Key Takeaways：
- Fold has launched a Bitcoin-rewards credit card in partnership with Visa and Stripe, offering up to 3.5 % back in BTC.
- The base rate is 2 % in Bitcoin on all purchases, with an extra 1.5 % bonus if users pay via a Fold checking account under qualifying conditions.
- Through merchant partnerships (Amazon, Starbucks, Uber, Home Depot, etc.), users can earn up to 10 % back in Bitcoin at selected retailers.
- There are no requirements for staking, managing token categories, or maintaining cryptocurrency exchange accounts—the rewards are delivered automatically as Bitcoin.
- This move reflects a broader trend: traditional payment networks and fintechs deepening ties with digital assets (e.g. Visa’s push into stablecoin-linked cards).
1. Introduction: Crypto Meets Consumer Credit
Fold Holdings, a Bitcoin-centric financial services firm, has unveiled a new credit card that allows users to earn Bitcoin on every purchase, leveraging Visa’s global network and Stripe’s issuing infrastructure. This product is designed to bridge the gap between consumer spending and crypto accumulation, making it frictionless for everyday users to “stack sats” (accumulate small amounts of Bitcoin).
By embedding Bitcoin rewards into a traditional credit card experience, Fold is betting that mainstream users will welcome a simpler route into crypto exposure. The announcement comes at a time when more payment infrastructure players are embracing digital assets as part of their product roadmaps.
2. Rewards Structure: How Much Bitcoin Do You Earn?
2.1 Flat 2 % Instant Bitcoin
Every purchase made with the Fold Bitcoin Rewards Credit Card yields 2 % in Bitcoin immediately, credited to the user’s account automatically—no redemption process, no categories to manage, no staking or token locking. This base rate is “always-on,” giving users consistent crypto accumulation with no hassle.
2.2 Up to 1.5 % Bonus via Fold Checking
Fold incentivizes usage of its own ecosystem by allowing users to unlock an additional 1.5 % bonus if they pay their credit card balance using a Fold Checking account that satisfies certain qualifying conditions. This makes the maximum base Bitcoin return 3.5 % on purchases under the right conditions.
2.3 Up to 10 % Merchant Bonuses
In addition to the base and bonus rates, Fold has partnered with numerous major merchants to offer elevated Bitcoin rewards—up to 10 % back in Bitcoin at select retailers like Amazon, Target, Starbucks, Home Depot, Uber, and DoorDash. This effectively creates promotional multipliers to steer spending toward partner merchants.
2.4 Simplicity Above All
Fold emphasizes that there are no hidden gimmicks: no token staking, no rotating categories, no requirement to hold crypto balances or be active on exchanges. You just use the card, and Bitcoin flows in. The goal is to make the experience accessible even to those unfamiliar with crypto mechanics.
3. Technology & Infrastructure: Visa + Stripe
3.1 Visa as the Payment Network
The new card is issued on the Visa network, meaning it can be used wherever Visa is accepted globally. Visa’s involvement also signals its ongoing commitment to integrating crypto into payment rails.
Visa’s Head of Crypto, Cuy Sheffield, praised the collaboration, stating that pairing Fold’s Bitcoin rewards with Visa’s scale provides a safe, simple gateway for consumers to earn crypto.
3.2 Stripe Issuing Powers the Back End
Fold is leveraging Stripe Issuing, a service that enables companies to issue and manage cards without building card infrastructure from scratch. This allows Fold to focus on the user-facing experience and Bitcoin mechanics while Stripe handles the complexities of payments, compliance, and card operations.
Stripe’s infrastructure is increasingly aimed at serving fintechs who want to issue innovative financial products quickly.
4. Fold’s Ecosystem & Business Metrics
Fold is not new to crypto rewards. It already offers a Bitcoin debit card, a gift card product, and a crypto exchange. According to public statements:
- Fold has processed over US $3.1 billion in transaction volume.
- It has distributed more than US $83 million in Bitcoin rewards to date.
- The company holds about 1,500 BTC in its treasury.
These metrics bolster their credibility and demonstrate their existing traction in the crypto payments space.
5. Strategic Implications & Competitive Landscape
5.1 Differentiation via Bitcoin-Only Focus
Unlike many competing crypto rewards cards that distribute multiple tokens or require participation in yield farms, Fold is making a single-asset bet on Bitcoin. This simplifies the value proposition and avoids the complexity of managing volatile altcoins. This narrower focus may attract users who are confident in Bitcoin but hesitant about altcoin exposure.
5.2 Risks from Volatility & Regulation
The primary risk lies in Bitcoin’s price volatility. Even if you earn 2 % in BTC, the dollar value of that reward can fluctuate significantly. Users will need to understand—and bear—the risk. Moreover, regulatory scrutiny around crypto-based financial products is intensifying globally, and compliance, tax reporting, and custodial security will be under constant pressure.
5.3 The Payments + Crypto Convergence Trend
Fold’s new card is part of a broader movement: payment networks and fintech infrastructure players are increasingly embedding crypto into their offerings. For example, Visa has partnered with stablecoin infrastructure provider Bridge to launch stablecoin-linked Visa cards in Latin America, enabling users to spend stablecoins with merchants that accept Visa. Such moves point to a future where crypto and fiat rails are more deeply integrated.
Stripe itself is also pushing forward crypto-oriented infrastructure. It has been working on Tempo, a payments-first blockchain optimized for stablecoins, in collaboration with Paradigm. These infrastructure bets reinforce the idea that the next phase of Web3 will be grounded in payments and real-world utility, not just speculative trading.
6. What This Means for Crypto Hunters & Builders
6.1 For Users Seeking New Crypto Exposure
If you are someone looking for the “next crypto” or a source of passive yield, Fold’s card offers a simple, low-effort route to accumulate Bitcoin. You don’t need to time markets or pick altcoins—the accumulation is automatic, tied to what you already spend.
6.2 For Blockchain / Fintech Builders
Fold’s approach is an instructive case study in embedding crypto into consumer finance. Rather than building a proprietary token or a complex DeFi offering, they are using existing payment rails (Visa + Stripe) to deliver value. If you are building blockchain infrastructure or product layers, this suggests that focusing on seamless usability and composability with traditional systems can be a winning formula.
6.3 For Institutional & Layer-1 Strategy
The demand for crypto-linked payment rails will create pressure on layer-1 networks and stablecoin systems to scale and optimize for everyday use (low fees, high throughput, reliable settlement). Fold’s example underscores that real-world adoption will depend less on novel tokenomics and more on frictionless user experience and regulatory compliance.
7. Summary & Outlook
Fold’s new Bitcoin rewards credit card represents a compelling step toward mainstreaming crypto via everyday consumer finance. By partnering with Visa and Stripe, Fold has packaged Bitcoin accumulation into a credit product that requires no crypto expertise or extra effort from users. The simplicity of 2 % back in Bitcoin, with the potential to scale to 3.5 % (or even more via merchant deals), is a strong value proposition.
However, success won’t be guaranteed. Bitcoin’s volatility, regulatory uncertainty, and market competition will all test whether consumers adopt crypto rewards at scale. Nevertheless, Fold’s move is a vivid illustration of where consumer finance and blockchain are converging—and it offers valuable lessons for crypto asset hunters, fintech builders, and blockchain strategists.
