CASHBACK
Verified Benefit
SELF CUSTODY SPEND
Verified Benefit
STABLECOIN SPEND
Verified Benefit
Our Official Verdict
Zero Barriers: 3% Back on Every Purchase, No Stake Required
The ether.fi Core Card is the easiest entry point into DeFi spending. With 3%% cashback, a Free annual fee, and no staking requirement, it delivers premium rewards from day one. The trade-off: you miss lounge access and metal card perks reserved for higher tiers.
Fees & Charges
Annual Fee
Free
FX Fee
1%
ATM Fee
2%
Requirements
Supported Regions
Global
Spendable Assets
TBD
ether.fi Cash Review
The ether.fi Core Card is the free-entry tier of the ether.fi Cash program, offering a self-custodial Visa with 3% cashback and spend-against-staked-ETH functionality.
Why Core Stands Out at $0
Most crypto cards that offer 3% cashback require a token stake, a monthly fee, or both. The Crypto.com Royal Indigo needs $5,000 in CRO staked. The Bybit Standard offers only 2% at the free tier. The ether.fi Core Card delivers 3% flat with zero barriers: no annual fee, no staking requirement, no lock-up.
The catch is that 3% is the program-wide base rate, not a Core-exclusive perk. Every tier from Core to Pinnacle gets the same 3% cashback. What changes as you climb tiers are the metal card, lounge access, virtual card limits, and fiat-to-crypto onramp caps.
Spending and Mechanics
Core runs on the Visa network with a self-custodial architecture. You borrow against staked ETH (eETH, weETH) or spend USDC directly. The card supports Apple Pay and Google Pay, and comes with 1 physical plastic card plus 3 virtual cards.
The key mechanic: spending against staked ETH means you avoid a taxable sale while your collateral continues earning EigenLayer restaking yield. For US holders subject to capital gains, this is a meaningful tax efficiency play.
ROI Analysis: 3% Cashback at Various Spend Levels
| Monthly Spend | Annual Cashback | FX Cost (1%) | Net Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $360 | $120 (if all foreign) | $240-$360 |
| $2,000 | $720 | $240 (if all foreign) | $480-$720 |
| $5,000 | $1,800 | $600 (if all foreign) | $1,200-$1,800 |
If your spending is primarily domestic, the 1% FX fee is irrelevant and you keep the full 3%. For international spending, the effective rate drops to 2% after the FX markup.
Fee Analysis: The Real Cost
- Annual fee: $0
- FX fee: 1% on non-local currencies
- ATM fee: 2% on withdrawals (no free allowance)
- Fiat-to-crypto conversion: 0.2% ($10,000/month limit)
There is no break-even calculation because the annual fee is $0. Every dollar spent returns value from day one. The only real cost is the 1% FX fee for international transactions, which makes the effective return 2% on foreign spend versus the full 3% on domestic.
Compare this to the Nexo Card, which charges 0% FX but offers only 2% base cashback. At $2,000/month in purely domestic spending, Core earns $720/year versus Nexo's $480.
Membership Points and Tier Upgrade Path
Core earns 3,000 Membership Points per $1,000 spent. To reach Luxe (10,000 points/month), you need roughly $3,334 in monthly spending. Alternatively, stake 15,000 ETHFI tokens to bypass the points requirement entirely.
Points reset monthly. If your spending drops below the threshold and you don't hold the ETHFI stake, you revert to Core. This makes the staking bypass the more stable path for users who want Luxe benefits without worrying about monthly spend fluctuations.
Security and Custody
Self-custodial architecture means you hold the keys. Funds stay in your wallet until the moment of transaction settlement. The card integrates with the ether.fi app for card controls, freeze/unfreeze, and spending notifications.
Regulatory note: ether.fi operates the card program through issuer partners. Card protections include price protection up to $2,000, purchase protection up to $10,000, and extended warranty up to $10,000.
Verdict
The ether.fi Core Card is the best free self-custodial crypto card available in 2026. At 3% cashback with no annual fee, it beats every free-tier competitor on raw rewards. The 1% FX fee is the only drawback for international users, but the tax efficiency of spending against staked ETH more than compensates for most Ethereum-native holders.
Best for: DeFi users who hold ETH/eETH and want a zero-cost entry into crypto spending with top-tier cashback. Look elsewhere if: You need 0% FX fees for heavy international use - consider the Wirex Standard Card or Bleap Mastercard instead.
Fees and break-even math
Annual fee: $0. FX fee: 1%. ATM fee: 2%. No break-even needed since the card is free. At $2,000/month domestic spending: $720/year in cashback, $0 in fees = $720 net return. At $2,000/month international spending: $720 cashback - $240 FX fees = $480 net return.
Competitor comparison
- Nexo Card: 2% base cashback, 0% FX. Better for international-heavy spenders; Core wins on domestic cashback rate.
- Bleap Mastercard: 2% cashback, 0% FX, self-custodial. Lower cashback but zero FX makes it better for travelers.
- KAST K Card: 2% cashback, 0% FX, free. Similar zero-cost positioning but 1% less cashback.
Sources
FAQ
Do I need to stake ETHFI for the Core tier?
No. Core is the free default tier. All new users start at Core with no staking or points requirement.
How do I upgrade from Core to Luxe?
Earn 10,000 Membership Points in a calendar month or stake 15,000 ETHFI. Points accumulate at 3,000 per $1,000 spent.
Last verified: Feb 10, 2026 - Data sourced from official ether.fi documentation.
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