Stablecoin Card Rewards Explained

A card advertising "3% cashback" sounds better than one offering "1.5%." But after FX fees, conversion spreads, and annual charges, that 3% can shrink to almost nothing — while the 1.5% card quietly comes out ahead.

This is the gap between headline rewards and net value. If you're evaluating stablecoin cards, net value is the only metric that matters.

For a broader overview of stablecoin card types and how they compare, see our guide here.

How to Calculate Your Real Stablecoin Card Rewards

Two cards can both advertise "2% cashback" and still produce opposite outcomes. The difference is their fee stack — the combination of costs that chip away at your rewards before you ever see them.

Net Value = Rewards Earned − FX Fees − Conversion Costs − Annual Fees

A card with a high headline rate but steep fees can leave you worse off than a card with modest rewards and transparent pricing. The goal isn't to chase the biggest number — it's to keep the most after everything is deducted.

For example, consider two cards, both used for US$1,000 in overseas spending in a month:

*Includes $30 FX fee + $4.17 prorated monthly annual fee

Card B's higher cashback is entirely consumed by fees. Card A, with a lower headline rate but lower costs, actually returns value.

Cashback, Points, or Digital Assets: Which Reward Type Is Worth More?

Not all rewards are equal. How you're paid affects how much flexibility you have:

1. Stablecoin or fiat cashback — liquid, predictable, usable immediately
2. Points — flexible but subject to redemption rates, caps, and expiry
3. Digital asset rewards — volatile; a price drop can erase months of earnings

Previously, many cards required staking volatile digital assets to unlock their best reward rates, but this model has largely faded. The capital risk — where a 20% drop in value could wipe out years of cashback — made it a losing trade for most users. Today, cards that offer straightforward rewards without staking requirements tend to deliver better risk-adjusted value.

How DeCard's Reward Structure Compares

DeCard is designed to make the net value calculation easy. There's an exceptionally low 1.8% FX fee on foreign transactions, no funding fee, and 0% markup on digital asset conversion.

Rewards for the two cards are structured as follows:

• DeCard earns 1 DePoint for every US$1 spent, redeemable for cash credits, travel, dining, and lifestyle rewards
• DeCard Luminaries lets you choose between fiat cashback (up to 10%, capped at US$200/month) or DePoints* (up to 30 DePoints per US$1 spent, capped at 66,000 DePoints/month) — plus premium travel perks like lounge access and travel insurance

For a detailed comparison between the two cards, see our guide: Which DeCard Should You Choose?

*T&Cs apply. Read more on DeCard Luminaries cashback and DePoints here.

What to Check Before Choosing a Stablecoin Card

Before choosing any stablecoin card, verify these:

• FX fee — Is it a flat percentage, or are there hidden rate markups?
• Conversion spread — Does the card use mid-market rates or a proprietary "adjusted" rate?
• Annual fee — Does the cashback you'll realistically earn offset it?
• Reward type — Cashback, points, or digital assets? Can you use them easily?
• Staking requirements — Are headline rates locked behind digital asset holdings?
• Payout mechanics — Any thresholds, delays, or restrictions on accessing your rewards?

With transparent fees, no staking requirements, and rewards you can actually use, DeCard is designed to let you keep more of what you earn.

Ready to spend your stablecoins with a card that actually rewards you? Sign up for DeCard today!