.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • World Mastercard benefits including travel protections and concierge services.
  • Rewards are available immediately after a transaction posts.

Important Considerations

The card is currently on a waitlist and requires an invite to apply. Users must have a Gemini account to receive rewards. The 4% category on gas and transit is capped at $300 in monthly spend, after which it drops to 1%. The card is available only in the US. As with all crypto rewards cards, the value of earned rewards fluctuates with the market.

Card network

ether.fi Card runs on the ether.fi network and is provisioned through Apple Pay and Google Pay. Gemini Credit Card runs on Mastercard, giving it broad international acceptance. For in-person international travel, Gemini's Mastercard acceptance is a real advantage once accessible.

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 — Gemini Credit Card

The Gemini Credit Card is a Mastercard issued by WebBank that offers crypto rewards on everyday purchases. Applications are currently invite-only via a waitlist, making it a somewhat exclusive product. The card is designed for users who want to earn Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies as cashback without dealing with complex staking or subscription requirements.

Rewards

The card offers a tiered reward structure based on spending categories:

  • 4% back on gas, EV charging, and transit (up to $300/month, then 1%)
  • 3% back on dining
  • 2% back on groceries
  • 1% back on all other purchases

Rewards are earned in the user’s choice of cryptocurrency and deposited directly into their Gemini account. This makes it one of the better category-based crypto rewards cards available.

Benefits

  • No annual fee.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • World Mastercard benefits including travel protections and concierge services.
  • Rewards are available immediately after a transaction posts.

Important Considerations

The card is currently on a waitlist and requires an invite to apply. Users must have a Gemini account to receive rewards. The 4% category on gas and transit is capped at $300 in monthly spend, after which it drops to 1%. The card is available only in the US. As with all crypto rewards cards, the value of earned rewards fluctuates with the market.

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