Financial technology company Fold has announced a partnership with Visa and Stripe to launch its new Bitcoin Credit Card. The collaboration aims to provide consumers with a straightforward way to earn Bitcoin rewards on everyday purchases, leveraging Visa's global payment network and Stripe's financial infrastructure.
Key Takeaways
- Fold is launching a credit card that offers rewards exclusively in Bitcoin.
- The card is powered by Visa's payment network and Stripe's issuing infrastructure.
- Cardholders can earn up to 3.5% back in Bitcoin on all purchases, with additional rewards at select retailers.
- The product is designed to simplify Bitcoin accumulation for mainstream consumers.
A New Approach to Earning Bitcoin
Fold is introducing a credit card designed to make earning Bitcoin a passive activity integrated into daily spending. The company announced the product will be available later this year, offering a simplified rewards structure compared to other crypto-linked cards on the market.
The card’s primary feature is its rewards program, which is denominated entirely in Bitcoin. This eliminates the need for users to manage multiple types of cryptocurrency tokens or navigate complex staking requirements often associated with similar products.
Understanding the Rewards Structure
The Fold Bitcoin Credit Card offers a multi-tiered rewards system. Cardholders will receive a standard 2% back in Bitcoin on every purchase made with the card. This rate is applied instantly at the time of the transaction.
An additional 1.5% reward is available to users who pay their credit card balance using a Fold Checking Account, bringing the potential total rewards on general spending to 3.5%. This incentive is designed to encourage users to adopt more of Fold's financial products.
Bonus Rewards at Top Retailers
In addition to the standard rewards, Fold has established a network of retail partners where cardholders can earn even higher rates. Users can receive up to 10% back in Bitcoin when shopping at major brands such as Amazon, Target, Home Depot, Starbucks, and Uber.
By focusing solely on Bitcoin, Fold aims to provide a clear and transparent value proposition. Will Reeves, CEO and founder of Fold, emphasized this simplicity in a statement.
“Our credit card offers clear and compelling value and makes Bitcoin easily accessible to everyone,” said Reeves. “It’s simple enough for someone new to Bitcoin, but built with the transparency and control early adopters expect.”
Strategic Partnerships with Visa and Stripe
The launch of the Fold card is supported by two of the largest players in the global financial industry: Visa and Stripe. This collaboration provides the necessary infrastructure for a wide-scale rollout, combining reliability with a modern financial technology stack.
Visa’s involvement ensures the card can be used anywhere Visa is accepted worldwide, giving it the same reach as a traditional credit card. Stripe provides the underlying technology for card issuance and program management, allowing Fold to launch its product without building the complex infrastructure from scratch.
The Role of Financial Infrastructure
For a fintech company like Fold, partnerships with established firms like Visa and Stripe are critical. Visa offers access to its vast network of merchants and financial institutions, while Stripe's APIs and platform handle the technical aspects of creating, issuing, and managing credit cards. This allows Fold to focus on the user experience and its unique Bitcoin rewards program.
Sateesh Kumar Srinivasan, Head of Money Management Product at Stripe, commented on the partnership's purpose. “Our new consumer Issuing product is designed exactly for this purpose: to power customers like Fold that want to introduce new products to the market without the complexities of managing their own program,” he explained.
Visa's Head of Crypto, Cuy Sheffield, positioned the collaboration as part of a larger trend toward integrating digital assets into traditional finance.
“Fold’s Bitcoin rewards, paired with Visa’s scale and security, give consumers a safe, simple way to earn bitcoin as they shop,” Sheffield stated.
Lowering the Barrier to Bitcoin Adoption
A central goal of the Fold Bitcoin Credit Card is to make acquiring Bitcoin less intimidating for the average person. Many potential users are deterred by the technical steps typically required, such as setting up accounts on cryptocurrency exchanges, managing digital wallets, and understanding private keys.
Fold's approach bypasses these hurdles. By earning Bitcoin as a reward for regular spending, users can begin to accumulate the digital asset without making a direct investment or navigating complex platforms. This strategy, which Fold calls an “earn first, learn later” model, has proven effective in its other products, including a Bitcoin rewards debit card and a shopping app.
From Debit to Credit
The credit card represents a significant expansion of Fold's product line. The company first gained recognition for its debit card and gift card offerings, which also provided Bitcoin rewards. The development of a credit card, first announced in February 2025, signals the company's ambition to reach a broader consumer base.
Credit cards are a primary spending tool for millions of consumers, and by entering this market, Fold can introduce its Bitcoin rewards concept to a much larger audience. The company is betting that the appeal of passively earning a growing asset like Bitcoin will be a strong motivator for consumers to adopt its card.
Potential Impact on the Market
If the Fold Bitcoin Credit Card proves successful, it could represent a new phase in the mainstream adoption of Bitcoin. Rather than being viewed solely as a speculative investment, Bitcoin could become a common reward currency, similar to airline miles or cashback points.
This shift could normalize the ownership of Bitcoin and encourage more people to learn about its properties as a store of value or a medium of exchange. The backing of trusted names like Visa and Stripe adds a layer of credibility and security that may appeal to consumers who have been hesitant to engage with the crypto market.
The success of the card will likely depend on its ease of use, the clarity of its rewards, and the overall user experience. By focusing on simplicity, Fold hopes to create a product where earning and saving Bitcoin becomes as routine as buying groceries or paying for a ride-hailing service.
