From the free Midnight Blue to the $400K Obsidian: we break down every tier, the real cashback rates, and whether it's worth staking CRO.
The Crypto.com Visa Card has 6 tiers. The free Midnight Blue earns 0% cashback. The Ruby Steel tier (~$50–$80 CRO stake) earns 1% CRO + Netflix reimbursement — the best entry-level option. Higher tiers require $5K–$80K in CRO staking for 3–5% rates. Annual fee: $0. FX fee: 0% (Ruby+). Available in 30+ countries. All spending is a taxable crypto disposal. For higher free-tier cashback without staking, the ether.fi Cash Card earns 3% for free. Editor rating: 3.5 / 5.
The Crypto.com Visa is a prepaid Visa card issued by Crypto.com. Launched in 2019, it's one of the most recognized crypto cards worldwide and has expanded to 30+ countries including the US, UK, EU, Singapore, and Australia. The card comes in multiple tiers — each with a different metal or plastic design — and your tier is determined by how much CRO (Cronos) token you stake on the platform.
It is a custodial product: Crypto.com holds your assets. All cashback is paid in CRO tokens, not stablecoins or fiat. Spending with the card converts your balance at point of sale, which counts as a taxable disposal in most jurisdictions.
The tier system is the most important thing to understand. Cashback rate, perks, and FX fees all depend on how much CRO you stake. Note that CRO token prices are volatile — the USD values below are approximate based on May 2025 prices and can change significantly.
| Tier | Card | CRO Stake | Approx. USD value | Cashback | Perks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midnight Blue | Blue plastic | None | $0 | 0% | None |
| Ruby Steel | Red metal | 350 CRO | ~$50–$80 | 1% CRO | Netflix (100%) |
| Jade Green / Royal Indigo | Metal | 3,500 CRO | ~$500–$800 | 2% CRO | Netflix + Spotify |
| Rose Gold / Icy White | Metal | 35,000 CRO | ~$5K–$8K | 3% CRO | Netflix + Spotify + Amazon Prime |
| Obsidian | Black metal | 350,000 CRO | ~$50K–$80K | 5% CRO | All above + LoungeKey + private jet credit |
CRO token price fluctuates daily. Use the current CRO/USD price to calculate your actual stake cost before committing. A 180-day staking lock-up period applies to each tier.
CRO token is volatile. The ~$80 Ruby Steel stake can grow — or shrink — in value during the 180-day lock. If CRO drops 50% while your stake is locked, your effective cost basis has changed significantly. Calculate whether the perks and cashback justify the staking risk before committing capital.
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | All tiers |
| Foreign exchange | 0% (Ruby+) | Free from Ruby Steel tier upwards. Midnight Blue: no published FX benefit. |
| ATM withdrawal | Free up to limit | Monthly free ATM limit varies by tier. Fees apply above limit. |
| Cashback settlement | In CRO tokens | Converted at time of credit — CRO price at that moment determines value. |
| Spending | Taxable disposal | Each spend converts crypto — treated as a sale event in most jurisdictions. |
The $0 annual fee is a genuine advantage. However, the cashback is paid in CRO — a volatile crypto asset — and spending triggers a taxable event. Both are meaningful costs that don't show up in the headline fee structure.
If you're comparing these two cards, here's the honest picture. Crypto.com offers broader country coverage and subscription perks; ether.fi offers higher free-tier cashback, self-custody, and a tax-efficient spending mechanism for ETH holders.
| Feature | Crypto.com (Ruby Steel) | ether.fi Cash Card (Core) |
|---|---|---|
| Cashback rate | 1% CRO | 3% SCR |
| Token stake needed | 350 CRO (~$50–$80) | $0 — no staking required |
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| FX fee | 0% | 1% |
| Country coverage | 30+ | 171 countries |
| ETH earns yield while spending | No | Yes (Borrow Mode) |
| Self-custody | No (custodial) | Yes (Gnosis Safe) |
| Taxable on purchase | Yes | No (Borrow Mode) |
| Netflix perk | Yes (100% reimbursed) | No |
| Metal card | Yes | No (plastic) |
For global travelers or users who value Netflix and Spotify reimbursements, Crypto.com's Ruby Steel is a practical option at modest staking cost. For ETH holders who want maximum cashback without staking, self-custody, and spending that doesn't trigger capital gains, ether.fi Cash Card has a structural advantage.
Crypto.com's free tier offers zero cashback — it's mainly a gateway to the paid tiers. The Ruby Steel tier is a reasonable entry at ~$80 CRO stake for 1% cashback plus Netflix reimbursement. For most users, that's the sweet spot. Reaching 3–5% requires staking $5K–$80K in CRO, which few users will do.
For pure cashback value without staking requirements, the ether.fi Cash Card delivers 3% for free. If you need global availability, want the subscription perks, or don't hold ETH, Crypto.com is a solid option. If you're an ETH holder who wants higher returns and tax efficiency, ether.fi wins clearly.
The free Midnight Blue tier earns 0% cashback and has limited value beyond basic crypto card access. The Ruby Steel tier (~$80 CRO stake) earns 1% cashback with Netflix reimbursement — a reasonable entry point. Higher tiers require very large CRO stakes ($5K–$80K) for 3–5% rates, making them impractical for most users. For 3% cashback without any staking, the ether.fi Cash Card is a stronger option.
0% on Midnight Blue (free), 1% on Ruby Steel (~$80 stake), 2% on Jade Green/Royal Indigo (~$500–$800 stake), 3% on Rose Gold/Icy White (~$5K–$8K stake), and 5% on Obsidian (~$50K–$80K stake). All cashback is paid in CRO tokens, not stablecoins.
No annual fee on any tier. CRO staking is required for most paid tiers, but you can unstake your CRO any time after the 180-day lock-up period ends. The staked CRO is returned to you — though at whatever market price CRO is trading at that time.
The card is available in 30+ countries including the USA, UK, most EU countries (including Germany, France, Italy, Spain), Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, and Canada. It is one of the most widely available crypto Visa cards globally. Check Crypto.com's website for the current country list as availability may change.
Yes, from the Ruby Steel tier and above, there is 0% FX fee on international transactions. The free Midnight Blue tier does not offer a published 0% FX benefit. The 0% FX fee is a genuine and meaningful advantage for frequent international travelers — it's one of the strongest reasons to consider the Ruby Steel tier.
Perks are tier-dependent and paid as monthly CRO credits. Ruby Steel includes 100% Netflix reimbursement. Jade Green/Royal Indigo adds Spotify. Rose Gold/Icy White adds Amazon Prime. Obsidian includes all of the above plus LoungeKey airport lounge access and a private jet credit. Perks are credited in CRO at the current market price, so the actual value fluctuates with the CRO token price.
Yes. When you make a purchase with the Crypto.com Visa Card, it converts your CRO or other crypto assets at point of sale. This conversion is treated as a disposal or sale for tax purposes in most jurisdictions, including the US and Germany. Each transaction may trigger a capital gains event. This is structurally different from the ether.fi Cash Card's Borrow Mode, which lets you borrow against ETH without selling it.
Crypto.com is available in more countries and offers better subscription perks at higher tiers. ether.fi has higher free-tier cashback (3% vs 0%), self-custody via Gnosis Safe, and a Borrow Mode that avoids crypto disposal at point of sale — a meaningful tax advantage for ETH holders.
ether.fi is the better choice for ETH holders who care about tax efficiency and self-custody. Crypto.com is the better choice for users who need maximum global availability, want the Netflix/Spotify/Amazon perks, or don't mind custodial storage and CRO exposure.