Core
Good
- 3% cashback on the first $2,000 a month with no annual fee
- Self-custody wallet, the issuer can't move your funds
- 0% FX on euro purchases, 1% to 1.5% on other currencies
- Available in 91 countries, including the UK and 30 US states
Watch out
- Cashback is paid in ETHFI after a 7-day lock, $5 minimum claim
- Core cashback drops to 0.5% above $3,000 a month
- 1.5% FX fee on Core for purchases outside dollars and euros
- Netherlands, Finland and Estonia aren't on the country list
ether.fi Cash is a Visa credit card that spends from your own self-custody wallet. The free Core level has no annual fee and pays 3% cashback on the first $2,000 of spending each month, 1% up to $3,000 and 0.5% after that. Paid levels raise the 3% cap to $10,000 or $50,000 a month.
The card has two ways to pay. In Borrow Mode, purchases are a loan in USDC against crypto you deposit as collateral, so you keep your ETH or bitcoin exposure. In Direct Pay mode, the card spends USDC from your wallet like a debit card.
ether.fi Cash cashback
ether.fi Cash pays 3% cashback on the first $2,000 of monthly spending on its free Core level, which is up to $60 a month.
The rate steps down after that. Core pays 1% between $2,000 and $3,000, and 0.5% above $3,000. Someone spending $3,000 a month earns $70, and someone spending $5,000 earns $80.
Luxe keeps 3% up to $10,000 a month, which is $300, then pays 1% up to $20,000. It costs $199 a year, or it's free if you hold $15,000 in ether.fi Liquid or spend about $5,000 a month. Card spending earns 1,000 membership points per $1,000, and 5,000 points unlock Luxe. Compared with Core, the $199 fee pays for itself once you spend about $2,830 a month.
Pinnacle pays 3% up to $50,000 a month, which is $1,500, then 1% up to $80,000. It costs $999 a year, or $25,000 of monthly spending, or $100,000 held in Liquid. The invitation-only VIP level pays 4% on the first $50,000.
Two details cut into these numbers. Purchases settled in euros have much lower caps, so on Core the 3% rate covers only about $800 of euro spending. Rewards arrive in ETHFI, are locked for 7 days, and can be claimed once they reach $5. Bookings through ether.fi Travel earn 5%.
| Plan | To unlock | Base cashback | FX fee | Card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Core | Free | 3% on the first $2k a month, 1% up to $3k, then 0.5% | 1.5% | $60 |
 Luxe | $199/yr or Spend $5k a month or Hold $15k | 3% on the first $10k a month, 1% up to $20k, then 0.5% | 1.25% | Free |
 Pinnacle | $999/yr or Spend $25k a month or Hold $100k | 3% on the first $50k a month, 1% up to $80k, then 0.5% | 1% | Free |
 VIP | Hold $500k | 4% on the first $50k a month, then — | 1% | Free |
ether.fi Cash fees
ether.fi Cash has no annual fee on Core and charges 1.5% on purchases in currencies other than dollars or euros.
That 1.5% is roughly a 1% base exchange rate cost plus a 0.5% markup on Core. Luxe cuts the markup to 0.25% for 1.25% in total, and Pinnacle drops it for 1%. Purchases in euros have no FX fee on any level, which helps anyone living in the eurozone.
ether.fi doesn't publish a spread for Direct Pay spending, and the help center says there are no fees beyond standard transaction costs. In Borrow Mode, you pay variable interest on what you borrow until you repay it.
In 14 countries, including Argentina, Mexico, Nigeria and the Philippines, the first virtual card costs $10.
ether.fi Cash ATM withdrawal fees
ether.fi Cash supports ATM withdrawals of up to $1,000 each and 5 per 24 hours, but ether.fi doesn't publish the fee for the Core and Luxe levels.
The higher membership levels list ATM perks among their benefits, and the ATM owner may add their own charge on top of anything ether.fi takes.
Is ether.fi Cash safe?
ether.fi Cash is self-custody: your funds sit in a wallet you control, and the card issuer can't take or move them.
The card is issued by Third National under a Visa license. The cardholder agreement says the issuer doesn't extend credit itself and has no custody or control over your wallet. Credit comes from decentralized borrowing protocols, which you authorize through a smart contract.
The real risk is the loan. Each collateral asset has a borrowing limit: up to 81% of the value of USDC or USDT, 55% for weETH and 20% for ETHFI. If your debt passes the liquidation threshold, liquidators can sell half your collateral, and the rest if the position is still unhealthy. Borrowing against stablecoins, or using Direct Pay, avoids most of that risk. Smart contract bugs are a separate risk that no card agreement covers.
Who should get ether.fi Cash
ether.fi Cash suits people who spend around $2,000 a month and are happy to receive rewards in ETHFI. At that level Core pays $60 a month for free, which few no-fee crypto cards match.
Heavier spenders should look at Luxe. Between about $2,830 and $5,000 of monthly spending, the $199 fee earns more than it costs, and above $5,000 the card's points unlock Luxe for free.
If you need cash often, want rewards in dollars, or live in the Netherlands, the card is a weaker fit. The comparison below shows the alternatives in your country.
Where ether.fi Cash is available
ether.fi Cash is available in 91 countries and territories, including the UK, Canada, Australia, most of the EU and 30 US states plus Washington, DC.
In Belgium and Ireland only the virtual card is issued. The Netherlands, Finland and Estonia aren't on ether.fi's list. In the US, the card covers states including California, New York, Texas, Florida and Illinois, and Puerto Rico is listed separately.