CASHBACK
Verified Benefit
NO ANNUAL FEE
Verified Benefit
NO FX FEE
Verified Benefit
Our Official Verdict
Auto-Staked SOL Rewards: 4% Category Cash Back + ~6% Staking Yield
The Solana Edition adds automatic staking yield (~6%) on top of the same 4% category rewards. If you are bullish on SOL, this compounds your rewards without any manual action. The trade-off is losing the flexibility to choose other reward assets. For SOL believers, this is objectively better. For diversified holders, the standard card offers more choice.
Fees & Charges
Annual Fee
Free
FX Fee
0%
ATM Fee
TBD
Requirements
Supported Regions
US
Spendable Assets
SOL
Gemini Credit Card: Solana Edition Review
The Gemini Credit Card: Solana Edition is a Mastercard World Elite credit card that earns cryptocurrency rewards exclusively in SOL, with automatic staking at approximately 6% annual yield on all earned rewards.
The Only Credit Card That Auto-Stakes Your Rewards
The Solana Edition of the Gemini Credit Card earns the same 4%/3%/2%/1% category rewards as the standard Gemini Credit Card, but with one critical difference: all rewards are paid in SOL and automatically staked. The staking yield (approximately 6% at current rates) compounds on top of your card rewards, creating a dual-return mechanism that no other crypto credit card offers.
If you are bullish on Solana, this is objectively the better card. If you want diversification across multiple assets, stick with the standard edition.
Spending and Mechanics
Identical to the standard Gemini Credit Card in every way except reward payout. Mastercard World Elite, accepted globally, 0% foreign transaction fees, Apple Pay and Google Pay support. Issued by WebBank with a traditional credit line.
The difference is entirely on the backend: when the standard card would deposit your chosen cryptocurrency into your Gemini account, the Solana Edition deposits SOL and immediately stakes it. You see staking rewards accumulate in real time.
Rewards Structure: Card Rewards + Staking Yield
| Category | Card Rate | Staking Yield | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas, EV, transit | 4% | +~6% on SOL earned | ~4.24% |
| Dining | 3% | +~6% on SOL earned | ~3.18% |
| Groceries | 2% | +~6% on SOL earned | ~2.12% |
| Everything else | 1% | +~6% on SOL earned | ~1.06% |
The staking yield applies to the accumulated SOL, not to the purchase amount. At 4% card rewards and ~6% staking yield on those rewards, the first-year effective bonus from staking is small in absolute terms but compounds over time.
First-year staking math at $3,000/month spend:
- Annual card rewards: ~$588 in SOL
- Staking yield on accumulated SOL (average balance ~$294): ~$17.64
- Combined first-year value: ~$605.64
- By year 3 with accumulated SOL from all years: staking yield becomes increasingly meaningful
The real value of auto-staking is multi-year compounding. Each month's rewards earn staking yield forever (or until you unstake), so the benefit grows with each month of card usage.
Fee Analysis: The Real Cost
Identical to the standard Gemini Credit Card:
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 |
| Foreign transaction fee | 0% |
| APR | 18.49% - 34.49% variable |
| Staking fee | 0% (included) |
No additional fees for the Solana Edition. No staking commission. No unstaking penalty. The automatic staking is a pure benefit with zero cost.
Break-even: Immediate. $0 annual fee means every reward is profit from transaction one. The staking yield is pure upside on top of the base reward.
The Trade-off: Flexibility vs Yield
The standard Gemini Credit Card lets you pick from 50+ cryptocurrencies. The Solana Edition locks you into SOL. This is the only meaningful difference between the two editions:
| Feature | Standard | Solana Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Reward rates | 4%/3%/2%/1% | 4%/3%/2%/1% |
| Reward asset | 50+ choices | SOL only |
| Auto-staking | No | Yes (~6% yield) |
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| FX fee | 0% | 0% |
| Card network | Mastercard WE | Mastercard WE |
If SOL represents more than 20% of your target crypto allocation, the Solana Edition likely makes more sense. If you want BTC, ETH, or diversified holdings, the standard card is better.
Security and Fraud Protection
Same as all Gemini Credit Cards: Mastercard World Elite protections (zero fraud liability, extended warranty, purchase protection), WebBank FDIC-member issuer, Gemini's SOC 2 Type 2 certified custody. Staked SOL remains in Gemini's custody and is covered by their security and insurance infrastructure.
Staking on Solana is liquid staking - your rewards are not locked for extended periods. Unstaking is available through the Gemini platform if you want to move your SOL elsewhere.
Verdict
The Solana Edition is the only US credit card that compounds crypto rewards through staking without any manual action. For SOL-focused portfolios, the automatic staking adds ~6% annual yield on all accumulated rewards with zero additional cost or effort. Over a 3-5 year period, the compounding advantage becomes substantial.
The limitation is obvious: you cannot choose other assets. If SOL drops 80%, your rewards drop 80% regardless of what BTC or ETH did. This is a concentrated bet, not a diversified one.
Who should get this card: US residents who are long SOL and want every reward dollar compounding in the Solana ecosystem.
Who should get the standard edition instead: Anyone who wants BTC, ETH, or diversified crypto rewards.
Fees and Break-Even Math
$0 annual fee. $0 staking fee. Break-even: immediate. At $3,000/month spend, expect ~$588/year in SOL rewards plus ~$17-35/year in staking yield (growing annually as SOL accumulates). Zero cost to hold, zero cost to stake.
Competitor Comparison
vs Standard Gemini Credit Card: Same rates, same fee structure. Solana Edition adds ~6% staking yield but removes asset choice. Choose based on conviction: SOL-only or diversified.
vs ether.fi Cards: ether.fi offers self-custody spending with DeFi yield. The Gemini Solana Edition is simpler (traditional credit, no wallet management) but custodial. ether.fi cards have annual fees ($0-invite only) and require managing an ether.fi account. For staking-focused users who want simplicity, Gemini wins. For DeFi-native users who want self-custody, ether.fi wins.
vs Coinbase Card: Coinbase debit offers up to 4% rotating rewards but no staking yield, requires USDC funding, and does not build credit. The Gemini Solana Edition builds credit and adds compounding SOL yield.
Sources
Last verified: Feb 11, 2026 - Data sourced from official Gemini documentation.
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