Crypto rewards cards are everywhere. Here’s what consumers should know before signing up

Over 67 million Americans now own cryptocurrency, according to the National Cryptocurrency Association's 2026 State of Crypto Holders Report. As regulators work to provide clearer rules for how digital assets fit into the financial system, established companies like Venmo and Mastercard are expanding tools that let consumers spend and manage cryptocurrencies like bitcoin.

One way consumers can gain exposure to crypto is through credit card rewards programs that pay in bitcoin or let users convert cash back into various crypto tokens. These cards operate like standard rewards credit cards, but let users accrue crypto instead of statement credits, points or miles.

In this article, OpenSea explains the different kinds of crypto rewards credit cards and what consumers should know about each.

What are crypto rewards cards?

Crypto rewards cards are credit or debit cards that give users a percentage of their spending back in cryptocurrency instead of cash or points.

"The card experience can feel familiar to a credit card, while the crypto experience underneath it is not the same as ordinary cash back," said Corey Ballou, head of trust and safety engineering at OpenSea.

Ballou worked on BlockCard, one of the earliest crypto credit card programs. He said the main difference between regular cash-back credit cards and crypto rewards cards is that customers must know how to use crypto wallets or exchanges to successfully use the latter.

A crypto wallet is a digital account used to store, send and receive cryptocurrency. Some cards keep rewards inside the company's app, others on a crypto exchange like Coinbase, and finally, others allow customers to move rewards into a separate wallet that they control themselves.

The products you might find break into several different types of crypto rewards cards, and each is structured differently.

Different types of crypto rewards cards

Not all crypto rewards cards work the same way. Some automatically drop rewards into your bitcoin or other digital currency wallet, while others let you convert your cash back into crypto after the fact. Some cards plug directly into your existing crypto wallet or stablecoin balance, while others hold your earnings inside their own app until you decide what to do with them. Those differences determine how easily you can access your rewards, whether you're truly in control of them and what limitations or risks might apply to your account.

Direct crypto rewards cards

With a direct crypto rewards card, you earn cryptocurrency instead of cash back, simple as that. Make a purchase, and a small percentage is credited to your crypto account on platforms like Coinbase or Gemini.

From there, you can watch your balance grow, or you can sell when the moment feels right, hold for the long term or move everything to a separate digital wallet. Once the reward hits your account, it's generally yours to do with as you please, though the fine print varies from one platform to the next.

Examples include the Gemini Credit Card and Coinbase One Card.

Cash-back conversion cards

These cards work like normal cash-back credit cards at first. Users earn cash back in regular U.S. dollars, but can later choose whether to turn that cash back into crypto inside the app. They can often store their rewards as crypto inside the app or platform itself, but can later transfer it to a crypto wallet or redeem it as fiat currency. Venmo Credit Card uses this model.

Prepaid debit cards

These cards aren't actually credit cards, but rather, they're prepaid cards tied to your account on a crypto exchange. You load money onto the card upfront and spend only what's already there, so instead of borrowing against a credit line, purchases come straight out of your existing balance.

Some programs sweeten the deal by depositing a percentage of each purchase back into your exchange account as crypto rewards. And since there's no borrowing involved, there's typically no credit check required. The Coinbase Visa Prepaid Debit Card works this way.

Tiered rewards cards

With tiered rewards cards, the amount of crypto users may earn can vary based on how much they keep on the platform. Generally, holding more money or crypto with the company may make users eligible for higher rewards rates, a structure that functions similarly to a tiered loyalty program.

Rewards, when offered, are often paid out in the platform's own token rather than a mainstream cryptocurrency. The Crypto.com Visa Signature Card uses this type of structure.

Stablecoin spending cards

Stablecoin spending cards target users who already hold stablecoins, which are cryptocurrencies designed to track the value of the U.S. dollar. When a user makes a purchase, the card converts those stablecoins into dollars to pay the merchant. Users typically receive platform points or similar rewards. The KAST Card is an example.

Crypto-native cards

Crypto-native cards connect directly to a user's own crypto wallet, not a company account. A crypto wallet is a digital tool that allows users to store and manage their cryptocurrency. With this setup, users keep control of their crypto until they spend it with the card. That also means they handle their own security, including protecting access to the wallet. The MetaMask Card, which runs on the Mastercard global payment network, follows this model.

What to know before using a crypto rewards credit card

Ballou said consumers new to crypto rewards should "start small," especially before moving funds they've earned on their credit card from the exchange or platform into a self-controlled wallet. He recommends sending a small test transaction first to confirm the crypto reaches the correct destination.

"From a safety perspective, consumers should treat crypto transfers as irreversible financial transactions," Ballou said. "That does not mean they need to be scared of them, but they do need to slow down and be deliberate."

He also advised consumers to learn about a type of crypto scam known as "address poisoning," in which fraudsters send tiny transactions from lookalike wallet addresses in hopes of tricking users into sending funds to the wrong destination. The risk could appear when moving rewards out of the card app and manually copying wallet addresses to transfer crypto.

Finally, consumers should also keep records of how and when they receive or sell crypto rewards. The values of many cryptocurrencies can change quickly, which means the value of rewards earned in bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies may rise or fall after you receive them as a reward. And when the dollar value of rewards is different at the time of earning versus the time of converting or withdrawing them, the resulting profit or loss might be considered a taxable event by the IRS.

Consumers should consult a qualified tax professional for guidance specific to their situation.

Understanding before earning crypto

As crypto rewards cards become more common, consumers may increasingly encounter points in the form of cryptocurrency. But unlike standard cash back or points systems, crypto rewards can involve separate digital wallets, changing tax rules and additional security responsibilities.

That's why it's important for consumers to understand how a crypto credit card works before treating it like any other rewards program.

This story was produced by OpenSea and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Copyright 2026 Stacker Media, LLC

This story was originally published July 9, 2026 at 6:00 AM.